By Kala Thornsbury, Student Contributor
On Saturday, May 2nd, family and friends gathered at the Grady Nutt Athletic Center to watch this year’s graduates receive their degree from Alice Lloyd College.
In his opening remarks, President Joe Stepp welcomed family and friends to the campus and praised graduates for their outstanding accomplishments. The Class of 2015 was blessed with a moving baccalaureate address from Reverend Lawrence Baldridge of Pippa Passes, Kentucky, who has been pastor of Caney Baptist Church since 1964. The commencement address was delivered by Jack Whitaker of Diablock, Kentucky. Jack is an alumnus of Hazard High and Eastern Kentucky University. Today, Jack is a retired coal miner and pastor but remains Chairman of the Whitaker Bank Corporation.
Following the confirmation of degrees three graduates were recognized for their academic achievements. Dr. Claude “Lafie” Crum, Academic Dean, presented the salutatorian award to Allison Holbrook. The prestigious valedictorian awards were given to Ashley Daily and China Riddle.
In addition to recognizing our graduates, President Stepp also presented two special awards to faculty and staff members. Cynthia Salmons, Assistant Professor of English, was given the Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award, and Tammi Hall, Assistant to the Director of the Physical Plant, received the Leadership in Service Award.
Congratulations to the Class of 2015:
Jonathan D. Adams – Neon, Kentucky
Jonathan T. Adams – Isom, Kentucky
Melinda Adams – Cornettsville, Kentucky
Tawny Aguayo – Hindman, Kentucky
Austin Allen – Grayson, Kentucky
Joshua Arnold – Blountville, Kentucky
Matthew Asher – Hindman, Kentucky
Jeremy Baker – Hazard, Kentucky
Jacob Bales – Somerset, Kentucky
Rachel Bentley – Pound, Virginia
Wendy Blair – Whitesburg, Kentucky
Megan Boswell – Stanton, Kentucky
Christopher Bowen – Inez, Kentucky
Shayla Brinegar – Irvine, Kentucky
Chelsea Brown – Frankfort, Kentucky
Kevin Brown – Inez, Kentucky
Chelsea Burke – Virgie, Kentucky
Sarah Caldwell – Melvin, Kentucky
Emily Carico – Jackson, Kentucky
Jeronie Caudill – Kite, Kentucky
Tabitha Cesefske – Jackson, Kentucky
Kylie Clay – Chapmanville, West Virginia
Mckayla Collett – Bledsoe, Kentucky
Kayla Collins – London, Kentucky
Dana Coots – Wooton, Kentucky
Ashley Daily – Hiltons, Virginia
Ashley Dixon – Hallie, Kentucky
Aaron Dotson – Louisa, Kentucky
Craig Faulkner – Sandy Hook, Kentucky
Whitney Hall – Manchester, Kentucky
Allison Holbrook – Hyden, Kentucky
Candace Hoskins – Hyden, Kentucky
Alyssa Howard – Topmost, Kentucky
Jakolby Huff – Pippa Passes, Kentucky
Katelin Hylton – Webbville, Kentucky
Austin Ison – Viper, Kentucky
Amelia Johnson – Virgie, Kentucky
Cynthia Johnson – Squire, West Virginia
Callie Kiser – Georgetown, Kentucky
Hailey Kuracka – Whitesburg, Kentucky
Alexander Madden – Whitesburg, Kentucky
Jamison Marcum – London, Kentucky
Carla McDaniel – Sneedville, Tennessee
Zachery McGeorge – Manchester, Kentucky
Joshua Mills – Louisa, Kentucky
Thomas Brent Mills – Girdler, Kentucky
Emery Minton III – Harrogate, Tennessee
Stephanie Moore – McArthur, Ohio
Christopher Mullins – Chavies, Kentucky
Micah Music – West Van Lear, Kentucky
Gary Nickles – Bristol, Virginia
Clayton Osborne – Louisa, Kentucky
Tori Price – Noblesville, Indiana
China Riddle – Virgie, Kentucky
Hollie Saylor – Corbin, Kentucky
Cameron Shepherd – Wallins, Kentucky
Anthony Sizemore II – Big Creek, Kentucky
Mary Sizemore – Coldiron, Kentucky
Niki Sizemore – Hazard, Kentucky
Andrea Slone – Beaver, Kentucky
Gary Slone – Pippa Passes, Kentucky
Kandi Slone – Mallie, Kentucky
Brittany Smith – Belfry, Kentucky
Ricky Smith – Pippa Passes, Kentucky
Jarrod Stamper – Whitesburg, Kentucky
Samantha Stiltner – Rowe, Virginia
Kayla Sturdivant – Gray, Kentucky
Kayla Thacker – Leburn, Kentucky
Alicia Thompson – Hindman, Kentucky
Jessica Thompson – Hindman, Kentucky
Ryan Wells – Grove City, Ohio
Laura White – Manchester, Kentucky
Robert Williams – Mt. Sterling, Kentucky
Samantha Williams – Ivel, Kentucky