Carla Todaro, associate professor of English, commended Walters State graduates and told them that their hard work had earned them the “tools and strengths, intelligence and ambition, to determine how to fill the pages of their lives.”
“Many of you entered under the college’s motto of ‘Write Your Own Story,’” Todaro said. “And you have. We at Walters State have watched and we’ve had the opportunity to read your story from your first day fall semester to the completion of your last final exam. And we are very proud.”
Todaro proceeded to celebrate the obstacles many students overcame to have the chance to walk across the stage.
“I have read yours, husband, father and veteran, who struggled when you returned to civilian life. Here, you opened your book to a brand new page, took a deep breath and began to write,” Todaro said.
“And I see you, single mother of three, coming to classes all week, working all weekend and studying for exams at the kitchen table. You are writing a story your children will read,” Todaro said. She also discussed the success of dual enrollment students, returning adult students, and students facing significant obstacles.
“Every story needs a hero, and I want you to know that you have been mine.”
Todaro spoke at two commencement ceremonies. The college held a health programs commencement and a general commencement on Thursday to award a total of 485 degrees and technical certificates. This included 103 associate of applied science degrees, 192 associate of arts, sciences, and fine arts degrees, 187 technical certificates, and three academic certificates. Students earning applied science degrees and technical certificates usually enter the workforce shortly after graduation, while students earning arts, sciences, and fine arts degrees plan to transfer to four-year institutions.
The following are scheduled to receive degrees and technical certificates. The awards are contingent on completion of fall semester courses.
GREENE County: From Afton, Rebecca Balding, AS General Studies. From Chuckey, Mary Elizabeth Collette, AS Agriculture Option; Jessica Ashley Broeske, AS Pre-Dental Hygiene; Grace Alexandria Tipton, AS Social Work; Austin R. Hammonds, CER PS Basic Law Enforcement Off; and Katie C. Peters, AS Management. From Greeneville, Christopher William Bath, AAS HP Nursing; Amanda Caldwell, AAS Nursing; Megan Jean Dunn, AAS Nursing; Haley Moore, AAS Nursing; April M. Allen, AAS Criminal Justice; Joshua D. Rodrigues, AAS Emergency Medical Services-Paramedic; Matthew Jersey, AAS Law Enforcement; Jacob Wayne Grabner, AS Biology; Sarah Nichole Allison, AS Business Option; Kyra Latise White, AS Elementary Education; Emily Nicole Carter-Burkett, AS General Studies; Jax Jonov Latour, AS General Studies; Riley Delene Stone, AS General Studies; Cathy Nguyen, AS Health Science; Cade Alan Snelson, AS Health Science; Kristen Noel Cansler, AS History; Arya Avalon Shipe, AS Health Sci – Nursing Path; Jackson Evatt, AS Pre-Imaging Sciences; Tequila Marie Davis, AS Psychology; Haley O’Pry, AS Psychology; Candice Marie Redmond, AS Social Work; Kyle A. Wells, AS Special Education; Vonda A. Shelton, CER Adv Emergency Medical Tech; Chealsey A. Emmette, CER Basic Law Enforcement Off; Chan Amber Humbert, CER Basic Law Enforcement Off; Travis J. Metcalf, CER Basic Law Enforcement Off; Christian Feltner, CER Emergency Medical Tech; Sarah Lane, CER Emergency Medical Tech; Maggie Vanwinkle, CER Emergency Medical Tech; Reece Ayden Darnell, AS Accounting; Riley Brianne Fillers, AS Accounting; Sydney Jo Gentry, AS Accounting; Michael Thomas Ferguson, AS Finance; John Marsolek, AS Mass Communications; Dylan Zane Worsham, AS Political Science; and Helen McMahon, AS Psychology. From Limestone, Tessa Gourley, AS Psychology. From Mohawk, Savannah Gulley, CER Entry Pharmacy Tech; and Spencer Renner, AS Psychology. From Mosheim, Joshua Martinez, AS Kinesiology.
