Graduation

COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
MAY 7, 2021

Processional music will be playing through WGKC until 9 a.m.

WELCOME: Mr. Tom Lewis

On behalf of the college’s District Board of Trustees and our distinguished faculty and dedicated staff, it is an honor for me to welcome you to the 60 Commencement Exercise for Gulf Coast State College.

Normally I would ask the 2021 graduating class to please rise and be recognized so we could give you a round of applause. However, because of ongoing social distancing restrictions, we have adapted in the best way we could. So I ask those present here today and those who are listening and watching livestream, to give the class of 2021 a round of applause, or honk your horn, for their accomplishments.

(PAUSE FOR APPLAUSE)

Please welcome Dr. John Holdnak, our College president, as he recognizes our platform guests.

INTRODUCTION OF PLATFORM GUESTS:
Dr. John Holdnak

Thank you, Mr. Lewis, and I thank all of our District Board of Trustees for their steadfast leadership and support of our College.

At this time, I will introduce our special guests on the stage.

You’ve already met Mr. Tom Lewis, our District Board of Trustees Chair.

We have eight additional trustees who would have joined us today but as you can see, space and social distancing requirements precluded that from happening.

Our other special platform guests include:
Dr. Cheryl Flax-Hyman,
Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness & Student Affairs

Dr. Holly Kuehner
Vice President, Academic Affairs

Mr. Glen McDonald
Vice President, Economic Development & Strategic Initiatives

Mr. John Mercer
Vice President, Administration & Finance

Ms. Sandra Pugh
Assistant Professor, Language & Literature Division, and

Ms. Samantha Lipsey
2020-21 Student Government Association President

I would also like to recognize a special group of individuals – those who currently serve or have served in the United States Armed Forces. Our administrators, faculty and staff, many of whom are prior military themselves, are committed to helping our military students, veterans and their families achieve their educational goals.

With that in mind, it is our privilege to honor graduating active duty and veteran students, designated by their red, white, and blue cords. Faculty and staff who served in the military also wearing these cords during traditional graduations.

Again, we can’t thank you enough for your service to our nation and for defending the freedoms we all enjoy.

I would like to acknowledge the faculty and staff of Gulf Coast State College. They go above and beyond, helping our students achieve and reach their goals. They set the standard for academic excellence and live the College’s vision and mission of improving lives, one person at a time. Faculty and staff, for everything you do, we thank you.

And to all of the parents, friends, and family members in attendance today, listening on-line, or livestreaming with us, your efforts are also to be commended. Students, when you have time, please give your parents and loved ones a round of applause and a hug to show them how much they are appreciated!

Graduates, these past few years have been extremely challenging for us all and you have survived much!
From dealing with, and living in and around a community coping with the direct hit of a category 5 hurricane, to coping with the multitude of fears and unknowns related to a world-wide pandemic. By any measure or description, you all have had a “tough row to hoe” so to speak. No one, no other students in the history of higher education in this country, and likely most any other in the world, has ever had to deal with back-to-back catastrophic natural disasters of this magnitude. But you’ve done it with fortitude, with resilience, and even with grace.

Today however, is Commencement Day, a celebration of the past, of your educational achievements, and of your accomplishments. However, this celebration is also the acknowledgement that you are “commencing” or starting the next phase of your life.

Now, Vice President Holly Kuehner will present the members of the graduating class and will assist me in conferring their degrees and certificates. In celebration of academic excellence, we will recognize our honors graduates with special medallions and would invite you to applaud their accomplishments.
Dr. Kuehner…

Drs. Holdnak & Kuehner at podium

PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES:

Dr. Kuehner:

Dr. Holdnak, I present to you the graduating class of 2021. Each student here has met all requirements for graduation as established by Gulf Coast State College, and is therefore entitled to receive the degree of
• Bachelor of Applied Science,
• Bachelor of Science, Nursing,
• Associate in Arts,
• Associate in Science,
• and certificates, as awarded by this institution.
These students have been officially approved for graduation by the faculty and administration of Gulf Coast State College.

Dr. Holdnak:

By the power vested in me by the District Board of Trustees, I confer upon you degrees of
• Bachelor of Applied Science,
• Bachelor of Science, Nursing
• Associate in Arts,
• Associate in Science,
• and certificates — with all the rights, privileges, and honors that so rightfully belong to you as 2021 graduates of Gulf Coast State College.
You may move your tassels from right to left and please beep your vehicle horns to let me know you’ve done so.

Dr. Kuehner:
We will now start the procession for graduates to receive your diplomas, using the procedures previously distributed to you. Ms. Sandra Pugh will read the names as they cross the stage.

DR. HOLDNAK moves to table to present diploma and shake hands with graduate.

MR. MERCER will assist Dr. Holdnak with diploma distribution.

DR. KUEHNER assists with medallions.

CLOSING REMARKS:
Dr. Holdnak:

Thank you for taking the time to support your 2021 Gulf Coast State College graduate.

Today is indeed a celebration – enjoy your accomplishments with your friends and families to the fullest. But remember to continue moving forward, in both your future educational pursuits and career. I wish all of you my heartfelt congratulations and the best of luck!

RECESSIONAL: Music from WKGC

Name Title Title 2
Mr. Tom Lewis Chair, District Board of Trustees
Dr. John Holdnak President, Gulf Coast State College
Dr. Holly Kuehner Vice President, Gulf Coast State College

Name Title
Bachelor of Applied Science
Saralin Elizabeth Andrews Bachelor of Applied Science in Digital Media
Shelby Bercegeay Bachelor of Applied Science in Digital Media
Alexandra Burnhisel Bachelor of Applied Science
Charles B. Cromer Bachelor of Applied Science
Daniel Alexander Day Bachelor of Applied Science
Shane Kenny Bachelor of Applied Science
Tyler Jacob Kovaleski Bachelor of Applied Science
Kimberly Diane Lee Bachelor of Applied Science
Nicole Mcloughlin Bachelor of Applied Science
Angela F. Small Bachelor of Applied Science in Digital Media
Destiny Dionna Smiley Bachelor of Applied Science in Digital Media
Viola Zhuravel Bachelor of Applied Science

Bachelor of Science Nursing
Crystal Lynne Kirkland Bachelor of Science Nursing
Alexis LeeAnn Rudd Bachelor of Science Nursing
Dekota Paige Taylor Bachelor of Science Nursing
Monica Lizeth Varnes Bachelor of Science Nursing
Amanda Lee Krans Winters Bachelor of Science Nursing

Associate in Arts
Tiffany Hua Akkos Associate in Arts
Heba M. Albibi Associate in Arts
Khadija Anees Associate in Arts
Laura Ann Bach Associate in Arts
Devon Mitchelle Bailey Associate in Arts
Jessica Hall Baker Associate in Arts
William B. Barber Associate in Arts
Megan Barber Associate in Arts
Lauri Barfield Associate in Arts
Lincherria I. Barnes Associate in Arts
Monica Emily Becker Associate in Arts
Allison Blais Associate in Arts
Sabrina Bradley Archer Associate in Arts
Camryn Branson Associate in Arts
Mabry-Grace Briggs Associate in Arts
Kacie Quinn Brighton Associate in Arts
Savannah Ann Brown Associate in Arts
Tatiana Renee Brown Associate in Arts
Hannah E. Burns Associate in Arts
Valeriia Butylska Associate in Arts
Alisha Jolinda Campbell Associate in Arts
Jennifer Rose Carinhas Associate in Arts
Nikole Ann Carr Associate in Arts
Savannah Carr Associate in Arts
Jordan Aliza Childree Associate in Arts
Amanda Morgan Chizmar Associate in Arts
Connor Wesley Christian Associate in Arts
Megan Christmas Associate in Arts
Ndeye Fatou Ciss Associate in Arts
Casey Marie Cobb Associate in Arts
Zamuel Kanini Compere Associate in Arts
Cecilee B. Cook Associate in Arts
Davonta Cook Associate in Arts
Katie Cox Associate in Arts
Rannetra Lavana Crooks Associate in Arts
Shanovia L. Croom Associate in Arts
Emily Cureton Associate in Arts
Zhania Daniel Associate in Arts
Tareq Z. Daoud Associate in Arts
Genesis Amelie Dearth Associate in Arts
Viktoriia Diachenko Associate in Arts
Stephanie Kelsey Dixon Associate in Arts
Tara Dockery Associate in Arts
Nathan James Downing Associate in Arts
Sarah Ann Eaton Associate in Arts
Riley Elizabeth Edwards Associate in Arts
Rita May Wiley Farmer Associate in Arts
Tonisha Ashanti Fitts Associate in Arts
Erica Floyd Associate in Arts
Andrea Grant Associate in Arts
Ellie C. Fried Associate in Arts
Brayden Gainey Associate in Arts
Emily-Adele Gardner Associate in Arts
Hailey Elyse Gay Associate in Arts
Elizabeth Gibbs Associate in Arts
Anna Merrill Goolsby Associate in Arts
Zenovia Goss Associate in Arts
Amber Grant Associate in Arts
Laila Grant Associate in Arts
Emily N. Greek Associate in Arts
Anna L. Greek Associate in Arts
Charles Greenich Associate in Arts
Christopher M. Larve Grover Associate in Arts
Kaylan Elizabeth Gunning Associate in Arts
Twila Elizabeth Hales Associate in Arts
Stephanie N. Hall Associate in Arts
Beckett P. Hamilton Associate in Arts
Noah Hapner Associate in Arts
Derrick L. Harden Associate in Arts
McKynleigh Grace Harrell Associate in Arts
Madeline Marie Harrington Associate in Arts
Caleb Rivard Harrison Associate in Arts
Cailyn Alexandra Hauglie Associate in Arts
Ashley Hernandez Associate in Arts
Aidan Herring-Shook Associate in Arts
Cody Lee Herron Associate in Arts
Thomas R. Hickman Associate in Arts
Sydney Hopkins Associate in Arts
Kilee Hudson Associate in Arts
Adrian Diego Jenkins Associate in Arts
Cathryn Melissa Jenkins Associate in Arts
Alexandros Joanos Associate in Arts
Jessica Johnson Associate in Arts
Kiefer A. Johnson Associate in Arts
Tatiana Jones Associate in Arts
Yamaan Kabuka Associate in Arts
Emily Rae Kasprowicz Associate in Arts
Julianna Keenan Associate in Arts
Tyler Maxwell Kent Associate in Arts
David Tice Kilgore Associate in Arts
Meagan Marie Kruger Associate in Arts
Joshua B. Lake Associate in Arts
Jacob Lambert Associate in Arts
Mitchell Landon Associate in Arts
Taylor Brianna Lee Associate in Arts
Sarah Lemke Associate in Arts
Trophie K. Long Associate in Arts
Marisa Danielle Maiden Associate in Arts
Alyssia Marquez Associate in Arts
Kaylein Marzette Associate in Arts
Sarah M. Mathis Associate in Arts
Sarah A. Matthews Associate in Arts
Travon Mayo Associate in Arts
Maddison McCracken Associate in Arts
Savannah Marie McNatt Associate in Arts
Caleb K. Middleton Associate in Arts
Ali Mohamed Associate in Arts
Leah Morgan Associate in Arts
Cassandra Morgan-Meeks Associate in Arts
Alexandria Gloria Nieto Associate in Arts
Skylar Nygard Associate in Arts
Rachel Passarello Associate in Arts
Kenny James Peacock Associate in Arts
Kevin S. Penning Associate in Arts
Nicole LeAnn Pentland Associate in Arts
Jamison Pierre-Louis Associate in Arts
Seth Charles Prothro Associate in Arts
Zackary B. Qualls Associate in Arts
Rachel L. Raffield Associate in Arts
Emma BreAnne Richards Associate in Arts
Makaela Leilani Rinehart Associate in Arts
Shantea A. Roberson Associate in Arts
Samantha Marie Roberts Associate in Arts
Rushard Rodney Associate in Arts
Sarai I. Rodriguez Associate in Arts
Brianna M. Rose Associate in Arts
Max Ryerson Associate in Arts
Renea Samuels Associate in Arts
Jordyn Chriselle Schramm Associate in Arts
Hanna Segars Associate in Arts
Emma Shockley Associate in Arts
Adrian Lamar Sims Jr. Associate in Arts
Mason Smith Associate in Arts
Joshua Robert Soudah Associate in Arts
Brandi Nicole Spicer Associate in Arts
Janiyah Michaela Spires Associate in Arts
Betty Joyce Spivey Associate in Arts
Lauren Stanford Associate in Arts
Jayden Marissa Stansberry Associate in Arts
Avery Stephens Associate in Arts
Debra Stevens Associate in Arts
Anastasia C. Stoker Associate in Arts
James Wesley Stone Associate in Arts
Liudmila A. Strelets Associate in Arts
Lauren Tally Associate in Arts
Lauren Alexandra Taylor Associate in Arts
Raven J. Taylor Associate in Arts
Colby Whitman Teelin Associate in Arts
Damani Thomas Associate in Arts
Tandra Marie Tomlinson Associate in Arts
Yelena Trunina Associate in Arts
James Tucker Associate in Arts
Denys Tymokhov Associate in Arts
Jayde Ann Vickers Associate in Arts
Meghan Dawn Elizabeth Vogt Associate in Arts
Sammie Walker Associate in Arts
Shaelyn Walsh Associate in Arts
Jenson B. Webb Associate in Arts
Jonathon M. Wernli Associate in Arts
Taylor White Associate in Arts
Mary Beth Whitlock Associate in Arts
Olivia Whittle Associate in Arts
Caitlyn Williams Associate in Arts
Ariane Bridget Williford Associate in Arts
Sarah Nicole Wingler Associate in Arts
Keandre Wodford Associate in Arts
Lauren Kennedy Wojciechowski Associate in Arts
Savanna Wood Associate in Arts
Olivia Caroline Wooley Associate in Arts
Zailey Wright Associate in Arts

Associate in Science
Allison Jo-Marie Abadie Associate in Science
Carly Lynn Adams Associate in Science
Vanessa Rena Allen Associate in Science
Brandon Mathew Asher Associate in Science
Kechia Nicole Barber Associate in Science
Cindy Barfield Associate in Science
Joshua John Baxter Associate in Science
Brittany Bise Associate in Science
Amie Bishop Associate in Science
Melony Bowden Associate in Science
Katherine Brewer Associate in Science
Jenna Brunette Associate in Science
Trenton Buchanan Associate in Science
Micaela Maria Budda Associate in Science
Sarah Anne Bus Associate in Science
Cecillia Miranda Carter Associate in Science
Sydney Mercedes Cintron Associate in Science
Jordyn Marguerite Corbin Associate in Science
Ursula R. Countryman Associate in Science
Kimberly LeAnn Culbert Associate in Science
Cayla Eikeland Associate in Science
Elizabeth Corbin Evans Associate in Science
Sarah Ann Fisher Associate in Science
Alexandria Folsom Associate in Science
Amanda Jones Freeman Associate in Science
Octavia Kierra Charmaine Freeman Associate in Science
Christopher Fudge Associate in Science
Cherelle Ganzy Associate in Science
Meredith Garcia Associate in Science
Velichka Garbucheva Associate in Science
Skye Greenwood Associate in Science
Justin L. Griggs Associate in Science
Abbye Faith Haddock Associate in Science
Cassandra M. Hawthorne Associate in Science
Yvett Hernandez Associate in Science
Brandy Hicks-Lewis Associate in Science
Breslin Holder Associate in Science
Roger Eugene Howell Jr. Associate in Science in Digital Media
AudreyGail Johnson Associate in Science
Christie Belinda Joyner Associate in Science
Trevor Kurtz Associate in Science
Sayon Martinez Larry Associate in Science
Justin Tyler Lee Associate in Science
Sophie Grace Leifheit Associate in Science
Samantha Paige Lipsey Associate in Science
Zeny Maro Malko Associate in Science
Kyla Hope Mancill Associate in Science
Kara A. McCants Associate in Science
Lisa L. Mcguffin Associate in Science
Chesley Mctrusty Associate in Science
Mikayla Kiara Mendenhall Associate in Science
Adreyona Mackenzie Mitchell Associate in Science
Jakob Christian Monroe Associate in Science in Digital Media
Keetra Murphy Associate in Science
Alexandria Nichols Associate in Science
Lissette Inalvys O Brien Associate in Science
Tonya A. Odle Associate in Science
Kimberly L. Oriento Associate in Science
Charles Paramore Associate in Science
Kevin Patrick Perna Associate in Science
Angel M. L. Powell Associate in Science
Jennifer Lynn Powell Associate in Science
Alayna Pruess Associate in Science
Scottie L. Putney Associate in Science
Ashton Brooke Ready Associate in Science
Chelsea Rae Register Associate in Science
Mianca Rachelle Robinson Associate in Science
Olivia J. Robinson Associate in Science
Bambi Lynn Rogers Associate in Science
Jaclyn Lee Ross Associate in Science
Natalie Rose Ruggieri Associate in Science
Josefina Alejandra Saraf Associate in Science
Kyndl Schoelles Associate in Science
Titesheia Sherman-Norwood Associate in Science
Jessie Faircloth Sims Associate in Science
Briana D. Slocum Associate in Science
Amber M. Smith Associate in Science
Jorrell A. Smith Associate in Science
Katie Spalding Associate in Science
Joseph Michael Spangler Associate in Science
Angela Lynn Wheatley Stewart Associate in Science
Victor Stillgess Associate in Science
Linda Ellen Sumner Associate in Science
Valerie Joyce Taylor Associate in Science
Valana M. Theorine Associate in Science in Digital Media
Taneisha Michelle Thomas Associate in Science
Sydney A. Ward Associate in Science
Hannah Beth Weldy Associate in Science
Melody Tabajonda Whisman Associate in Science
Ashleigh Nicole Williams Associate in Science
Kristin Williams Associate in Science
William Paul Wisti Jr. Associate in Science
Brittany Kanton Woods Associate in Science
Alesha Jean Worley Associate in Science
Heather Young Associate in Science
Faith Zimmerman Associate in Science

Certificate
Kayla Maggie Cody Certificate
Hailey Rose Daniel Certificate
Dean H. Gracey Jr. Certificate
Kenyanna Sheon Gainer Certificate
Cassidy Holloway Certificate
Consuelo E. Jasso-Rojas Certificate
Carl Jean Jacques Certificate
Margaret A. Jones Certificate
Jessica Lee Certificate
Anthony Marks Certificate
Chandler Warren Mulholland Certificate
Emma Grace Nelson Certificate
Naya Rogers Certificate
Destiny Runyan Certificate
Savannah Rose Music Certificate
Caryn Von Blankenburg Siegfried Certificate