WILSON, N.C. — May 11, 2014 — Mother’s Day proved a perfect backdrop as graduating students’ families joined the Barton College community on center campus for Commencement Exercises on Sunday, May 11. Anita Brown-Graham, director of the Institute for Emerging Issues located on the campus of North Carolina State University, delivered the commencement address.
Two hundred and fifty-one seniors and five graduate students participated in the 112th annual commencement exercises. Dr. Norval C. Kneten presided over his eleventh commencement program as president of Barton College. Dr. Gary Daynes, provost and vice president for academic affairs, presented the graduating class. Mr. Gregg A. DeMar, chair of the Barton College Board of Trustees, presented the Board’s Approval of the Graduating Class.
Participating in this year’s commencement ceremony were undergraduate students who completed their baccalaureate degree requirements in December 2013 and May 2014, as well as candidates who expect to fulfill requirements over the summer. Also participating were graduate students who completed their Master of Education degree in Elementary Education.
The three highest honors presented to Barton students: the Hilley Cup, the Coggins Cup, and the Hemby Leadership Cup, were awarded during the program. The Hilley Cup, presented annually to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average, was awarded to Derek Kenton Hamm of Snow Hill, who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. The Coggins Cup, presented annually to the student voted best all-around by the Barton faculty and staff, was awarded to Rachel Denison Moore of Bedford, Va, who graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications. The Hemby Leadership Cup, presented to the graduating senior, who in the estimation of the college community (including students, faculty and staff) has demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout a career at Barton College, was also awarded to Rachel Denison Moore.
In celebration of teaching excellence in the classroom and faculty commitment to student success, the Lincoln Financial Faculty Member of the Year awards were presented to Dr. Sharon I. Sarvey, associate professor of nursing and Dean of the School of Nursing, and J. Steven Fulks, associate professor of gerontology. The awards include a cash stipend for international study in conjunction with Barton’s international emphasis.
Rachel Denison Moore, senior class president, addressed the graduating class. Brenda Hobbs Whaley, class of 1998, president of the Barton College Alumni Association and its Alumni Board, brought greetings to graduating seniors and master’s degree graduates on behalf of the Alumni Association.
The Reverend Jamie C. Eubanks, chaplain of the college, officiated at the baccalaureate service, and the Reverend Bill Moore, minister of Bedford Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Bedford, Va., and father of graduating senior Rachel Denison Moore, delivered the sermon on Sunday morning.
Other commencement festivities during the weekend included a luncheon for seniors and their parents on Saturday, hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Norval C. Kneten, at the Barton-Graves House. The pinning ceremony for the graduating seniors of the School of Nursing was held earlier on Saturday morning in Howard Chapel. The hooding ceremony for the Master of Education degree candidates was held on Saturday afternoon.
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