With cloudy skies and a steady breeze, graduates and their families gathered with the Barton College community on Saturday, May 17, to celebrate the 123rd Commencement Exercises.
Elizabeth Hudson, editor in chief of “Our State: Celebrating North Carolina,” was the featured speaker. Her powerful message, titled, “Editing Your Life,” emphasized that life is not built on endless possibilities, but on intentional choices shaped by thoughtful limits.
“If I were your editor —and for this brief moment, I suppose I am—this is what I’d tell you,” she stated. “The life you’re about to write will be shaped by the edits you make. The lines you draw and the ones you erase. It’ll be shaped by the courage to say: This belongs, and this does not. This is who I am, and this is who I will never be. It’s not about chasing everything; it’s about choosing something.”
(The archived video of the full Commencement Exercises, including Elizabeth Hudson’s speech, is available to view at this link — https://www.youtube.com/d0LgUGBikQU.)
281 undergraduate and graduate students participated in the annual commencement exercises held on Saturday morning. Dr. Douglas N. Searcy presided over his tenth commencement program as president of Barton College. Dr. Kevin N. Pennington, vice president for academic affairs, presented the graduating class. Eric Sellers, chair of the Barton College Board of Trustees, presented the Board’s Approval of the Graduating Class.
Participating in this year’s Commencement Exercises were students who completed their baccalaureate degree requirements in December 2024 and May 2025, as well as undergraduate candidates who expect to fulfill requirements over the summer. Also participating were graduates of the Master of Business Administration degree in Strategic Leadership, Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice, Master of Science degree in Kinesiology, and Master of School Administration degree programs.
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 Sydney Hopkins, of Pickerington, Ohio, who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.
The Coggins Cup, presented annually to the student voted best all-around by the Barton faculty and staff, was awarded to Lauren Abeling-Judge, of Wilson, N.C., who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies and Christianity and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.
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 awarded this year to Jessica Pigford, of Wilson, N.C., who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.
In celebration of teaching excellence in the classroom and faculty commitment to student success, the Lincoln Financial Excellence in Teaching Fund Faculty Member of the Year awards were presented to Dr. Lauren Biscardi, assistant professor and director of exercise science in the School of Health Sciences, and Dr. Rachel K. Deale, assistant professor of history in the School of Arts and Humanities.
Senior class representative Isabella Pita Sotomayor of Guayaquil, Ecuador, who graduated summa cum laude with Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration and Psychology, addressed the Class of 2025.
Amy Denton, class of 1994, president of the Barton College Alumni Association and its Alumni Board, brought greetings to graduating seniors on behalf of the Alumni Association on Saturday.
The Baccalaureate Service was held on Friday afternoon, May 16, in Howard Chapel, featuring remarks from Reverend Dr. Della J. Owens, senior pastor of Saint James Christian Church in Wilson, N.C., and a special performance by guest musician Casey Childers.
Additional Commencement Week activities included the Hooding Ceremony for the Master of Science in Criminal Justice graduates in the School of Sciences and the Master of Science in Kinesiology graduates in the School of Allied Health and Sport Studies and the Hooding Ceremony for the Master of School Administration graduates in the School of Education held on Thursday. The Hooding Ceremony for the Master of Science in Nursing graduates and the Pinning Ceremony for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates in the School of Nursing and the Hooding Ceremony for the Master of Business Administration in Strategic Leadership graduates was held on Friday.
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