May 7, 2012
CULLOWHEE, N.C. -
Photo Gallery
Western Carolina University held commencement ceremonies this past weekend for approximately 980 undergraduate students, including 41 Catamount student-athletes.
Commencement for the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Allied Professions, and Fine and Performing Arts was held at 10 a.m., followed by a 3:30 p.m. ceremony for the College of Business, College of Health and Human Sciences, and Kimmel School of Construction Management and Technology.
Chancellor David O. Belcher delivered the chancellor's charge to the graduating students at all the university's ceremonies. During the Saturday morning undergraduate commencement, he told them that this is their moment to celebrate, but the moment "belongs to others as well."
"I daresay that not one graduate here today has reached this point without support in one form or another - from parents, a spouse, children, grandparents, other family members and friends. This is their moment, too," Belcher said. The same holds true for everyone on WCU's campus, from the faculty members who taught the students in the classroom to the grounds crew "who make this campus a showplace," he said.
"As you look toward your future, I charge you to hold tight to your grounding at Western Carolina University and the values for which it stands, to remain firm in your commitment to excellence and high standards, and to continue learning, whether in formal settings or on your own."
"You are a part of Western Carolina University, and Western Carolina University is a part of you," Belcher said. "Remember your grounding here in this remarkable slice of heaven we call Cullowhee."
Of the 41 student-athletes, three earned degrees with double majors. The three are tennis' Katie Barry (Mathematics, B.S. & Mathematics, B.S. Ed.), volleyball's Carrie Minogue (Entrepreneurship & Hospitality Tourism Management) and track/cross country's Luke Burton (Chemistry & Spanish).
Five student-athletes graduated with Honors College designation, with three being Summa Cum Laude - volleyball's Brittany Lysik and Carrie Minogue and Luke Burton - and two being Magna Cum Laude - soccer's Kayla Beauduy and track's Jettana Thomas.
More 2012 graduation notes:
Complete list of 2012 graduates:
| Student-Athlete |
Sport |
Major |
Minor/Cognate |
| Barry, Katie |
Tennis |
Mathematics, B.S. & Mathematics, B.S. Ed. |
|
| Iglesias Díaz, Ainhoa |
Tennis |
Electrical Engineering |
Minor: Mathematics |
| Minter, Blaire |
W-Golf |
Psychology |
Minor: Coaching |
| Nelson, Rachel |
W-Golf |
Nutrition & Dietetics |
|
| Hunnicutt, Diamond |
W-Basketball |
Communication |
Minor: Management |
| Menendez, Kaila'Shea |
W-Basketball |
Psychology |
Minor: Health & Physical Education |
| Sanchez, Laura |
W-Basketball |
Management |
|
| Cole, Keaton |
M-Basketball |
Sociology |
Minor: Physical Education |
| Mutombo, Harouna |
M-Basketball |
Communication |
Minor: Coaching |
| Smithson, Sam |
M-Basketball |
Entrepreneurship |
Cognate: Marketing |
| Lysik, Brittany |
Volleyball |
Sport Management |
|
| Minogue, Carrie |
Volleyball |
Entrepreneurship & Hospitality Tourism Management |
|
| King, Katie |
Softball |
Management |
Minor: Sport Management |
| Blackwell, Andrew |
Baseball |
Business Administration & Law |
Minor: Banking |
| Chavis, Vance |
Baseball |
Engineering Technology |
Minor: Marketing |
| Dotson, Darron |
Baseball |
Construction Management |
Minor: Business Administration |
| Cain, Blake |
Football |
Entrepreneurship |
|
| Everett, Chris |
Football |
Entrepreneurship |
Cognate: Sciences |
| Harris, Nate |
Football |
Communication |
Concentrations: Public Relations/Broadcasting |
| Rhoney, Teddy |
Football |
Criminal Justice |
Minor: Coaching |
| Robinson, Eric |
Football |
Entrepreneurship |
Minor: Accounting |
| Selby, Trey |
Football |
Management |
|
| Spangler, Taylor |
Football |
Criminal Justice |
Minor: Emergency & Disaster Mgt. |
| Thomas, Dre |
Football |
Sociology |
Minor: Communication |
| Vaught, Brandon |
Football |
Entrepreneurship |
|
| Wilson, Dion |
Football |
Recreational Therapy |
|
| Woller, Aaron |
Football |
Finance |
|
| Burton, Luke |
M-Track |
Chemistry & Spanish |
|
| Davis, Benny |
M-Track |
Parks & Recreation Management |
|
| Parker, Wayne |
M-Track |
Nursing |
|
| Van Pelt, Jamie |
M-Track |
Political Science |
Minor: Coaching |
| Weaver, Josey |
M-Track |
Physical Education |
|
| Williams, Cornelius |
M-Track |
Criminal Justice |
Minor: Clinical Forensics |
| Barino, Saqweta |
W-Track |
Mathematics |
Minor: Banking |
| Greene, NaKristen |
W-Track |
Criminal Justice |
|
| Jacobs, Olivia |
W-Track |
Nutrition & Dietetics |
|
| Bryant Zakiyyah |
W-Track |
Nutrition & Dietetics |
|
| Thomas, Jettana |
W-Track |
Social Work |
Minor: Leadership |
| Turner, Morgan |
W-Track |
Physical Education |
Minor: History |
| Beauduy, Kayla |
Soccer |
English |
Minors: Philosophy & Creative Writing |
| Lynn, Emily |
Soccer |
Construction Management |
Minor: Business Administration |
