Commencement Ceremony Program
DECEMBER 14, 2024 / 10:30 AM
CHAPEL AND FINE ARTS CENTER
2201 SILVER LAKE ROAD, BARTLESVILLE, OK
Commencement
*PROCESSIONAL
INVOCATION
Sarah Katherine Renshaw,Class of 2024
WELCOME
Dr. Jim Dunn, President, Class of 1988
SCRIPTURE READING
Anne Victoria Gunkel,Class of 2024
STUDENT TESTIMONIAL
Hannah Rae Yearout, Class of 2024
GRADUATE ADDRESS
Dr. Wendel Weaver, Dean of the Chesapeake Energy School of Business
PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES
Dr. Jim Dunn, President, Class of 1988
Dr. Keri Bostwick, Provost & VP of Academic Affairs, Class of 1998
BE ONE SENT
Dr. Jim Dunn, President, Class of 1988
TASSEL CEREMONY & RINGING OF SAM’S BELL
Dr. Keri Bostwick, Provost & VP of Academic Affairs, Class of 1998
Pol Mur Llorens, Class of 2024
BENEDICTION
Dr. Keri Bostwick, Provost & VP of Academic Affairs, Class of 1998
*RECESSIONAL
*Congregation please stand
Speakers
Dr. Jim Dunn
President (Class of 1988)
Before joining OKWU as President in June 2019, Dr. Jim Dunn served as pastor and leader within The Wesleyan Church denomination. Most recently, he served as Vice-President of Church Relations at Wesleyan Investment Foundation. In addition, he has served in leadership positions on numerous boards and taught at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Wesley Seminary, and Indiana Wesleyan University. He has a BA from Bartlesville Wesleyan College (OKWU), an M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a D.Min. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dr. Dunn and his wife, Wendy, have four children: Dr. Dunn has a son, a daughter, and two grandchildren, and Wendy has two daughters.
Dr. Keri Bostwick
Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs (Class of 1998)
Dr. Bostwick is a proud graduate of Bartlesville Wesleyan College with a BA in Secondary English Education and an M.Ed. (Oklahoma Wesleyan University). She earned an Ed. D. in Transformational Leadership from Concordia University-Portland in 2020. Dr. Bostwick was fortunate to work for Bartlesville Public Schools as a teacher and leader for seventeen years. She came to OKWU as a Professor of Education in 2013. She has also served as the M.Ed. Director, the Dean of Education and Exercise Science, and the Dean of Assessment and Accreditation. She was named Provost in the Summer of 2022. Dr. Bostwick is married to Michael and has three children: Jaxon, Cooper, and Georgia.
Dr. Wendel Weaver
Dean of the Chesapeake Energy School of Business and Professor of Business
Dr. Weaver has faithfully served OKWU since 2005 in various roles. Along with teaching, he regularly leads educational travel courses around the world. He completed his Bachelor of Science from The University of Texas, a Master in Business Administration from LeTourneau University (Texas), and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Anderson University (Indiana). Much of his time and effort outside of OKWU is spent serving on multiple local boards of directors and engaging in speaking and consulting roles. Dr. Weaver met and married his wonderful wife Diana in college; she has recently passed from cancer. Together, they raised and taught five beautiful daughters to follow the Lord.
Graduating Class of 2024
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
- Caleb John Scott – General Studies
BACHELOR OF ARTS
- Jewell Evelyn Caudle – History & Political Science
- Dean Paul Costales – Liberal Studies
- Alyssa Cimberly Fowler – Letters ➢†~
- Katherine Rose Harris – Music Business
- Ian Thomas Skor – Letters †~
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
- Twila Cheryl Banister – Organizational Management
- Rabekah Lorraine Benjamin – Organizational Management ^
- Kacee Jo Brown – Psychology
- Misty Dawn Bryer – Organizational Management ^
- Andrew Jacob Bush – Business Administration ^
- William Ross Champlain – Ministry & Leadership
- Arvetta Jean Clark – Business Administration
- Annaly Mae Columbia – Business Administration ^
- Seth Aaron Day – Business Administration ^
- Corby Michael Dillard – Organizational Management ^
- Alana Doherty – Biology
- Caleb Lee Ewert – Biblical Studies & Christian Thought
- Mahaley Grace Farmer – Exercise Science Pre-Therapy
- Alyssa Cimberly Fowler – Marketing ➢†~
- Gannyn Ann Gower – Business Administration
- Linzi Gail Grass – Psychology Studies
- Ikem Abdul Grigsby – Psychology Studies
- Anne Victoria Gunkel – Psychology
- Conner Gage Kennedy – Marketing
- Jessica Ann Kresge – Psychology Studies
- Alexander Hoan Le – Biology
- Jesse Clifton Martin Jr. – Business Administration
- Ashleigh Nikole McCause – Elementary Education
- John Andrew McLemore – Ministry & Leadership
- Michael Ryan Mendoza – Criminal Justice
- Bethany Denae Middaugh – Psychology Studies
- Grant Everette Molder – Marketing
- Derrick Lynn Mowery – Business Administration ^
- Pol Mur Llorens – Sports Management
- Taylor Michelle Nielsen – Business Administration ^
- McKinley Reese Parris – Biology
- Brenden Chase Poindexter – Sports & Recreation Leadership
- Ariana Maria Potter – Biology
- Sara Diane Rayner-Surrett – Organizational Management ^
- Melody Joy Sanches – Biology
- Ian Thomas Skor – Biology †~
- Kofi Price Stoglin – Exercise Science Pre-Therapy
- Sarah Elizabeth Stone – Psychology Studies
- Brilee Renee Taylor – Psychology Studies
- Tara Marie Vargas – Psychology Studies
- Nathaniel Gonzales Vigil – Sports Marketing
- Earving Jamal Wilson – Exercise Science Pre-Therapy
- Kelsey Dawn Yandle – Organizational Management ^
- Hannah Rae Yearout – Pastoral Ministry
- Theodore Young – Ministry & Leadership
- Brandi Rose Zellner – Business Administration
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
- Carrie Rachell Caffey
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
- Sarah Marie Evans
- Wyatt Mitchell Gerth
- Kennedy Fodi Girox
- Matthew Lee Hattabaugh
- Katherine Rosetta Belle Kuehn
- Joshua David Logan
- Joe Randolph Mayo
- Rylan Cade McCollum
- Andjela Micunovic
- Debra Nikole Moore
- Tiffani Dallas Natera
- Nicole Marie Pearce
- Vitor Matos Pereira
- Sarah Katherine Renshaw
- Melissa Grace Ringnalda
- Jesus Sebastian Rojas
- Hannah Kathleen Smith
- Aimee Marie Swickey
MASTER OF EDUCATION IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
- Brandy Michelle Gordon
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
- Stacey Lorraine Meloy
- Darian Nicole Roberts
- Katlyn Jo Salazar
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
- River Maine Jeffries
- Taryn Blake Reynolds
DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE IN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
- Angela Renee Angel
- Catherine Marie Cox
- Elizabeth Grace Dorsey
- Diane Laverne Harrison
- Priscilla Jane Hopkins
- Janey Marie Wiley
- Kenna Denise Williams
- Jim Dale Woodard
Honors & Recognition
Undergraduate Honors | A graduate who has achieved a certain cumulative grade point average will receive honors recognition and a cord as follows:
Cum Laude 3.5 – 3.69 GPA
Associate’s: White Cord | Bachelor’s: Bronze Cord
Magna Cum Laude 3.7 – 3.89 GPA
Associate’s: Red Cord | Bachelor’s: Silver Cord
Summa Cum Laude 3.9 – 4.0 GPA
Associate’s: Blue Cord | Bachelor’s: Gold Cord
Graduate Honors | Graduate-level students who have achieved a certain cumulative grade point average will receive honors recognition.
Honors 3.8-3.99 GPA
High Honors 4.0 GPA
Veterans | Graduates of the US Armed Services are honored with red, white, and blue intertwined honor cords.
➢ Pareto Group | The Pareto Group is formed by the top traditional OKWU Chesapeake Energy School of Business students based on competency, character, and communication.
† Lewis Fellowship | The Lewis Fellowship, sponsored by the OKWU Honors College, is a consortium of student scholars from multiple disciplines within the university. Its focus is the relation between Christ and culture. Graduates who have earned this honor are awarded a light blue cord.
^ Alpha Sigma Lambda | Alpha Sigma Lambda is a national honor society that partners with colleges and universities to celebrate the scholarship and leadership of adult students in higher education. OKWU’s chapter began in 2005. Graduates who have earned this honor are awarded an ivory stole with embroidered ASLHS script and crest.
~ OKWU Honors College Graduates | The OKWU Honors College is an interdisciplinary learning environment that shapes servant-hearted Christian scholars through classical education and biblical community. Honors College students may earn a Minor or BA in “Letters” (a British designation focusing on the humanities).
Sam’s Bell | To mark a new beginning, the OKWU Bell first rang during the 2019 Convocation, the ceremony signifying the start of the academic year. The bell, named in Sam Shannon’s memory, declares the grace of new beginnings in Christ. The honor of ringing the bell is given to one embodying the spirit and mission of the university.
After the Ceremony, graduates will recess to the lower (west) grass open space to meet family and friends.
Learn more about OKWU Graduation.
Watch OKWU Commencement Ceremonies on YouTube
CANDIDATES FOR THE DOCTORAL DEGREE
Dr. Rosa Ketchum, Associate Dean of the Nursing Department,
School of Health and Science
Doctor of Nursing Practice- Executive Leadership
Dr. Angela Angel* – Scott City, MO
Direct Practice Improvement Project: Increasing Emergency Department Nurses’ Level of Self-Confidence when Triaging Postpartum Pre-eclamptic Patients
Project Chair: Dr. Anna Mangimela
ADN, Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health and Sciences; BSN, Webster University
Dr. Elizabeth Dorsey* – Reichert, OK
Direct Practice Improvement Project: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection Prevention Using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Toolkit
Project Chair: Dr. Anna Mangimela
ADN, Harford Community College; BSN, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Dr. Diane Harrison* – Bristol, TN
Direct Practice Improvement Project: Improved Outcomes for Concussion/ Traumatic Brain Injury: Using Noninvasive Point-of-Care Intervention.
Project Chair: Anna Mangimela
ASDN, East Tennessee State University; BSN, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Dr. Priscilla Hopkins* – Casper, WY
Direct Practice Improvement Project: Impact of Education Frequency on Opioid Use and Naloxone Administration in Clinic Settings
Project Chair: Dr. Anna Mangimela
ADN, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College; BSN, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Dr. Janey. Wiley* – Sapulpa, OK Direct Practice Quality Improvement Project: Booster Training for ICU Staff in the Resuscitation of Postoperative CABG Patients
Project Chair: Dr. Rosa Ketchum
ADN, AS, Biology, AA, Tulsa Community College;
BSN, Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Dr. Kenna Williams – Muskogee, OK
Direct Practice Quality Improvement Project: Can the Nine Rights of Medication Administration decrease Medication Errors in the Emergency Department
Project Chair: Dr. Anna Mangimela
BSN, East Central University; MSN, Northeastern Oklahoma University
Dr. Jim Woodard – Castle Rock, CO
Direct Practice Improvement Project: Ambulatory Nurse Knowledge of Disaster Preparedness and Deployability
Project Chair: Dr. Rosa Ketchum
BA Biology with Chemistry minor, University of Northern Colorado;
BSN, Regis University; MBA, Regis University
*Inaugural BSN-DNP Graduate