Courtesy of Bluefield State College
The 239 students in the Bluefield State College Class of 2022 had the opportunity to experience and celebrate the milestone achievement of their graduation during the College’s 125th Commencement program on April 30 at Mitchell Stadium in Bluefield.
Following the processional and the PikeView High School JROTC cadets’ posting of the colors, BSC President Robin Capehart congratulated this year’s graduating class, their families, BSC faculty and staff, Bluefield State alumni, and friends. Speakers including the Reverend Garry Moore, BSC Board of Governors chair, and Dr. Ted Lewis, BSC Provost, who saluted the Class of ‘22 for its collective commitment to excellence, academic achievement, and service.
Four members of the graduating class achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average and shared the distinction of being co-valedictorians. They were Luke Busse (Engineering Management), Cristian Galdeano (Electrical Engineering Technology), Zachary Lawless (Engineering Management), and Kelly Neal (Business Administration. Kaitlyn Ann Clemins (Elementary Education) is the Class Salutatorian.
Each of the College’s four academic schools designated a flag bearer (the academic school’s graduating student with the highest GPA [excluding valedictorian and salutatorian) to lead their school’s graduates in the processional. The flag bearers were Desmond Jarrell Freeman (W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business), Jesse Wayne Poynter (School of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences), Elisha McClary (School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and Cameron Raelynn Hatfield (School of Nursing and Allied Health).
The BSC class of 2022 included graduates from eight states, five foreign countries, and 15 military veterans. Graduates range in age from 19 to 60. Two hundred sixty-six degrees were conferred.
Class of ’22 graduate Desmond Freeman received the “Brian Delp Service Leadership Award.” The Greensboro, NC resident, a sports management major at BSC, was also President of the College’s Emerging Leaders Institute. He enjoyed a solid career as a member of the B-State basketball squad.
Additionally, four Bluefield State College alumni, Class of 1972, were in attendance to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation. They were Joseph Franklin Long, Jeanette Bigalow Lee, Barbara Thompson Smith, and Marilyn French Pruett.
Shortly after the Commencement concluded, a festive fireworks show at Mitchell Stadium saluted the Class of ’22 graduates, their families, and the BSC community.
