Cumberlands congratulates newest graduates

Jul. 16—WILLIAMSBURG — Everyone at University of the Cumberlands wishes heartfelt congratulations to all graduates in the Class of 2024!

For the complete list of all 549 students for this story, visit: https://media.meritpages.com/signup?r=16508&p=7b518&mle=134334.

Artemus — Alva Taylor

Barbourville — Joshua Smith, Damien Hammons, Breanna Smith, Haleigh Hopper, Anthony Grubb, Raley Halcomb, Kennedy Hudson, Miranda Vaughn, Charles Maxie, Brittany Scott, Mishayla Lehman, Madalynn Cox, Dylan Bargo, Emily Mills, Holly Decker, Erica Messer, Brittany Stovall, Jordan Collins, Mary Brown, Kevin Siler, Brittany Lake, Dalton Mcdonald, Meagan Hinkle, Dalton Mills, Sarah Garrison, Travis Mills, Genevieve Tomlinson, Paxton Middleton, Brianna Brown, Jennifer Vandy, Kiley Hinkle, Tiffany Abner, Haylee Yother, Abigail Jenkins, Joseph Hoskins, Matthew Keyes, Haylee Clark, Sue Ellen Brown, Carolyn Howard, Sydni Pickard, Alexis White, Presley Peyton

Bimble — Danielle Fisher, Madison Mills, Heidi Jackson, Autumn Jones, Zachary Mills

Bryants Store — Kaylee Smith

Cannon — Patrick Clark, Toni Fragosa, Kendal Grubb, Crystal Bright, Logan Cornett

Corbin — Laura Green, Stephen Wells, Maggie Ballou, Nicholas Hibbard, Sarah Phipps, Jacqueline Noell, Jeanette Lawson, Miranda Giles, Kaitlynn Baxter, Elizabeth Neeley, Christopher Harris, Abbigail Fox, Adam Hubbard, Britnee Barnett, Callie Schoolcraft, Halia Stidham, Harleigh Grubb, Katie Earnest, Madison Mirandilla, Brandon Shelley, Jeremiah Brock, Lona Shepherd, Jamie Walters, Dalton Cook, Sarah Vanover, Courtney Hall, Taylor Perry, Emily Culler, Hannah Hamblin-Flora, Madeline Saylor, Tammy Lewis, Skyler Jones, McKenzie Slone, Hannah Medlin, Sydney Messer, Anthony Morton, Destinee Johnson, Emily Hamblin, Landon Dopel, Matthew Creekmore, Elijah Batt, Trevor Baxter, Taylor Colyer, Trey Broughton, Presley Smiddy, Emilee Steely, Zachary Myers, Abigail Eubanks, Alexandria Cerveny, Alexander Partin, Emma Hamilton, Brooke Stewart, Rachel Medlin, Amara Lewis, Zachary Hash, Felicia Eversole, Kristin Mitchell, Destini Parks, Ashley Bruck, Trisha Thomas, Kaitlyn Adkins, Shreya Patel, Russell Carr, Rebecca Lewis, Torri Day, Corinne Bertrand, Kenlee Smith, Jasmine Hampton, Kelsi Hendrickson, Andrew Giles, Oran Kersey, Michael Williams, Vanessa Sibert, Autumn Whitis, Katelyn Hopper, Ashley Miniard, Kara Helton, Mikiah Carnes, Cole Clark, Benjamin Taylor, Matthew Taylor, Lucinda Smith, James Faulkner, Summer Rains, Lisa McCreary, Katherine Gorjup, Ryan Fields, Teresa Messer, Misty Dowd, Summer Martin, Patience Taylor, Cody Driggers, Trinity Barker, Catelin Ball, Mary Barnett, Jonathan Thomas, Zachary Smith, Alexander Conley, Camron Campbell, April Bray, Sophie Anderson, Savannah Champlin, Emily Kretzer, Jaron Singley, Brookelin Fraze, Lindsey Morgan, Courtney Stevens, Michael Hall, Debra Waggoner, Alexis Swafford, Madison Proffitt, Alyssa Bridges, Karen Helton, Zoe Erwin, Maribeth Robinson, Ryan Wells, Whitney Turteltaub, Julia Mitchell, Amy McEndree, Jennifer Mason, Braden Sevier, Chelcey Howington, Kayla Knuckles, Summer Walter, Jeana Hubbard, Daniel Lowe, Ashley Hill, Ashley Stepp, Sherry Osborne, Lauren Walters, Savannah Partin, Christina Rice, Jillian Teague, Joel Bengt Emanuel Sundell, Courtney Lockaby, Megan Gregory, Brittany Wilkerson

Dewitt — Brianna Helton

East Bernstadt — Hannah Jones, Kenzie Broughton, Bailey Roberts, Kaitlin Rudder, Monica Shepherd, Hannah Martin, Kara King, Amanda Peters, Crystal Brumfield, Victoria Powell, Kaitlyn Blair

Flat Lick — Madison Patterson, Nicholas Smith, Heather Brown, Holly Polliard

Gray — Kayla Adams, Abigail Sharp, Makenzi Gibbs, Richard Love, Michelle Moore, Nicholas Smith, Samantha Cawood, Phillip Cox

Greenroad — Judy Thomas

Hinkle — Tara Thacker

Keavy — Kaylie Martin, Zoe Williams, Taylor Maggard, Christa Chitwood, Megan Taylor, Jessica Bray

Lily — Sarah Robinson, Kimberly McKiddy, Teri Jackson, Chuck Smith, Kathy Dinsmore, Sarah Hillard

London — Kayla Rarrieck, Courtney Hammons, Leslie Warren, Ty Riley, Sareena Sagoo, Corey Corum, Mackenzie Dedman, Eva Meyer, Jacob Young, Beverly Bryant, Savannah Hammack, Sydni Chesnut, Gracie Scott, Sydney Martin, Michael Johnston, Elle Hays, Emily Davenport, Logan Adams, Hollie Napier, Kristen Patton, Lacie DeGough, Brynna Lawson, Brooke Davis, Stephen Zawko, Elizabeth Tyra, Taylor Hoskins, Jeremy Smith, Linda Campbell, Michelle Wagers, Zachary Madden, Billy Evans, Luke Courtney, Mackenzie Powenski, Elijah Jervis, Sidney Collins, Emily Bowling, Elizabeth Davidson, Kyndall Smith, Kelsey Griffin, Sarah Adams, Brionna Maggard, Rachel Woody, Jillian Philpot, Ashleigh Baker, Steven Nelson, Jack Caudill, Amy Burke, Lawrence Bentley, Lisa Dotson, Destiny McClymont, Erick Jones, Kristi Vaughn, Margaret Childress, Annie Carnes, Alina Thompson, Samuel Moore, Kenneth Jackson, Nicholas Brown, Connie Coupal, Amerah Steele, Jason Ramey, Eva Gover, Tara Brown, Lashay Dugger, Sarah Shackleford, Bailey Martin, Cheslee Joseph, Jeana Nantz, Natalee Jones, Jerdeay Bailey, Matthew Cromer, Rachel Peace, Kristie Lipps, Taylor Brown, Carrie Walkup, Michelle Scray, Brittany Zik, Katie Bruner, Larry Willis, Grace Blanton, Joshua McHargue, Jacob Adams, Falon Hatfield, Lane Mitchell, Courtney Hoskins, Joshua Woolum, Amber Absher, Angela Hinkle, Tina Nelson, Billie Owens, Jason Owens, Kerrie Martin, Kayla Bargo, Amber Fugate, Jessica Miller, Travis Combs, Melissa Hart, Jeffery Smoak, Zachary Sizemore, Kaitlin Nelson, Jessica Edwards, April Lane

Rockholds — Hunter Asher, Kelsey Thomas, Gabrielle Cox, Allison Baker, Michaela Lawson, Allison Hughes, Erica DeBoard, Kimberly Ferrell, Alexis Imel, Cindy Inman

Siler — Megan Ellis

Williamsburg — Diane Hughlett, Shawnda Lawson, Erin Maxey, Melanie Wilson, Kaitlyn Jones, Rachel Lee, Lynnai Frock, Nicholas Bollmer, Maik Maurer, Melissa Lawson, Andrea Haddix, Andrew Fuson, Ashley Culver, Chaz Jarboe, Elijah Mattingly, Hailey Richardson, Hannah Stephens, Jody Bunch, Jordan Richardson, Kami Corcoran, Lesleigh Prewitt, Carly Oliver, Jacob Williamson, Emilee Blakley, Kiara Abanto, Kandra Haider, Emily Moore, Gabriel Griffin, Samuel McCullah, Matthew Hill, Jaden Johnson, Chaynee Jarboe, Mickayla Coppock, Michael Crawford, Daniel Walls, Angel Wagers, Lindsey Shope, Colton Conlin, Jaycie Monhollen, Tanner Huddleston, Caleb Minner, Olivia Gammon, James Haus, Stacey Baird, Dakota Lipsteuer, Rachel Clifford, Ashley Cheek, Beatriz De Souza, Samantha Gillis, Emily Hart, Marilyn Lewis, Emily Pasley, Andrea Creager, Liam Savio, Emily Moses, Katlynn Powers, Laura Vogt, Jerton Evans, Ashley Chapman, Ruth Evrard, Kimberly Douglas, Lillie Hall, Latisha Sears, Tara Bowlin, Madison Chapman, Anthony Lawson, Benjamin Hollis, Sydney Stargel, Emily Leach, Brandon Cheek, Amanda Campbell, Michael Schrenker, Thomas Holzkamm, Brandy Evans, Sabian Mitchell, Jordan Zecchini, Sylvia Powers, Leah Powers, Rebecca Blakley, Noah Perkins, Victoria Petrey, David Mullis, Dylan Giles, Anne Ngarhasta, John Thomas, Rebekah Kersey, Vincent Sparrow, Caleb Rose, Alyssa Rector, Vijay Raju Gadde, Alex Ritchie, Keano Roberts, Brady Jones, Shreeya Khanal, Ashley Taylor, James Bennett, Andrew Gray, Francis Idoris, Emma Jarboe, Sharon Holczer, Pedro Carvalho, Korrey Riddle, Daniel Brennenstuhl, Candace Hamblin, Karen Contreras, Taylor Jackman, Chrystian Coleman, Amy Rector, Anna Lay, Latasha Thornton, Tammy Barton, Mikaylee Hunter, Samantha Monhollen, Brittany Worley, Rebecca Partin, Benjamin Stargel, Theodore Clifford, Cathy Campbell, Amber Creekmore, Andrew Bruce, Hermione Xue Teng Tan, Dorian Bachlaj, Anastasiia Shatalova, Stacy Pals, Whitney Grubb, Joseph Bigelow, Chia Chun Chiang, Matthew Strickland, Crystal Sullivan, Martin Seve, James Overholser, Brenda Caddell, Blake Gresham, Benjamin Nichols, Dylan Barnes-Moran, Ricardo Nunes Lopes De Matos, Daniah Abdul Razzak Khan, Yasash Reddy Nandikonda, Naveen Cherukuri, Gopi Chand Davuluri, Meena Keelu, Syam Praneeth Nalli, Vedasree Padigapati, Anand Amish Gowda, Erin Metzger, Kaitrin Parrett, Madeline Lawson

Woodbine — Jacqueline Oliphant

Woollum — Summer Mills, Brenda Dunn.

Just under 6,000 students make up this year's graduating class. Approximately 170 graduates completed an associate degree, 1,250 finished a bachelor's degree, 3,770 received a master's degree, 270 completed an educational specialist degree, and 530 earned a doctoral degree. Graduates represented many different ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, and cultures, but they all now have one thing in common: they made it!

"Graduates, today marks a significant milestone in your lives," said Dr. Larry L. Cockrum, university president, during commencement ceremonies. "You have persevered through years of hard work and now stand here, ready to take on the world. I am honored to congratulate each and every one of you on your outstanding achievements."

The graduating class represented 49 states in the U.S. and the territories of the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico, as well as 18 countries around the world. Among undergraduate students, two-thirds grew up in Appalachian areas, just over half competed in university athletics, and the majority of graduates were involved in a combination of different music ensembles, campus ministries, clubs, and campus organizations.

The Class of 2024 performed 41,574 hours of community service. That equates to 5,197 8-hour workdays, or 1,040 40-hour work weeks. University of the Cumberlands designates graduates who complete 200 or more hours of community service hours as Hutton Scholars. This year, the graduating class had 84 Hutton Scholars.

This year, two graduates were named Presidential Scholars as recognition of their academic excellence and significant research in their major field of study. Presidential Scholars perform an advanced independent study or creative activity, then give a thesis and oral presentation of their discoveries before their major's academic department and a select committee. Both Anthony "Cage" Grubb of Barbourville and Samuel "Blake" McCullah of Williamsburg were approved as Presidential Scholars for 2024.

Among the Class of 2024, 306 graduates qualified as J.T. Vallandingham Scholars, named in memory of a late professor at Cumberlands. To qualify as a J.T. Vallandingham Scholar, students must have completed 96 hours of coursework with a minimum of 48 hours obtained at Cumberlands. Students must also maintain a 3.75 cumulative grade point average (GPA) or higher with a GPA of at least 3.50 for the first 48 hours of college classes. Furthermore, students must not have any incomplete courses except in the case of Presidential Scholars research.

Latin honors consist of Summa Cum Laude (graduates who maintained a grade point average of 3.95 — 4.0), Magna Cum Laude (GPA of 3.85 — 3.94), and Cum Laude (3.7 — 3.84). The Class of 2024 (including students who will officially complete degrees this summer), had 199 students make Summa Cum Laude, 159 make Magna Cum Laude, and 176 make Cum Laude.

Each year, University of the Cumberlands distributes campus awards to students nominated by the Cumberlands community and decided by a select committee. This year, the winner of the A.T. Siler Memorial Service Award is Madison "Madi" Fields, a junior from Barbourville. The 2024 T.E. Mahan Memorial Service Award recipient is Chaz Disney, a junior from Corbin. Jordan Richardson, a graduating senior from Williamsburg, won the 2024 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. The 2024 winner of the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award is Kristin Mitchell, a graduating senior from Corbin. The Gorman Jones Campus Leadership Award was given to Haleigh Hopper, a graduating senior from Barbourville, Kentucky. Graduating senior Josh Carey was awarded the 2024 T.J. Roberts Campus Leadership Award.

Campus award winners, Hutton Scholars, Latin honors students, Presidential Scholars, and J.T. Vallandingham Scholars were recognized during undergraduate commencement ceremonies.

Additionally, during the ceremonies, Dr. Cockrum told graduates, "We are living in uncertain times, with many challenges facing our communities and the world at large. But we must not let these challenges deter us. We must continue to persevere, to push through obstacles, and to make a positive impact in the world. So, dream big, work hard, make some mistakes, and always be kind. These are the values that have guided me throughout my life, and I believe they can help you, too, as you embark on your own journey. Once again, congratulations to the graduates of University of the Cumberlands."

College is quite a time. From deciding on majors, to making new friendships, to beginning romantic relationships, to competing in fine arts or sports, to navigating changing family dynamics, to adjusting to living away from home, life is full for college students. So, for all who have read this far into the article, here are a few real-life, non-GPA stats about the college experience:

On average, assuming only fall and spring semesters, college students spent 43,200 on homework/studying during their four-year college career.

Assuming college students consumed an average amount of hours on Netflix, they spent 2,417 hours watching their favorite shows and movies over the past four years.

Assuming the graduates made Keurig coffee in their dorms half the time and bought fancier coffee beverages the other half (and assuming only one coffee was drunk per day a potentially low estimate), they spent a little more than $2,900 on coffee over the course of four years.

Graduates walked across the viaduct on campus a minimum of twice a day to get to and from academic buildings, meaning they had a minimum of 1,152 trips across the viaduct.

Cumberlands' Williamsburg campus is located near a Walmart that is regularly frequented by college students. If they visited Walmart once a week during the fall and spring semesters, graduates visited Walmart 144 times throughout their college careers.

And finally, assuming the graduates ate a Chick-fil-A sandwich four times a week for every week they lived on campus, they ate a total of 576 chicken sandwiches. And hopefully enjoyed plenty of waffle fries with them.

— Courtesy of University of the Cumberlands