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Commencement Exercises

May 11, 2025, 9 a.m., Smith Hall Auditorium

• Ann Fabirkiewicz, College Marshal & Charles A. Dana Professor of Chemistry & Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division Head
• Christopher Lemasters, Dean of Students & Graduate Marshal

Processional

(please stand if you are able)

Blue Ridge Brass

• Rigaudon – Andre Campra
• Grand March from “Aida” – G. Verdi
• Prayer and March from “Renzi” – Richard Wagner

Welcome

Sue Ott Rowlands, President of the College

Land Acknowledgement

Cesar Ibarra-Lopez ’26, Presidential Ambassador

Iyania Corbett ’26, Presidential Ambassador

Commencement Address

Geoffrey Kershner, Chief Executive Officer of the Academy Center of the Arts

Conferring of Graduate and Undergraduate Degrees

Sue Ott Rowlands, President of the College

Kathleen Seifert Graves ’80, Chair of the Board of Trustees

Meghan Halbrook, Director of Graduate Studies

Kaija Mortensen, Associate Professor of Philosophy

Stephanie Earl, Associate Professor of Theatre

Christopher Lemasters, Dean of Students

Presentation of the Maude Huff Fife Award

Tim Smith, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Message from the Class of 2025

Alexis Jeanne Lama ’25, Student Government President

Message to the Graduates

Sue Ott Rowlands, President of the College

The College Song*

Text: Carol Johnson Hallstrom ’43
Music: Henry Hallstrom, Professor Emeritus
Chorale Led by Randall Speer, Professor of Music

Where the river winds through blue mountains,
Where purple vines entwine stately halls,
And roses tumble along sunny walls,
Where voices serenading in the night,
Sing of loyalty and love.
There let wisdom rise!
O, there let wisdom rise!

Randolph College in fair Virginia,
Home of true learning, beauty, and art,
We sing thy praises, O Alma Mater,
Our voices serenading in the night
Pledge thee loyalty and love.
Here let wisdom rise!
O, here let wisdom rise!

Recessional*

Blue Ridge Brass

• Triumphal March – Hector Berlioz

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2024-2025 Student Government Officers

• Alexis Jeanne Lama ’25, President
• Cali L. Martin ’25, Vice President
• Madeline Ruth Fraser Freshour ’25, Secretary
• Noura Elkhansa ’26, Treasurer
• Elizabeth Delaney Bailey ’25, Judicial Chair
• Emily Elizabeth Nordwall ’25, Judicial Vice Chair
• Stephanie Frances Swithers ’25, Publicity Officer

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Candidates for the Master’s Degree

• Mats Beentjes**, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Beverwijk, Netherland
• Jordan Fiorani, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Clemmons, NC
• Taylor E. Herzog, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Owings Mills, MC
• Shawn Thomas Hutchison*, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Burke, VA
• Mathis Jannot, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — 19270 Ussac, FRANCE
• Harrison Thomas Korkos, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Rochester, IN
• Kyra G. Miller, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Richmond, VA
• Zachary Stone Nipper, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Chesapeake, VA
• Meredyth R. Rankin, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Staunton, VA
• Brooke Richards*, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Princeton, WV
• Cooper A. Sayles, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Hamilton, VA
• Thomas M. Stahler, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Cape May, NJ
• Kylie Rae Stark, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Lynchburg, VA
• Jillian Susanne Warter, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Charlottesville, VA
• Evan T. Wiehe, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Macedonia, OH
• Russ M. Wells, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Smithfield, VA
• Roderick Darrell Williams, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Birmingham, AL
• Emily Witzke*, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Shenandoah, VA
• Carlynne Marie Wright*, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Lynchburg, VA

• Rodrigo Amestegui, Special Education, MAT — Fairfax, VA
• Cassidy Ann Bell, Special Education, MAT — Monroe, VA
• Tiffany D. Carey, Curriculum & Instruction, MAT — Bedford, VA
• Abigail Marie Diehl**, Special Education, MAT — Lynchburg, VA
• Raiden Ferreira**, Curriculum & Instruction, MAT — Reston, VA
• Jenna Fink, Curriculum & Instruction, MAT — Lynchburg, VA
• Alexis Cara Hawkins, Curriculum & Instruction, MAT — Lynchburg, VA
• Dominique E. Irving, Special Education, MAT — Amherst, VA
• Anna Mooney, Curriculum & Instruction, MAT — Lynchburg, VA
• Jennifer Marie Moore, Curriculum & Instruction, MAT — Lynchburg, VA
• Ava Marie Skinner, Curriculum & Instruction, MAT — Lynchburg, VA
• Carly Smithson, Special Education, MAT — Charleston, WV
• Haley Snyder**, Curriculum & Instruction, MAT — Elkton, VA
• Rebecca Ariel Floyd Spendlove, Special Education, MAT — Lynchburg, VA
• Zoe N. Tierney, Curriculum & Instruction, MAT — Lynchburg, VA
• Cole Rudolph Torres, Curriculum & Instruction, MAT — Thurmont, MD

• James Hutchinson Arnold, Curriculum & Instruction, MEd — Collinsville, VA
• Madisyn Elizabeth Cundiff Tyree, Curriculum & Instruction, MEd — Forest, VA
• Jessica Ann Orton**, Curriculum & Instruction, MEd — Lynchburg, VA
• Natija Catherine Pate**, Curriculum & Instruction, MEd — Winston-Salem, NC
• Grace Nichole Primm**, Curriculum & Instruction, MEd — Madison Heights, VA
• Jasmin Monique Williams, Curriculum & Instruction, MEd — Fredericksburg, VA

Honored in a separate ceremony in January

• Cary Barbor, Creative Writing, MFA — Bonita Springs, FL
• Nancy Bauer, Creative Writing, MFA — Brooklyn, MI
• Tianna Bratcher, Creative Writing, MFA — Los Angeles, CA
• Arielle Britney Cofer, Creative Writing, MFA — Seattle, WA
• Acamea Deadwiler, Creative Writing, MFA — Las Vegas, NV
• Adrian Dallas Frandle, Creative Writing, MFA — Stratford, CT
• Lars Sheridan Horn, Creative Writing, MFA — New York, NY
• Olivia J. Huntley, Creative Writing, MFA — Reynoldsburg, OH
• Jennifer Ann Kane, Creative Writing, MFA — Alexandria, VA
• Alisha S. Lockley, Creative Writing, MFA — Jacksonville, FL
• Mordecai Martin, Creative Writing, MFA — Philadelphia, PA
• Chantel Jeanette Massey, Creative Writing, MFA — Indianapolis, IN
• Malavika Praseed, Creative Writing, MFA — Tinley Park, IL
• Rene Mullen, Creative Writing, MFA — Albuquerque, NM
• Suzi Q. Smith, Creative Writing, MFA — Denver, CO
• Kelly Grace Thomas, Creative Writing, MFA — Benicia, CA
• Mary Elizabeth Walsh, Creative Writing, MFA — San Francisco, CA

To be honored in a separate ceremony in June

• Kayla Min Andrews**, Creative Writing, MFA — New Orleans, LA
• Caitlin Leigh Chandler**, Creative Writing, MFA — Bluemont, VA
• MARS. Ivory Marshall**, Creative Writing, MFA — Detroit, MI
• Juliana Feliciano Reyes**, Creative Writing, MFA — Philadelphia, PA
• Edythe Rodriguez**, Creative Writing, MFA — Upper Darby, PA
• Joanell Serra**, Creative Writing, MFA — Sonoma, CA
• February Simone Spikener**, Creative Writing, MFA — Chicago, IL
• Mikaela Mae Stiner**, Creative Writing, MFA — Phillipsburg, NJ
• Kristina Tabor**,Creative Writing, MFA — Silver Spring, MD
• Amanda Torres**, Creative Writing, MFA — Malden, MA

• Sadie Irene Collins**, Theatre, MFA — Cedar Hill, TN
• Morgan Cox**, Theatre, MFA — Port Charlotte, FL
• Heather Brooke Eisenhart**, Theatre, MFA — Bristol, VA
• Gordon M. Emert, Jr. **, Theatre, MFA — Prospect, VA
• Justin Chevoit Hall**, Theatre, MFA — Danville, VA
• Rebekah Dawn Martin**, Theatre, MFA — Fort Smith, AR
• Za’Marae TyQuan Morgan**, Theatre, MFA — Madison Heights, VA

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Candidates for the Baccalaureate Degree

• Allie Jane Allen, Studio Art, BFA — Lynchburg, VA
• Elizabeth Marie Allen, Biology, BA — Gainesville, VA
• Delina Tesfay Assefa*, Global Studies, BA — Cary, NC
• Saniyha Amor Atchison, Computer Sci and Math, BS — Upper Marlboro, MD
• Elizabeth Delaney Bailey, Art History, BS — Crozet, VA
• Michael J. Baldwin, Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Culpeper, VA
• Gabriel Enrique Barragán, Media and Culture, BA — Chesterfield, VA
• Gillian G. Batt, History, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Ranay Yvette Bingham, Comparative Philosophy, BA — Hampton, VA
• Brett Bowman, Chemistry, BA — Forest, VA
• Bayli Scott Brown, English (Literature), BA — Madison Heights, VA
• Simone R. Brown, History, BA — Norfolk, VA
• Tyler Cameron Brubaker, Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Altavista, VA
• Gianna Nicole Cabrera-Castillo, Political Science, BA — Portsmouth, VA
• Ethan A. Caldwell, Biology, BS — Santa Fe, NM
• Luke Chapman*, Mathematics, BS — Gate City, VA
• Kamaria Janaye Clark, Sociology, BA — Rustburg, VA
• Renee V. Clines, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Lake City, FL
• Reese Ariel Cooper, Psychology, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Teniyah Nicole Crenshaw-Patterson, Biology, BS — Hampton, VA
• Julia B. Crider, Physics, BS — Forest, VA
• Whitney Aldaria Culpepper, Psychology, BA — Madison Heights, VA
• Sydney Pearl Dawson, Psychology, BA — Richmond, VA
• Madeline JoAnn Dearie, Elementary Education, BS — Ashburn, VA
• Sabrina Ray Dickerson, Business, BA — Brookneal, VA
• Jayda Indigo Domenech-Preston, Biology, BS — Virginia Beach, VA
• Penny L. Dorsey, English (Creative Writing), BA — Cumberland, VA
• Renée Claire Enzor**, Integrative Studies, BA — Deale, MD
• Otto Fortune Fox, Business, BA — Dumfries, VA
• Madeline Ruth Fraser Freshour, History, BA — South Boston, VA
• Madelyn Hope Friel, Chemistry, BS — Suffolk, VA
• Rayvon R. Graham, Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Tristan Douglas Gregory, History, BA — Evington, VA
• Vivianna Rose Gustin, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Virginia Beach, VA
• David Ryon Hawes, English (Literature), BA — Madison Heights, VA
• Ryan D. Holliday, Business, BA — Roanoke, VA
• Madison T. Holston, Elementary Education, BS — Newburgh, IN
• Moshood A. Ibrahim, Sociology, BA — Laurel, MD
• Taylor Jazzez Jones, Media and Culture, BA — Suffolk, VA
• Carter Kelly*, Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Alexis Jeanne Lama, Psychology, BA — Benson, NC
• Colby Lambert**, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Chesapeake, VA
• Sonia Nicole Langhorne, Integrative Studies, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Jacob S. Lofaso, Art History, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Lacey Rae Lucado, Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Buchanan, VA
• Dev Mani**, Economics, BA — Bangalore, Karnataka, India
• April Alisson Marquez, Biology, BS — Linthicum Heights, MD
• Alexis Noelle Martin, Biology, BA — Tyro, VA
• Cali L. Martin, Political Science, BA — Martinsville, VA
• Zanautica Quadaisha Martin, Integrative Studies, BA — Richmond, VA
• Jenna McDermott*, Environmental Studies, BA — Townsend, DE
• Ethan Hunter Meyer, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Midlothian, VA
• Kaytlin Elizabeth Moir, Environmental Studies, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Brooke Ashlyn Murdock, Elementary Education, BS — Evington, VA
• Ella B. Myers, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Cross Junction, VA
• Mitchell Ngwenya, Theatre, BFA — Upper Marlboro, MD
• Emily Elizabeth Nordwall, Elementary Education, BS — Machipongo, VA
• Kyle E. O’Brien, History, BA — Forest, VA
• Gracie Anne Oliver, Biology, BS — Monroe, VA
• Nevaeh Angel Orange-Foreman, Elementary Education, BS — Ashburn, VA
• Elizabeth Gabrielle Parsons, Environmental Science, BS — Fort Myer, VA
• Anna C. Peterson, Business, BA — Forest, VA
• Jordan Ray Phillips-McLoyd, Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Johnson City, TN
• Nathan Sylom Pradachith, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Alexandria, VA
• Jonathan E. Rice, Computer Science, BS — Lynchburg, VA
• Mark Robinson, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Amherst, VA
• Jenna Sass, Biology, BS — Warren, MI
• Rhajee C. Scarlett**, Business, BA — Atlanta, GA
• Paige Lee Scruggs, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Cowpens, SC
• Shauna Kaylee Shepard, Physics, BS — Gate City, VA
• Carter Shipp*, Biology, BS — Lynchburg, VA
• Jordyn Grace Shumpert, Theatre, BFA — Raleigh, NC
• Kendra Lashay Smith, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Amherst, VA
• Kinley Madison Spinks, Psychology, BA — Covington, VA
• Natalyn Elizabeth Stanley, Biology, BS — Amherst, VA
• Stephanie Frances Swithers, Elementary Education, BS — Manalapan, NJ
• Nuhamin Brook Teshome, Psychology, BA — Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA
• Nafi Thiam, Global Studies, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Kaylie M. Todd, Biology, BS — Virginia Beach, VA
• Jaidyn N. Turner, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Purcellville, VA
• Ryan McNeill Viruso, Business, BA — Davidson, NC
• Patience Monet Wallace, English (Creative Writing), BA — North Chesterfield, VA
• Derek S. Whorley, English (Literature), BA — Evington, VA
• Sterlyn McKenzie Woodward, Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Banco, VA
• Quianday Unique Worthington, Biology, BA — Richmond, VA
• Morris Wright*, English (Creative Writing), BA — Evington, VA

*August 2024 or January 2025
** Degree to be awarded upon completion of requirements.

This document is not an official record of degrees awarded. The student’s transcript is the official record of the College.

To ensure the highest quality and accuracy, official diplomas will be mailed at a later date.

The digital Commencement Program, which is part of the College’s sustainability efforts, is available for download at www.randolphcollege.edu/commencement

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Academic Awards

Awards were presented during a special ceremony on April 30, 2025

Best Senior Paper in Art & Art History

Elizabeth Delaney Bailey

Rachel Trexler Ellis ’44 Art Prize for Excellence in Art

Allie Jane Allen

Rachel Trexler Ellis ’44 Art Prize for Excellence in Art

Elizabeth Delaney Bailey

Grace Taylor Wiltshire HA Award

Ethan A. Caldwell

Physical Chemistry Award

Natalyn Elizabeth Stanley

Organic Chemistry Award

Madelyn Hope Friel

Chemistry Departmental Award

Natalyn Elizabeth Stanley

James Lewis Howe Award

Madelyn Hope Friel

Stan Marshall Award for Excellence In Business

Anna C. Peterson

Halley Brooke Smith Excellence in Student Teaching Elementary Education Award

Madison T. Holston

Charlotte Stephenson Oresman ‘41 Prize for Humor in Writing

Patience Monet Wallace

John P. Kirby Explication Prize

Bayli Scott Brown

Senior Award in Environmental Studies

Kaytlin Elizabeth Moir

Lura Lee Cannon Stephens ’11 Prize in History

Gillian G. Batt

Lura Lee Cannon Stephens ’11 Prize in History

Tristan Douglas Gregory

Catherine I. Hastings Prize in Mathematics and Computer Science

Saniyha Amor Atchison

The Louise Jordan Smith Award

Jacob S. Lofaso

Outstanding Contributor Award in Theatre

Mitchell Ngwenya

Outstanding Contributor Award in Theatre

Penny L. Dorsey

Best Senior Paper in Political Science and Global Studies

Gianna Nicole Cabrera-Castillo

Frank Murray Award

Alexis Jeanne Lama

Frank Murray Award

Nuhamin Brook Teshome

Frank Murray Award

Reese Ariel Cooper

Edwin A. Penick Award for Excellence in Religion

Jordyn Grace Shumpert

Outstanding Senior in Sociology

Kamaria Jayne Clark

Outstanding Sport and Exercise Studies Achievement

Paige Lee Scruggs

Best Summer Research Program Presentation

Shauna Kaylee Shepard

Best Summer Research Program Presentation

Luke Chapman

Academic Services Center Ambassador Award

Allie Jane Allen

Rachel Dean ’03 Memorial Award

Maddie Fraser Freshour

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The Phi Beta Kappa Society

Class of 2025
The nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society

• Kamaria Janaye Clark
• Jordyn Grace Shumpert
• Quianday Unique Worthington

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Dual Degree Program Participants

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Honors in the Major

• Bayli Scott Brown, English
• Reese Ariel Cooper, Psychology
• Alexis Jeanne Lama, Psychology
• Nuhamin Brook Teshome, Psychology
• Patience Monet Wallace, English
• Derek S. Whorley, English

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Academic Honors

• Allie Jane Allen, Summa cum laude
• Elizabeth Delaney Bailey, Summa cum laude
• Gillian G. Batt, Magna cum laude
• Bayli Scott Brown, Summa cum laude
• Ethan A. Caldwell, Summa cum laude
• Luke Chapman*, Summa cum laude
• Kamaria Janaye Clark, Summa cum laude
• Reese Ariel Cooper, Summa cum laude
• Madeline JoAnn Dearie, Cum laude
• Penny L. Dorsey, Cum laude
• Madelyn Hope Friel, Summa cum laude
• Tristan Douglas Gregory, Cum laude
• David Ryon Hawes, Summa cum laude
• Carter Kelly*, Magna cum laude
• Alexis Jeanne Lama, Magna cum laude
• Jacob S. Lofaso, Summa cum laude
• Brooke Ashlyn Murdock, Summa cum laude
• Mitchell Ngwenya, Cum laude
• Emily Elizabeth Nordwall, Magna cum laude
• Anna C. Peterson, Summa cum laude
• Jenna Sass, Cum laude
• Paige Lee Scruggs, Summa cum laude
• Shauna Kaylee Shepard, Summa cum laude
• Carter Shipp*, Magna cum laude
• Jordyn Grace Shumpert, Magna cum laude
• Natalyn Elizabeth Stanley, Cum laude
• Stephanie Frances Swithers, Summa cum laude
• Nuhamin Brook Teshome, Magna cum laude
• Patience Monet Wallace, Magna cum laude
• Derek S. Whorley, Magna cum laude
• Quianday Unique Worthington, Magna cum laude

*Graduates since May 2024

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Description of the College Mace

Symbolic of authority, the College mace is carried by a senior faculty member serving as the College marshal on ceremonial occasions during the academic procession.

The mace bears the College seal on top of a flame. The flame sits upon a three-sided pedestal upon which the Three Keys of Knowledge, representing the humanities, the arts, and the sciences, are carved.

Its design is derived from a well-known speech, “My Grandmother’s Basket of Keys,” given by Theodore H. Jack, the fourth president of then Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. The design is based upon the Randolph-Macon Woman’s College mace, only modified to reflect the College’s new seal after its name change in 2007.

When not in use, the mace resides in the Lipscomb Library, along with the mace developed for Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 1955.

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The Wearing of Academic Apparel

The wearing of academic apparel has been the traditional way of symbolizing the value of learning.

Probably the monasteries and cathedral schools in the seventh century were the precursors of our modern institutions of higher education. The robed and cowled monks were the first students.

The wearing of gowns can be traced back to the great universities of Oxford and Cambridge where the wearing of the gown and cowl of the earlier cathedral school clerics was preserved as academic dress.

Though caps and gowns have been worn for commencement ceremonies in this country since colonial times, in 1895, a commission of American educators met to formulate a uniform intercollegiate code for American institutions of higher learning.

The code, as finally established, follows in general the English system and provides for three types of gowns:

• those worn by bachelors or undergraduates are made of black material and have long pointed sleeves;
• masters wear either black silk or black wool made with a long, closed sleeve with an arc of a circle cut out near the bottom and slit for the arm;
• and the doctor’s gown is black silk with a full, round open sleeve. The gown is faced with velvet and has three bars of velvet on each sleeve.

The black oxford or mortarboard cap is worn for all degrees.

The hood, which signifies the degree conferred, has also been made uniform. The bachelor’s hood is three feet long; the master’s is three and one-half feet long; and the doctor’s is four feet long with a wider panel.

The code prescribes a lining of different color silk in the official academic color or colors of the institution conferring the degree. The binding or trim of the hoods is velvet, two inches wide for bachelors, three inches wide for masters, and five inches wide for doctors. The color here indicates the department or faculty in which the degree is granted.

Following is a list of the colors established by the intercollegiate code to represent the different departments of learning:

• Arts and Letters White
• Business Administration Gold
• Economics Copper
• Education Light Blue
• Fine Arts Brown
• Law Purple
• Library Science Lemon
• Music Pink
• Philosophy Blue
• Physical Education Sage Green
• Science Yellow
• Social Science Citron
• Theology/Divinity Scarlet

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While some students choose not to do so, our seniors have the privilege of asking someone, for whom it would be an honor, to hood them.