Belhaven Memphis Honors Students in Commencement
May 7, 2012 (Memphis) - Belhaven's Memphis Campus recently celebrated the accomplishments of students at the graduation commencement on April 26, 2012.
Don Jones, Director of Admission & Student Services at Belhaven Memphis, said, “The ceremony was an inspiring celebration of the hard work these graduates have put in over the years. From all walks of life, these students joined us in their academic journey. Our staff and faculty are blessed to have traveled with them. We are sad to see them leave, but rejoice with them in the accomplishment of their degrees.”
The Belhaven Memphis Commencement was held at Second Presbyterian Church. Reverend Rufus Smith, IV was the commencement speaker for the graduating class. Rev. Smith is the Associate Pastor of Preaching/Teaching and a Senior Manager at Hope Presbyterian Church in Memphis. For 13 years he served as the Senior Pastor of City of Refuge (COR) Church, an intentionally integrated, biblically centered and socially active congregation.
In addition, he was the Founder and CEO of the Forge for Families (FFF), a Community Development Center into the Greater 3rd Ward Community of Houston. FFF used athletics, after-school enrichment, adult life-skills and entrepreneurial indigenous leadership development as a means to empower “at risk” single parents and struggling families. Under his leadership, FFF successfully completed a $6,000,000 million dollar capital campaign andbuilt a 40,000 square foot campus, debt free.
For three years, Rev. Smith was the lead chaplain for the NBA Houston Rockets and he continues to advise on other local/national boards. He studied at Houston Baptist University majoring in theology and psychology. Rev. Smith and wife his Jacqueline have three children.
Congratulations to the Belhaven Memphis graduating class of 2011-2012:
Master Graduates
Deborah Denise Bradley Master of Arts in Teaching Memphis, Tennessee
LaTara Shontay Catron Master of Arts in Teaching Memphis, Tennessee
Donald Lee Deans Master of Arts in Teaching Hazel Crest, Illinois
Demeka Latreace Hightower-Gatlin Master of Arts in Teaching Atoka, Tennessee
Tywana Latosha Hunt Master of Arts in Teaching Ripley, Mississippi
Freda Tameiko Lewis Master of Arts in Teaching Indianola, Mississippi
Roy Lee Morris Master of Arts in Teaching West Memphis, Arkansas
Christina Renee Mullen Master of Arts in Teaching Memphis, Tennessee
Tikisha Rochelle Cook Master of Business Administration Memphis, Tennessee
Ashleigh Christina Fountain Master of Business Administration Memphis, Tennessee
Eugene Hand Master of Business Administration Oxnard, California
Marian Elizabeth Ivy Master of Business Administration Memphis, Tennessee
Derricos Rayshaun Jones Master of Business Administration Tunica, Mississippi
Carolyn Ann Leaks Master of Business Administration Memphis, Tennessee
Octavia Lyvette McFarland Master of Business Administration Memphis, Tennessee
Sonia Latarsha Perry Master of Business Administration Jackson, Mississippi
Daveri Elyse Shipp Master of Business Administration Cordova, Tennessee
Rochelle Gales Solomon Master of Business Administration Memphis, Tennessee
Candace Ebony Spicer Master of Business Administration Memphis, Tennessee
Shate Simone Toliver Master of Business Administration Covington, Tennessee
Kraven Carltez Cook Master of Education Marks, Mississippi
Carolisa Vanshele Montgomery Master of Science in Leadership Memphis, Tennessee
Baccalaureate Graduates
Torsha D. Cater Bachelor Business Administration Memphis, Tennessee
JoAnna Renee Dicarlo Bachelor Business Administration Oakland, Tennessee
Jacqueline Melinda Ford Bachelor Business Administration Memphis, Tennessee
Rhonda R. Herring Bachelor Business Administration Memphis, Tennessee
Meaghan Elizabeth Oliver Bachelor Business Administration Nesbit, Mississippi
Nicole Lavette Wilkins Bachelor Business Administration Memphis, Tennessee
Jesse W. Atkins Bachelor of Arts Memphis, Tennessee
Edna Diane Ayers Bachelor of Arts Memphis, Tennessee
Sherman Lee Mason Bachelor of Arts Memphis, Tennessee
Glenn Allen Payne Bachelor of Arts Holly Springs, Mississippi
Lisa Gale Ayers Bachelor of Health Administration Memphis, Tennessee
Carol Whitley Bachelor of Science in Management Somerville, Tennessee
Associate Graduates
LaKesha Lavette Harris Associate of Arts Millington, Tennessee
Rebecca Lynn Payne Associate of Arts Millington, Tennessee
For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site.
