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