Ozarka College graduates and their guests filled the John E. Miller Auditorium for 2008 Graduation ceremonies held Thursday, May 8, 2008.



The ceremony began with an invocation given by Science Instructor, Bruce Dietsche. Ozarka College President Dr. Dusty R. Johnston, welcomed everyone to the event and introduced members of the Ozarka Board of Trustees, Foundation Board members and other dignitaries who were present for the ceremony.

The Commencement address was delivered this year by Deputy Director for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Randy Zook. His inspiring address, highlighted what he calls the four "P's" of success: preparation, place, passion, perseverance.

Ron Helm, Vice President for Student Services, presented the class with diplomas awarded by Johnston, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Mike DeLong, and Board of Trustee member, George Thomas of Salem.

Mathematics Instructor, Rex Whitfield and Automotive Instructor, Larry Wilkes were Grand Marshalls. Phi Theta Kappa and student services staff assisted as ushers, while Sandra Miller played the processional and recessional, Pomp & Circumstance. The Honorable John Dan Kemp, 16^th Judicial District Circuit Judge, from Mountain View delivered the Benediction.

Students completing their studies with an overall grade point average of 3.75 or higher in a certificate or associate degree program are designated as graduating Magna Cum Laude. Achieving this recognition in the Associate of Arts in Teaching program was Melissa Lynn Bonds of Mountain View, Joann Mary Colwell of Cherokee Village, Brady Alan Johnson of Onia, and Tommy Lynn Williams of Hardy.

Graduating Cum Laude (with a GPA of 3.50 to 3.74) in the AAT program was Michelle Dawn Reid of Mammoth Spring and Amanda Lee Stone of Pleasant Grove.

Other graduates receiving an AAT degree were Trista Lee Avery of Mammoth Spring, Jennie Lou Barnett of Clinton, Jessica Danielle Edwards of Oxford, Valerie Ann Gearhart of Mountain View, Jeanna Luann Gillihan of Melbourne, Tarah D. Lopez of Cherokee Village, Sheila Darlene Morgan of Oxford, Christopher Alan Siebert of Melbourne, and Kristin Ann Turnbough of Mammoth Spring.

Graduating Magna Cum Laude with an Associate of Arts degree were Naomi Ruth Anderson of Salem, Karen S. Bernstein of Leslie, Glenda Paulette Brown of Melbourne, Valerie Ann Brown of Mountain View, Whitney Lee Cooper of Melbourne, Lauren Nicole Cunningham of Oxford, Maximino T. Diaz of Calico Rock, Babette Patricia Gage of Cherokee Village, Brandy Nicole Gregory of Mountain View, Tosha Marie Honey of Ash Flat, Martha Helene Jones of Evening Shade, Paul Anthony Pipkin of Mountain View, Louise R. Strauser of Camp, and Margaret Mary Walker Whittle of Salem.

Graduating Cum Laude (with a GPA of 3.50 to 3.74) with Associate of Arts degrees were Jacqueline J. Davis of Mount Pleasant, Robin N. Eldried of Horseshoe Bend, Seth L. Engelhardt of Melbourne, Charlotte S. Knox of Brockwell, Jonathan Aaron Keith Masters of Mountain View, Jeff Moser of Melbourne, Sarah Elaine Newman of Horseshoe Bend, Michelle Dawn Reid of Mammoth Spring, Johannes Robinson of Salem, Dianna Louise Watson of Hardy, and Shelly Rashell Whetstone of Cherokee Village.

Other Associate of Arts graduates were: Trista Lee Avery of Mammoth Spring, Cheryl Ann Baldridge of Mammoth Spring, Areia L. Carroll of Pleasant Grove, Chelsea Victoria Cochran of Mountain View, Stacy Gwyn Dale of Melbourne, Leslie Dawn Davis of Mammoth Spring, Carl Randale Dyke of Melbourne, Valerie Ann Gearhart of Mountain View, Jeanna Luann Gillihan of Melbourne, Sasha E. Johnson of Hardy, Brittney Kerr of Ash Flat, Dana Diana Kelley Lindley of Hardy, Meghan Leigh Long of Evening Shade, Tarah D. Lopez of Cherokee Village, Leslie R. Malland of Mount Pleasant, Tyler Nathaniel McIntare of Mountain View, Jeremy Miller of Evening Shade, Tiffney Lynette Miller of Melbourne, James Brandon Newman of Horseshoe Bend, Amy Marie Osten of Mountain View, Gregory Terrell Potts of Melbourne, Jody L. Shackelford of Williford, Christopher Alan Siebert of Melbourne, Lauren Elizabeth Siebert of Violet Hill, Lisa Jean Sisson of Evening Shade, Jennifer Lynn Smith of Sage, Jessica Helen Anna Stender of Ash Flat, Amy Lou Stevens of Fox, and Christina Bethalee Thompson of Mountain View.

Magna Cum Laude graduates within Associate of Applied Sciences were Bernadette K. Breckenridge of Ash Flat, William G. Brooks of Mount Pleasant, LaDonna G. Hill of Melbourne, Jennifer Ann Taylor of Mountain View, Patsy Lynn Tice of Franklin, Anthony Warren Trotter of Melbourne, Gregory H. Vickery of Sage, and Anthony S. Woods of Melbourne in Business Technology; Melonie Marie Garrison of Melbourne, Susan Michelle McCollum of Melbourne, and Fern S. Vickery of Sage, in Culinary Arts; and Charlotte Ann Davis of Mount Pleasant and Cheryl Benita Ekenes of Horseshoe Bend in Registered Nursing.

Cum Laude AAS Graduates are Jason D. Cheatham of Melbourne in Automotive Service Technology; Cathy Jean Delaney of Mammoth Spring, Sharon Marie Milholland of Cherokee Village, and Sabra Diane Wood of Cherokee Village in Business Technology; Cathy Lynn Bristow of Violet Hill in Criminal Justice Leadership; Kimberly Dawn Brown of Glenwood in Culinary Arts; Regina Ann Snelgroes of Salem in Health Information Management; and Ashley Tilley-Holt Mountain View and Elizabeth Diane Johnson of Franklin in Registered Nursing.

Other Associate of Applied Science graduates included Rufus L. Werb of Big Flat and Lanny Joe West of Ash Flat in Automotive Service Technology; Amanda Mae Amundsen of Salem, Betty Ann Bell of Oxford, Billy Donaldson of Glencoe, Tracy L. Fortson of Mountain View, Connie Maclin of Mammoth Spring, Kristina Marie Rainey of Ash Flat, Amy Jolynn Rush of Melbourne, Lisa Michelle Stender of Ash Flat, and Ashley Nicole Vanscoder of Melbourne in Business Technology; Eddie Selvey of Calico Rock in Criminal Justice Leadership; Danielle Rae Vickers of Marshall in Culinary Arts; Leslie Glen Crouch of Ash Flat and Carrie Suzanne Jordan of Cherokee Village in Health Information Management; Amanda Michelle Champ of Melbourne, Amy Lee Sanders of Mountain View, Daniel Lee Stevens of Mountain View, and Trina Nichole Swift of Pocahontas in Registered Nursing.

A Magna Cum Laude Technical Certificate was awarded in Autmotive Service Technology to Terry Dickison of Smithville. Additional Technical Certificates were awarded with Magna Cum Laude honors in Licensed Practical Nursing to Cori Elizabeth Baird of Cherokee Village, Donna Kay Galloway of Calico Rock, Rhonda Denise Gray of Cherokee Village, Roy A. Guiltner of Mount Pleasant, Shawnte Marie Hill of Prim, Mendy Ann Manning of Melbourne, Kasey Dawn Moser of Calico Rock, Sharon K. Qualls of Evening Shade, John Michael Rogers of Mountain View, Scott P. Sandefur of Cherokee Village, and Ruthie Ann Sheffield of Sidney.

Cum Laude technical certificates for Licensed Practical Nursing were awarded to Justine Lee Carter of Mountain View, Donna J. Dutton of Melbourne, Stephanie Larissa Engelhardt of Melbourne, Audra Marianne Fletcher of Alco, Morgann Brittany Hoskinds of Melbourne, Brandy Ann Howard of Cherokee Village, Tina Maria Howell of Salem, Katie Beth Jacobs of Ash Flat, Racheal Ann Johnson of Sage, Debi M. Lawrey of Hardy, Misty Lyvette Lowery of Oxford, Melony Ann Martz of Salem, Pamela J. Morris of Oxford, Bethany Nicole Roberts of Salem, Kimberly Jean Stewart of Mountain View, Amanda Gail Williams of Franklin, and Donita R. Zini of Timbo.

Also receiving technical certificates were James B. West of Ash Flat in Automotive Service Technology; Kathryn Virginia Tebbetts of Batesville in Culinary Arts; and Lynna Gail Hall of Salem in Health Information Management.

Technical certificates were awarded in Licensed Practical Nursing to Clarissa Allen of Ash Flat, Heather Alenette Bales of Sturkie, Heather Michelle Billingsley of Melbourne, Kimberley Anne Browning of Mountain View, Ilene Curtis of Cave City, Brittiney SuEllen Eaddy of Melbourne, Sharon Kay Edwards of Melbourne, Stacy Dawn Everett of Oxford, Amanda Nicole Everett of Oxford, Charles D. Farris Jr. of Melbourne, Cassaundra Ranee Franks of Camp, Kagni Lain Gillihan of Melbourne, Deborah Gay Gillmore of Batesville, Ruth Ann Goocher of Ash Flat, Carrie Denise Goode of Horseshoe Bend, Kandis T. Goodwin of Hardy, Andrea Marie Guinnip of Evening Shade, Melissa Joann Herring of Glencoe, Diane E. Honey of Ash Flat, Niki Nicole Ivy of Mountain View, Erin Elizabeth Lemon of Glencoe, Amanda Gail Miller of Mountain View, Alida Marie Mohlke of Violet Hill, Timothy Kyle Morris of Salem, Stephanie Carol Patrick of Oxford, Samantha Yvonne Romans of Ash Flat, Heather-Jo Elaine Sexton of Melbourne, Melissa Kay Siddons of Oxford, Melissa K. Stephens of Batesville, Tiffany Lynn Swetnam of Hardy, Kristina Marie Thomas of Evening Shade, Wanda Kay Thrasher of Salem, Kim Tyrone of Melbourne, Pamela Sue Townson of Mountain View, Tami Nicole Vaughn of Salem, Sara Jane Wilden of Salem, Jennifer Lynn Wilkes of Hardy, Jeffery Alan Wilson of Salem, and Misti Joan Young of Wideman.

Receiving Certificates of Proficiency with Magna Cum Laude honors were Carrie Attebury of Cherokee Village, Kimberly Baldwin of Salem, Jessica Brown of Salem, Jewel Crider of Brockwell, Christy Lynn Criswell of Mountain View, Amanda Fuller of Melbourne, Kelly Graham of Melbourne, and Judith Ann Moser of Horseshoe Bend in Early Childhood Development; Bernadette K. Breckenridge of Ash Flat and Jennifer Taylor of Mountain View in Accounting; William G. Brooks of Mount Pleasant, LaDonna G. Hill of Melbourne, and Patsy Lynne Tice of Franklin in Business Computer Applications; Gregory H. Vickery of Sage and Anthony S. Woods of Melbourne in Business Management; and Anthony Warren Trotter of Melbourne in Information Science Technology.

Certificates of Proficiency were awarded with Cum Laude honors to Cathy Jean Delaney of Mammoth Spring in Accounting and Business Computer Applications; Sharon Marie Milholland of Cherokee Village, Regina Ann Snelgroes of Salem and Sabra Diane Wood of Cherokee Village in Business Computer Applications.

Other graduates awarded Certificates of Proficiency were Kathy Diane Duncan of Norfork in Early Childhood Development; Amanda Mae Amundsen of Salem, Tracy L. Fortson of Mountain View, and Ashley Nicole Vanscoder of Melbourne in Accounting; Betty Ann Bell of Oxford, Amy Rush of Melbourne, and Lisa Michelle Stender of Ash Flat in Business Computer Applications; Tiffany N. Lukehart of Oxford in Business Computer Applications and Information Science Technology; Kristina Marie Rainey of Ash Flat in Business Computer Applications and Business Management; and Ronnie Jackson Easley of Cherokee Village in Business Management.

Approximately 155 students received General Educational Development (GED) diplomas.