HARROGATE, Tenn. — Four hundred and seventy graduates participated in the winter commencement exercises at Lincoln Memorial University on Saturday, December 15. LMU welcomed the families and friends of the graduate and undergraduate degree recipients in Tex Turner Arena.
A total of 1170 associate, baccalaureate and master degrees were awarded during the annual winter commencement program, making the class of 2007 the largest since LMU’s founding in 1897. Among the graduates were the members of Caylor School of Nursing inaugural Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) class. Six degree candidates received their M.S.N. degrees including Michelle Davis, Rachel Hughes, Lisa Yopp, Sonya Engle, Jennifer Savage and Vicki Snyder.
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)Federal Co-Chair Anne B. Pope was the featured commencement speaker. Pope serves as the tenth federal co-chair of the ARC. The ARC is an economic development partnership between the federal government and the governors of 13 states. She offered this advice to LMU’s Class of 2007. “Do it; live it; give it. Be who you want to be, and live the life you were meant to live.”
Education Specialist Degree recipient Dayton Parkey gave the student address. Parkey, who also received his masters degree in education administration and supervision from LMU in 2005, has taught and coached in the Claiborne County School system.
“LMU made a difference to all of us and has challenged us to make a difference to someone else,” Parkey said. “We must rise to the opportunity to contribute to the world.”
LMU also handed out two special awards during the ceremony. The University is one of a select few institutions chosen to award the coveted Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for humanitarian effort and community mindedness. This year, LMU honored a man who has had a global impact on the health and well-being of others: Remote Area Medical (RAM) Volunteer Corps founder Stan Brock. Brock, who was nationally recognized for his work on the popular television program “Wild Kingdom”, founded RAM in 1985 to aid in the delivery of healthcare services to vulnerable populations. To date, the organization has completed over 500 expeditions, enlisted the help of over 26,000 volunteers and provided service for over 300,000 men, women and children. In 2006, LMU became part of the RAM family by hosting a health expedition at Tex Turner Arena. It was the first of what the University hopes will be many collaborations with Brock and RAM for the good of the people of Claiborne County and beyond.
The Persistence Award was presented to Debra Jessie. This award is handed out at the winter commencement to recognize students who have overcome extreme hardships to stay the course and complete their degree. Jessie, an education specialist degree candidate, survived cancer twice on her way to completing her education. However, that is not the only hurdle she faced. She also had to support her family while her husband was deployed in Iraq.
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