Friday, May 9, 2025
Commencement Ceremonies
Thanks for celebrating the graduation of the Southern Virginia University Class of 2025 with us!
Commencement Livestream
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Order of Exercises
Processional
Administration and Official Guests
Faculty
Class of 2025
Welcome
James Lambert, Provost
Hymn
“High on a Mountain Top”
Text Attr. to Joel H. Johnson, 1802–1882;
Music attr. to Ebenezer Beesley, 1840–1906
Invocation
Isaac Armstrong, Class of 2025
Opening Remarks and Introduction of Speakers
James Lambert, Provost
Valedictorian Address
Melia Luker, Class of 2025
Honorary Degree Conferral
Address
Sheri L. Dew, CEO of Deseret Book Company
Conferral of Degrees
Bonnie H. Cordon, President
James Lambert, Provost
Hugh Redd, Chair, Board of Trustees
Glade Knight, Emeritus Board of Trustees
Samuel Hirt, Associate Provost
Sarah Maitland, Associate Provost
Closing Remarks
Bonnie H. Cordon, President
Music
“Shenandoah”
American Folk Song, 19th century
Benediction
Jacob Smith, Class of 2025
Music
“Pomp and Circumstance”
Composed by Edward Elgar, 1857–1934
“High on a Mountain Top”
Text attr. to Joel H. Johnson; Music attr. to Ebenezer Beesley
Lyrics:
High on the mountain top
A banner is unfurled.
Ye nations, now look up;
It waves to all the world.
In Deseret’s sweet, peaceful land,
On Zion’s mount behold it stand!
“Shenandoah”
American Folk Song, 19th century
Conductor
Jon Clawson, Interim Director of Choral Studies
String Quartet
Camille Wagenman, violin I
Kasudie Burton, violin II
Felicity Clayton, viola
Marisa Marvel, cello - Open dropdown
Graduates
Dylan Matthew Mojica Africa
Baileigh Aland
Shandrey Allman
Veronica Andersen
Isaac Brent Armstrong
Jillian Arnold
Ethan Jefferson Ashton
Gabrielle Atwood
Joshua Axtell
Devin T. Barbee
Heidi Barton
Kai Alexandra Barton
Sydney Heather Bassett
Mary Elizabeth Baxter
Francis Patricio Paulino Benavente
Libbee Rachel Bingham
Makade Dalvin Bradley
Kamryn Day Bradshaw
Cecily Corinne Bramhall
Jeremy D. Brown
Lindsay April Brown
Ashley Reagan Bullock
Matthew Buongiovanni
Jackson Burbidge
Breanna Burden
Malachi Caldwell-Andrews
Samuel Barlow Candland
Joshua Cannon
Steven Pacheco Cantos
Saakina Patsy Chan
Kedryn Chandler
Dallin Joel Chappell
Torin Christensen
Kyle Hunter Clark
Jenna Kate Claytor
Brenna Clyde
Nicholas Craft
Jefferson Thomas Cutrer V
Elizabeth Dalebout
Tapaita Kealapūa Daligdig Howard
Aiden Rich Darrington
Mason Henry Davis
Gabriel DeGruccio
Lauren S. DeNys
Anna Dryden
Matthew Paul Dryden
Caitlyn Ellis
Michael Stewart Ellis
Caden Richard Eskelsen
Lilian Eskelsen
Kyler Evans
Susan Marie Falconer
Paula Feitosa
Sawyer Ferry
Brooke Estelle Franklin
Cameron Gabrylczyk
Katrina Gardner
J. Rockwell Giles
Wendi Joan Goldthorpe
Brianna Lynne Gonzales
Natalie Rae Goodfellow
Hunter Issac Grange
Rachel Lynn Grange
Abigail Delong Gray
Chase C. Griffiths
Emily Hailstone
Jayton Wade Hall
Stockton Kay Hall
Malorie Grace Harris
Maybel Harris
Maura Kate Hawkes
MacGregor James Henrichsen
Malia Fuatai Fuailelagi Hickman
John T. Holcombe
Tyson Rex Hoopes
Benjamin R. Horsley
David A. Hunley III
Hannah Nicole Husted
Colby James Hyder
Callum Hyland
Noah Saskia Jaeger
Aricin Neil James
Miranda Elizabeth Johnson
Dykell Jones
Zachary Scott Jones
Tyler Kartchner
Kenyon Kemp
Reese Kimball
Ronda Megan Lamb
Katelyn Anna Leinbach
G. Weston LeNeave
Natasha Marie LeNeave
MaKenzie Losee
Melia June Luker
Justin Gray Madsen
Jordan Elizabeth Maney
Dustin Leolani Manning
McKayla Weingardt
Olivia May Matheson
Lane Matthews
Alicia Marie McBride
Michael Patrick McCaffrey
Makenzie Isabella Evans
Breanna Rhae McGill
Audrey Kate McKeon
Evelyn Kim Melville
Talia Chabrán Merrill
Dawson Miles Merwin
Peyton Holiday Merwin
Taylor Mariko Miyasaki-Hoopes
Raquel Montgomery
Breanne Kellyn Moore
Harrison Moore
Rebecca Moore
Adam Myers
Chloe Nelson
Addison Kate Newman
Reed Newsome
Katelyn Marie Noble
Camilla Jane Norton
Brock T. Nye
Sione Ofa
Whitney Beth Ofa
Livia Faye Offen
Karenna Ann Olson
Nolan James Opp
Kendall Oswald
Lynnsey Christina Oswald
Hailey Taariq Paige
Samuel Payne
Luke Peay
Mariela Esperanza Pérez Muñoz
Chloe Renee Persinger
Kedron Phillips Schlensker
Chase Wyatt Pope
Teresa Jaime Porras
Jenna Grace Porterfield
Alba Mae Pratt
Arianna Raquel Prymak
Kristo Bianchin Puente
Mikaera David Puriri
Rebecka Kinsley Rapier
Mikayla Lee Reynolds
Polosomo L. Rhyne
Stephen Roberts
Tate Rusick
Kevin Salins
Moriah Sarah Salins
Makayla Alyse Schaffer
Mason Scott Schlensker
Hailey Seamons
Jacob Hunter Seawright
Richelle Chukuong Seawright
O’Shea Rawiri McIrdell McDonald Settle
Christian Eric Sheaffer
Mia Shirts
Jacob B. Smith
Olivia Sperry
Annalisha Kay Staples
Madisen Staples
Jon Braden Stauffer
Curtis Stone
Jessica Stone
Eliza Stucki
Maxym Jay Sutton
Ella Nicole Thomas
Adalyn Thorpe
Leora Marie Timpson
Sione Tokelau
Mackenzie Rae Regalado Tronsen
Jalan Alexander Troy
Amelia Leigh Walker
Clara Walz
Alex Weiland
Alyssa Weiland
Sidney White
Patrick Whitehouse
Benjamin Casey Whitted
Regina Woodley
Gabrielle Elise Wright
Haylee Wright
Tyler Manning Wright
Martha Zimmerman - Open dropdown
Awards & Recognitions
Academic Honors
Latin Honors
Latin honors are noted on the transcripts of students who have completed all requirements for graduation, earned at least sixty credit hours at Southern Virginia, and achieved the following cumulative grade-point averages:
3.95–4.00, summa cum laude (“with highest praise”)
3.85–3.949, magna cum laude (“with great praise”)
3.70–3.849, cum laude (“with praise”)
Valedictorian (gold cord)
Cumulative grade-point average 4.0
Melia June Luker
Salutatorian (gold cord)
Cumulative grade-point average 4.0
Issac Brent Armstrong
Jacob B. Smith
Cumulative Grade-point Average 4.0 (gold cord)
Isaac Brent Armstrong
Caitlyn Ellis
MacGregor James Henrichsen
Miranda Elizabeth Johnson
Melia June Luker
Brock T. Nye
Rebecka Kinsley Rapier
Jacob B. Smith
University Honors (antique gold cord)
Completion of the Honors Program and Honors Thesis
Isaac Brent Armstrong
Melia June Luker
Karenna Ann Olson
Moriah Sarah Salins
President’s List for Two or More Semesters
Semester grade-point average in the top ten percent of current students
Isaac Brent Armstrong
Ethan Jefferson Ashton
Gabrielle Atwood
Heidi Barton
Sydney Heather Bassett
Cecily Corinne Bramhall
Jackson Burbidge
Joshua Cannon
Kedryn Chandler
Dallin Joel Chappell
Brenna Clyde
Caitlyn Ellis
Lilian Eskelsen
Caden Richard Eskelsen
Brooke Estelle Franklin
Cameron Gabrylczyk
Brianna Lynne Gonzales
Arianna Raquel Prymak
Maybel Harris
Maura Kate Hawkes
MacGregor James Henrichsen
Tyson Rex Hoopes
Callum Hyland
Noah Saskia Jaeger
Aricin Neil James
Miranda Elizabeth Johnson
Katelyn Anna Leinbach
G. Weston LeNeave
Melia June Luker
Dustin Leolani Manning
Olivia May Matheson
Lane Matthews
Audrey Kate McKeon
Evelyn Kim Melville
Talia Chabrán Merrill
Dawson Miles Merwin
Peyton Holiday Merwin
Taylor Mariko Miyasaki-Hoopes
Adam Myers
Brock T. Nye
Karenna Ann Olson
Nolan James Opp
Kendall Oswald
Chase Wyatt Pope
Teresa Jaime Porras
Alba Mae Pratt
Rebecka Kinsley Rapier
Mikayla Lee Reynolds
Kevin Salins
Moriah Sarah Salins
Jacob Hunter Seawright
Mia Shirts
Jacob B. Smith
Olivia Sperry
Annalisha Kay Staples
Jon Braden Stauffer
Maxym Jay Sutton
Ella Nicole Thomas
Clara Walz
Alex Weiland
Benjamin Casey Whitted
Tyler Manning Wright
Provost’s List for Four or More Semesters
Semester grade-point average at or above 3.5
Baileigh Aland
Isaac Brent Armstrong
Jillian Arnold
Ethan Jefferson Ashton
Gabrielle Atwood
Joshua Axtell
Heidi Barton
Sydney Heather Bassett
Mary Elizabeth Baxter
Libbee Rachel Bingham
Makade Dalvin Bradley
Kamryn Day Bradshaw
Cecily Corinne Bramhall
Jeremy D. Brown
Jackson Burbidge
Joshua Cannon
Kedryn Chandler
Dallin Joel Chappell
Jenna Kate Claytor
Brenna Clyde
Elizabeth Dalebout
Aiden Rich Darrington
Lauren S. DeNys
Anna Dryden
Matthew Paul Dryden
Caden Richard Eskelsen
Lilian Eskelsen
Sawyer Ferry
Brooke Estelle Franklin
J. Rockwell Giles
Wendi Joan Goldthorpe
Brianna Lynne Gonzales
Natalie Rae Goodfellow
Emily Hailstone
Arianna Raquel Prymak
Maybel Harris
MacGregor James Henrichsen
Tyson Rex Hoopes
Callum Hyland
Noah Saskia Jaeger
Aricin Neil James
Miranda Elizabeth Johnson
Dykell Jones
Tyler Kartchner
Katelyn Anna Leinbach
G. Weston LeNeave
MaKenzie Losee
Melia June Luker
Justin Gray Madsen
McKayla Weingardt
Lane Matthews
Breanna Rhae McGill
Audrey Kate McKeon
Talia Chabrán Merrill
Dawson Miles Merwin
Peyton Holiday Merwin
Taylor Mariko Miyasaki-Hoopes
Adam Myers
Chloe Nelson
Addison Kate Newman
Katelyn Marie Noble
Brock T. Nye
Whitney Beth Ofa
Karenna Ann Olson
Nolan James Opp
Kendall Oswald
Chase Wyatt Pope
Teresa Jaime Porras
Jenna Grace Porterfield
Alba Mae Pratt
Rebecka Kinsley Rapier
Mikayla Lee Reynolds
Tate Rusick
Kevin Salins
Moriah Sarah Salins
Jacob Hunter Seawright
Christian Eric Sheaffer
Mia Shirts
Jacob B. Smith
Olivia Sperry
Madisen Staples
Jessica Stone
Maxym Jay Sutton
Ella Nicole Thomas
Clara Walz
Alex Weiland
Alyssa Weiland
Benjamin Casey Whitted
Barrus Scholars (green cord)
Excellence in the Liberal Arts
Matthew Buongiovanni
Caitlyn Ellis
Chi Epsilon Omega (purple & gold cord)
Business Honor Society
Ethan Jefferson Ashton
Heidi Barton
Makade Dalvin Bradley
Kedryn Chandler
Aiden Rich Darrington
Sawyer Ferry
Arianna Raquel Prymak
MacGregor James Henrichsen
Malia Fuatai Fuailelagi Hickman
Zachary Scott Jones
MaKenzie Losee
Brock T. Nye
Rebecka Kinsley Rapier
Tate Rusick
Jacob Hunter Seawright
Christian Eric Sheaffer
Benjamin Casey Whitted
Omicron Delta Kappa (white, black & light blue cord)
National Leadership Honor Society
Isaac Brent Armstrong
Devin T. Barbee
Heidi Barton
Kai Alexandra Barton
Makade Dalvin Bradley
Jeremy D. Brown
Samuel Barlow Candland
Caden Richard Eskelsen
Lilian Eskelsen
Wendi Joan Goldthorpe
Maura Kate Hawkes
Tyson Rex Hoopes
Hannah Nicole Husted
Alicia Marie McBride
Audrey Kate McKeon
Taylor Mariko Miyasaki-Hoopes
Sione Ofa
Whitney Beth Ofa
Chase Wyatt Pope
Teresa Jaime Porras
Mikaera David Puriri
Annalisha Kay Staples
Sione Tokelau
Phi Alpha Theta (red & light blue cord)
History Honor Society
Callum Hyland
Miranda Elizabeth Johnson
Melia June Luker
Luke Peay
Tyler Manning Wright
Phi Kappa Phi (blue & gold medallion)
All-Discipline Honor Society
Isaac Brent Armstrong
Ethan Jefferson Ashton
Caitlyn Ellis
MacGregor James Henrichsen
Noah Saskia Jaeger
Miranda Elizabeth Johnson
Melia June Luker
Lane Matthews
Dawson Miles Merwin
Adam Myers
Karenna Ann Olson
Rebecka Kinsley Rapier
Clara Walz
Phi Sigma Tau (white & purple cords)
Philosophy Honor Society
Matthew Buongiovanni
Moriah Sarah Salins
Psi Chi (navy & silver cord)
International Honor Society
Wendi Joan Goldthorpe
Abigail Delong Gray
Miranda Elizabeth Johnson
McKayla Weingardt
Sigma Delta Pi (red & gold cord)
Spanish Honor Society
Isaac Brent Armstrong
MacGregor James Henrichsen
Hannah Nicole Husted
Tyler Kartchner
Karenna Ann Olson
Graduation Distinctions
Leader-Servant Graduation Distinction (crimson & gold medallion)
Completed 100 hours of community service, including a capstone project
Kai Alexandra Barton
Heidi Barton
Kamryn Day Bradshaw
Saakina Patsy Chan
Mason Henry Davis
Caitlyn Ellis
Wendi Joan Goldthorpe
Abigail Delong Gray
Audrey Kate McKeon
Whitney Beth Ofa
Polosomo L. Rhyne
Benjamin Casey Whitted
Martha Bakkemo Loyalty Award (Jefferson Cup)
Exceptional loyalty to Southern Virginia University
Hannah Husted
Pioneer Award (Jefferson Cup)
Honors Leadership and Lasting Legacy
Whitney Ofa
Institute Graduates (white cord)
Church Educational System
Baileigh Aland
Isaac Brent Armstrong
Ethan Jefferson Ashton
Kai Alexandra Barton
Sydney Heather Bassett
Libbee Rachel Bingham
Makade Dalvin Bradley
Kamryn Day Bradshaw
Jeremy D. Brown
Samuel Barlow Candland
Saakina Patsy Chan
Kedryn Chandler
Brenna Clyde
Michael Stewart Ellis
Rachel Lynn Grange
Emily Hailstone
Benjamin R. Horsley
Dykell Jones
Kenyon Kemp
Katelyn Anna Leinbach
McKayla Weingardt
Breanna Rhae McGill
Audrey Kate McKeon
Taylor Mariko Miyasaki-Hoopes
Breanne Kellyn Moore
Rebecca Moore
Addison Kate Newman
Kendall Oswald
Alba Mae Pratt
Mikayla Lee Reynolds
Polosomo L. Rhyne
Tate Rusick
Kevin Salins
Moriah Sarah Salins
Makayla Alyse Schaffer
Mason Scott Schlensker
Annalisha Kay Staples
Madisen Staples
Adalyn Thorpe
Sione Tokelau
Benjamin Casey Whitted
Tyler Manning Wright
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Campus Map
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Lodging, Dining & Activities
As one of the most beautiful times to visit the Shenandoah Valley, we recommend all visitors review the below recommendations for lodging, dining, and activities.
Local Businesses & Deals
Straws
2047 Magnolia Ave., Buena Vista, VA
Family-friendly soda shop in downtown Buena Vista offering mixed drinks, snacks, and games.
The BeeVe: Sweet Souvenirs
2175 Magnolia Ave., Buena Vista, VA
Ice cream, soda, and souvenir shop. New merchandise designs, ice cream flavors, and sales will be available during graduation week.
Katana: Sushi and Hibachi Express
1913 Magnolia Ave., Buena Vista, VA
Authentic Japanese sushi and hibachi restaurant with dine-in and takeout options.
Vinyl Cuts
2159 Magnolia Ave., Buena Vista, VA
Gift shop specializing in custom cut shirts, banners, and signs.