Commencement Ceremonies

Processional

Administration and Official Guests
Faculty
Class of 2024

Welcome

James Lambert, Provost

Hymn

“How Firm a Foundation”
Text Attr. to Robert Keen, ca. 1787; Music attr. to J. Ellis, ca. 1889

Invocation

Delcia Coolbear, Class of 2024

Opening Remarks and Introduction of Speakers

James Lambert, Provost

Valedictorian Address

Joanna Porter, Class of 2024

Address

Elder Vaiangina Sikahema, General Authority Seventy

Conferral of Degrees

Bonnie H. Cordon, President
James Lambert, Provost
Hugh Redd, Chair, Board of Trustees
Glade Knight, Emeritus Board of Trustees
Deidra Dryden, VP of Advancement & Development
Samuel Hirt, Associate Provost

Closing Remarks

Bonnie H. Cordon, President

Music

“Shenandoah”
American Folk Song, 19th century

Benediction

Samuel Petty, Class of 2024

Music

“Pomp and Circumstance”
Composed by Edward Elgar, 1857–1934

“How Firm a Foundation”
Text Attr. to Robert Keen, ca. 1787; Music attr. to J. Ellis, ca. 1889

How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

“Shenandoah”
American Folk Song, 19th century

Conductors

Kyle Nielsen, Director of Choral Studies
Julia Evans, Class of 2024

String Quartet

Katelyn Leinbach, violin
Thomasin Schkrohowsky, violin
Felicity Clayton, viola
Annalisha Staples, cello

Vocalists

Abbegail Pennington, Class of 2024

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

Joanna Porter

Salutatorian (gold cord)

Cumulative grade-point average 4.0

Ryan Armstrong

Cumulative Grade-point Average 4.0 (gold cord)

Ryan Armstrong
Nykiah Baisden
Miriam Bonney
Nicholas Daynes
William Hughes
Sabra Larson Lott
Emmaline Merrill
Natalya Millet
Skyler Nelson
Joanna Porter
Clark Sheaffer
Jared Smith
Robin Williams

University Honors (antique gold cord)

Completion of the Honors Program and Honors Thesis

Ryan Armstrong
Nathan Blackwell
Gabriel Gorham
Skyler Nelson
Emmaline Merrill
Emily Roth
Jared Smith

President’s List for Two or More Semesters

Semester grade-point average in the top ten percent of current students

Ryan Armstrong
Nykiah Baisden
Sarina Betts
Anna Bonney
Miriam Bonney
Corinne Brubaker
Baylee Bruce
Sarah Bunker
Ethan Campbell
Ashley Cannon
Nicholas Daynes
Julia Evans
Gabriel Gorham
Riley Jo Heward
Haislee Hill
Madison Hollenbeck
William Hughes
Tayma Johnson
Porter Jones
Samuel Justice
Reilly Kartchner
Emma Knight
Ammon Lewis
Annalyce Leuck
Samuel Larson Lott
Madison Bogh Lloyd
Kobe Lowery
Devon Mason
Jex Mecham
Emmaline Merrill
Quinton Meyer
Natalya Millet
Skyler Nelson
Olivia Norton
Sally Osterman
Joanna Porter
Piper Searle
Clark Sheaffer
Jared Smith
Nathalie Smith
Kayley Wardle
Kennedy White
Alea Willis
Jake Wilson

Provost’s List for Four or More Semesters

Semester grade-point average at or above 3.5

Ryan Armstrong
Brynne Baldwin
Anna Bonney
Miriam Bonney
Corinne Brubaker
Bayley Bruce
Ethan Campbell
Morgan Carter
Delcia Coolbear
Nicholas Daynes
Emma Knight Denney
Emily Donbrosky
Addison England
Julia Evans
Gabriel Gorham
Ally Haney
Eric Helzer
Tyler Hermansen
Riley Jo Heward
Haislee Hill
Sophia Hirst
Sarah Bunker Hughes
William Hughes
Tayma Johnson
Porter Jones
Samuel Justice
Reilly Kartchner
Alex Lanktree
Samuel Larson
Michaela LaSauce
Ammon Lewis
Sabra Larson Lott
Annalyce Leuck
Devon Mason
Jex Mecham
Quinton Meyer
Skyler Nelson
Sally Osterman
Elisabeth Pack
Samuel Petty
Joanna Porter
Emily Roth
Clark Sheaffer
Jared Smith
Nathalie Smith
Braden Spurlock
Kayley Wardle
Angela Wenk
Kennedy White
Alea Willis
Jake Wilson

Barrus Scholars (green chord)

Excellence in the Liberal Arts

Ryan Armstrong
Emmaline Merrill

Chi Epsilon Omega (purple & gold cord)

Business Honor Society

Miriam Bonney
Michael Brown
MacGregor Henrichsen
Nathan Losee
Jex Mecham
Quinton Meyer
Samuel Petty
Joanna Porter
Rebecca Porter
Jacob Seawright
Jared Smith
Kennedy White
Luke Wilson

Omicron Delta Kappa (white, black & light blue cord)

National Leadership Honor Society

Ethan Campbell
Nicholas Daynes
Ricardo Diego
Addison England
Sophia Hirst
Hadley Jacob
Emma Knight
Kobe Lowery
Nathan Losee
Devon Mason
Matthew McCubbins
Emmaline Merrill
Sally Osterman
Sydney Pope
Joanna Porter
Piper Searle
Jared Smith
Braden Spurlock
Alea Willis

Phi Alpha Theta (red & light blue cord)

History Honor Society

Emily Donbrosky
Braden Spurlock
Eric Helzer
Michaela LaSauce
Johnston Mackie
Jex Mecham

Phi Kappa Phi (blue & gold medallion)

All-Discipline Honor Society

Ryan Armstrong
Anna Bonney
Miriam Bonney
William Hughes
Sabra Larson Lott
Tayma Johnson
Emmaline Merrill
Skyler Nelson
Joanna Porter
Clark Sheaffer
Jared Smith

Phi Sigma Tau (white & purple cords)

Philosophy Honor Society

Alex Cox
Sabra Larson Lott

Psi Chi (navy & silver cord)

International Honor Society

Baylee Bruce
Nicholas Daynes
Emma Knight Denney
Addison England
Grant Johnson
Tayma Johnson
Alex Lanktree
Joanna LeBaron
Devon Mason

Sigma Delta Pi (red & gold cord)

Spanish Honor Society

Alex Cox
Johnston Mackie
Joanna Porter

Graduation Distinctions

Leader-Servant Graduation Distinction (crimson & gold medallion)

Completed 100 hours of community service, including a capstone project

Nicholas Baker
Miriam Bonney
Ricardo Diego
Piper Searle

Institute Graduates (white cord)

Church Educational System

Ryan Armstrong
Miriam Bonney
Addison Bray
Christian Clement
Delcia Coolbear
Alex Cox
Misa Eller
Madeline Fisher
Sophia Hirst
Grant Johnson
Tayma Johnson
Porter Jones
Reilly Karchner
Emma Knight
Daniel Lawhorne
Annalyce Leuck
Nathan Losee
Gabriel Martinez
Abbegail Pennington
Terell Phillips, II
Joanna Porter
Rebecca Porter
Sheridan Schoen
David Smith
Braden Spurlock
Ammon Uasilaa
Donna Marie Walker
Jake Wilson

New tabLocal airports, driving directions, and campus map

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

Flowers & Things at Sycamore Lane
2265 Beech Ave., Buena Vista, VA
Full service flower and gift shop.

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.