For Immediate Release
Welch College Graduates 75 in Commencement Exercises
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College conferred degrees on 75 students, according to Provost Matthew McAffee. Commencement exercises were held in the Student Activities center. The gymnasium space was converted into a 700-plus seating auditorium for the Baccalaureate service on Thursday evening, May 4, and the Commencement ceremony on Friday morning, May 5. The college awarded degrees in multiple programs, including associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, the Master of Arts degree in Theology and Ministry, the Master of Arts in Teaching degree, and for the first time, the Master of Divinity degree.
Dr. Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, delivered the Commencement address. Rev. Brad Ryan, pastor of Ina Free Will Baptist Church in Ina, Illinois, delivered the Baccalaureate sermon.
President Matt Pinson recognized Matthew Bracey, Vice Provost, for his ten years of faithful service as a faculty member and administrator. Dr. Ian Hawkins, Assistant Professor of Biology and Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, was named Academic Advisor of the Year. The college also awarded the inaugural Teacher of the Year Award to Dr. Linda Shipley, Professor of Music.
The college congratulates the 2023 graduating class and commends them to the service of Christ and the transformational work of His kingdom.
Associate of Science Degrees
Matthew Dillon Alphin
Kinston, North Carolina
Ministry
Cadence Cara Beauchamp
Plant City, Florida
Business
Erica La’Nise Boone
Gallatin, Tennessee
Business
Julia Faith Chandler
Pleasant View, Tennessee
Biology
Meril Makensie Moss DeFrank
Gallatin, Tennessee
Biology
Karrah Nicole Johnson
Sumerco, West Virginia
Biology
Colson Laine Puckett
Gallatin, Tennessee
Business
Sarah Marie Reynolds
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Biology
Corinne Lee Washington
Gallatin, Tennessee
Biology
Associate of Arts Degrees
Juanell Elizah Chapman
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Jackson Lee Hester
Gallatin, Tennessee
Justin Charles Hester
Spring Hill, Tennessee
Faith Ashley Miller
Gallatin, Tennessee
Alexander Nichole Tuttle
Portland, Tennessee
Teaching
Bachelor of Science Degrees
Erric Tyrone Adams, Jr.
Nashville, Tennessee
Business Administration
Kyra Alisse Anderson**
Chapmansboro, Tennessee
Exercise Science
Harlee Christann Branson
Vilonia, Arkansas
Business Administration
Licensure K-12
Madison Lynn Carnes***
Wilson, North Carolina
Business Administration
Joseph Roy Cooper
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Business Administration
Loren Danielle Craig
Hermitage, Tennessee
Early Childhood Education
Shelby Elizabeth Dilda**
La Grange, North Carolina
Mathematics Education
Caleb Ronald Franks
Hamilton, Alabama
Pastoral Ministry
Brian David Fritts**
Limestone, Tennessee
General Christian Ministry
Andrew Robert Glass
Springfield, Ohio
General Christian Ministry
Jacob Alan Hannis
South Roxana, Illinois
Exercise Science
Gabrielle Jean Hicks*
Arkansas City, Kansas
Psychology
Ashley Elizabeth Holland**
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Child Development and Learning
Licensure K-12, EL
John Alexander Howell
Chipley, Florida
General Christian Ministry
James Alan Hunt
Gallatin, Tennessee
Theological Studies
Brian Jay Johnson**
Gallatin, Tennessee
Biology
Kylah Alexandria Kivette***
Seymour, Tennessee
Mathematics Education
Licensure 6-12
Chloe Michelle Lawson*
Nashville, Tennessee
General Christian Ministry
Caia Gabrielle Lytle***
Ashland City, Tennessee
Psychology
Joshua Tyler Mayo
Greenville, North Carolina
General Christian Ministry
Bradley Troy Mercer
Raleigh, North Carolina
Exercise Science
Lanae Marie Miller
Park Hills, Missouri
Child Development and Learning
Bethany Rose Milling***
Ashland City, Tennessee
Child Development and Learning
Licensure K-5, EL
Mitchell Edward Moody***
Clayton, North Carolina
Mathematics Education
Licensure 6-12
Music Education
Licensure K-12
McKennah Linde Moore*
Locust Grove, Oklahoma
English Education
Licensure 6-12
Kerena Nicole Morton*
Norfolk, Virginia
Child Development and Learning
Kevan Austin Owen*
Mooreville, Mississippi
Pastoral Ministry
Chance Hammond Pride
Louisville, Tennessee
Business Administration
Chelsea Leigh Rackley***
New Bern, North Carolina
Business Administration
Samuel José Rodríguez***
Miami, Florida
Music Education
Licensure K-12
Music Performance
Olivia Grace Ryan***
Ina, Illinois
Biology Education
Licensure 6-12
Chandler Aidan Spradlin***
Hoxie, Arkansas
Exercise Science
Lauren Heather Thomas***
Morristown, Tennessee
Child Development and Learning
Luke Everett Tyler***
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Youth and Family Ministry
Jackson Taylor Watts**
Pleasant View, Tennessee
Pastoral Ministry
Lauren Elizabeth Weese**
Greenville, North Carolina
Exercise Science
Rylan Gray Willaford**
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Business Administration
Mancer Camern Wilson
Columbia, South Carolina
Business Administration
Bachelor of Arts Degrees
Caleb Isaiah Boivin
Gallatin, Tennessee
English
Caleb Mark Creech
Macon, Georgia
English
Nicolas Isaiah Cruz*
Bristol, Tennessee
Humanities and Arts
Daniel David Delgado
Russellville, Arkansas
Intercultural Studies
Jacob Adam Johnson**
Smithville, Mississippi
Pastoral Ministry
Raygan Elizabeth Sellers**
Pleasant View, Tennessee
Humanities and Arts
Master of Arts Degrees
Kevin Thomas Banberger
Clayton, North Carolina
Theology and Ministry
Eric L. Brown
Cedar Hill, Tennessee
Theology and Ministry
Billy Johnathan Champion
Folkston, Georgia
Theology and Ministry
Ryan Daniel Curtis
Paragould, Arkansas
Theology and Ministry
Michael Adam Holloway
Pikeville, Tennessee
Theology and Ministry
Anna Grace Kozyutynskyi
Nashville, Tennessee
Theology and Ministry
Derreck Andrew Lute
Wheelersburg, Ohio
Theology and Ministry
Jacob Tyler Lute
Gallatin, Tennessee
Theology and Ministry
Michael Houston Pugh
New Bern, North Carolina
Theology and Ministry
Theron Barton Scott
Turbeville, South Carolina
Theology and Ministry
Theron Barton Scott
Turbeville, South Carolina
Theology and Ministry
Theron Barton Scott
Turbeville, South Carolina
Theology and Ministry
THESIS: The Office and Mission of the Deacon: What It Means “To Serve Tables” in the Twenty-First Century
Mark Edward Webster
Gallatin, Tennessee
Theology and Ministry
Master of Arts in Teaching Degrees
Abby Grace Bragg
Senoia, Georgia
Special Education
AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE COMPENDIUM:
Effective Strategies for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Jennifer Lavonne Connor
Portland, Tennessee
Instructional Leadership
AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE COMPENDIUM:
The Relationship between Social and Emotional Skills and Academic Success
Rachel Elizabeth Goode
Champaign, Illinois
Teaching
AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE COMPENDIUM:
Growth Mindset, Motivation, and Grit in the Classroom
Amy Rene Lytle
Nashville, Tennessee
Instructional Leadership
AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE COMPENDIUM:
An Educational Leader’s Role in the Well-Being of Teachers and the Overall School Culture
Master of Divinity Degrees
Joshua Allen Hunter
Pleasant View, Tennessee
Dustin Michael Walters
Hamilton, Alabama
*** Summa Cum Laude – 3.75
** Magna Cum Laude – 3.50
* Cum Laude – 3.25