University of Mobile Announces Top Honors, Awards Diplomas

On May 7, approximately 420 graduates were awarded master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees during commencement at 10 a.m. at the Mobile Civic Center.

During graduation, top honors were awarded to 50 outstanding graduates. The university's highest honor, the H. Austill Pharr Award, was presented to Heidi J. Hutcheson of Billings, Montana. She was selected by the university faculty as the senior who best exemplifies the attainment of education values consonant with the purpose and objective of the institution. Hutcheson, who graduated summa cum laude and with honors, received a master of business administration and a bachelor of science in accounting degree. She was awarded the Alumni Award in recognition of her 4.0 gpa as well the area award in accounting, School of Business Award and William K. Weaver Honorary Fellows Undergraduate Award.

Robin McKee Richardson of Bayou La Batre, Ala., received the Annie Boyd Parker Weaver Auxiliary Award for the female senior who best exemplifies the outstanding qualities of character, leadership and service. Richardson, who graduated with a bachelor of arts in humanities, also received the area award in humanities.

Nathan M. Blaylock of Mobile, Ala., received the University of Mobile Regents Award for the male senior who best exemplifies the outstanding qualities of character, leadership and service. Blaylock graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business administration.

Lawrence Herring of Mobile, Ala., received the President’s Leadership Award presented to the non-traditional-age student who best exemplifies both Christian leadership and academic excellence. Herring graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in organizational administration and leadership.

The J.L. Bedsole Awards were presented to: Deena Katherine O’Dillon of Mobile, Ala., summa cum laude, bachelor of science in music education, Alumni Award,; Christopher Steven Lockwood of Mobile, Ala., bachelor of music in church music, area award church music, and April Louise Jackson of Robertsdale, Ala., bachelor of science degree in nursing. The Bedsole Awards are given to students who have demonstrated the most significant progress while at the university.

The William K. Weaver Honorary Fellows Graduate Award was presented to John Charles Dean of Daphne, Ala., honors, master of business administration. Dean also received the School of Business MBA Award.

The University of Mobile Alumni Award is presented to students with the highest grade point average in the bachelor's and associate degree programs. Those who received the Alumni Award for having a perfect 4.0 grade point average while at UM, in addition to Hutcheson were Kathy Denise Gill of Mobile, Ala., summa cum laude, associate degree in science; Theresa Carol Harrison of Mobile, Ala., summa cum laude, associate degree in nursing; Anna Pilar Brito of Daphne, Ala., summa cum laude, bachelor of arts in English, College of Arts and Sciences Award, area award English; Erin Lea Hase of Mobile, Ala., summa cum laude, bachelor of arts in political science, area award political science; Mary Ann Hamblin of Ocean Springs, Miss., summa cum laude, bachelor of science degree in organizational administration and leadership; Yolanda C. Hicks-Thames of Mobile, Ala., magna cum laude, associate of science degree in general studies; Jonathan David Lee of Citronelle, Ala., magna cum laude, bachelor of science in business administration, area award business administration; Rhoda Pamela McCarty of Monroe, La., bachelor of science in organizational administration and leadership; Michael Eric Nelson of Creola, Ala., bachelor of science in organizational administration and leadership; Michelle Bradley Rolls of Grand Bay, Ala., bachelor of science in organizational administration and leadership.

School and Area Awards were presented to: Alison Grace Chatel of Mobile, Ala., honors, master of arts in marriage and family counseling, School of Christian Studies MA Award; Billie Gail Purvis of Wilmer, Ala., honors, master of arts in elementary and early childhood education, School of Education MA Award; Cynthia Louise Op’t Holt of Daphne, Ala., honors, master of science in nursing, School of Nursing MSN Award; Sylvia Ann Bedgood of Mobile, Ala., bachelor of arts in sociology, area award sociology; Heather Marie Fricke of Fort Collins, Colo., bachelor of arts in art, area award art; Vernetta Renae Myers of Saraland, Ala., bachelor of arts in political science, area award political science; Joshua Nehemiah Nicholson of Semmes, Ala., bachelor of arts in theatre, area award theatre; Holly Michelle Person of Fort Collins, Colo., bachelor of arts in art, area award art; Matthew David Walding of Dothan, Ala., bachelor of arts in music, area award music; Diana Lambeth Bondurant of Flomaton, Ala., bachelor of science in mathematics, area award mathematics; Rebecca Diane Durham of Baton Rouge, La., bachelor of science in marine science and biology, area award marine science; Melody Denise Hopkins of Saraland, Ala., cum laude, bachelor of science in biology, area award biology, area award secondary education; Margaret Ann Kendall of Sioux Falls, S.D., bachelor of science in social science, area award social science; Kevin Paul Laux of Covington, La., cum laude, bachelor of science in psychology, area award psychology; Hazel Sarah Wilkerson of Huntsville, Ala., summa cum laude, bachelor of science in music education, area award music education; Charity Pierce Wittner of Mobile, Ala., cum laude, bachelor of science in psychology, area award psychology; Cosetta Yvonne Grant of Freeport, Bahamas, bachelor of science in business administration and computer information systems, area award computer information systems; Jonathan David Lee of Citronelle, Ala., magna cum laude, bachelor of science in business administration, area award business administration; Gordon D. Fields, Sr., of Semmes, Ala., bachelor of arts in religion, School of Christian Studies Award; Jonathon Scott Swanner of Athens, Ala., summa cum laude, bachelor of arts in religion, area award Christian Studies; Megan Elizabeth Baker of Liberty, Miss., bachelor of science in athletic training, area award athletic training; Teri Albertson Keeton of Fairhope, Ala., bachelor of science in elementary education, School of Education Award; Jason Miniaci of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, bachelor of science in human performance and exercise science, area award HPES; Garth Stringer Smith of Spanish Fort, Ala., bachelor of science in early childhood education, area award early childhood education; Laura Catherine Waters of Opelika, Ala., magna cum laude, bachelor of science in elementary education, area award elementary education; Emily Ann Daniel of Atmore, Ala., magna cum laude, bachelor of science in organizational administration and leadership, School of Leadership Development Award; William D. Gardner of Daphne, Ala., summa cum laude, bachelor of science in organizational administration and leadership, area award organizational administration and leadership; Meredith Beatrice Hardy of Mobile, Ala., bachelor of science in nursing, area award psychiatric nursing; Amanda Rose Jenkins of Wilmer, Ala., cum laude, bachelor of science in nursing, area award obstetric nursing; Sherry Leigh Maloy of Mobile, Ala., bachelor of science in nursing, area award pediatric nursing; Nicole Diane Nicholas of Saraland, Ala., bachelor of science in nursing, area award community health nursing; Mary Abigail Tomberlin of Mobile, Ala., bachelor of science in nursing, School of Nursing BSN Award; Amanda Bettner Volovecky of Daphne, Ala., bachelor of science in nursing, area award medical-surgical nursing; Jillian Marla Davis of Semmes, Ala., associate degree in nursing, area award obstetric nursing; Sharon J. Orso of Irvington, Ala., associate degree in nursing, area award pediatric nursing; Sandra Patricia Williams Steele of Fruitdale, Ala., cum laude, associate degree in nursing, School of Nursing ADN Award; James C. Strickland of Mobile, Ala., associate degree in nursing, area award psychiatric nursing; and Tammy Denise Tucker of Fairhope, Ala., associate degree in nursing, area award medical-surgical nursing.