MSSU commencement ceremonies set for Saturday

(From Southern News Service)

The 61^st graduating class at Missouri Southern State University includes 52 students who will graduate with honors during commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Thirteen students will graduate summa cum laude, with a grade point average of 3.90 or above. Six of those students earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average: Miranda Blanchard, Tiffany Henning, Tanya Kimbrough, Ivy Littles, Katie McKibben and Christina Wilson.

Twenty-four students will graduate magna cum laude, with a grade point average of 3.80 to 3.89, and 13 students will graduate cum laude, with a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.79.

Four students receiving an associate degree will graduate with first honors, with a grade point average of 3.90 or above. Seven students will receive second honors, with a grade point average of 3.80 to 3.89.

Ceremonies will be aired live on KGCS-TV, which can be found over the air on channel 22. The station is also available on local cable systems, including Cable One, Mediacom and Suddenlink. The event will be rebroadcast on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Graduates will be able to purchase DVD copies of the ceremony. For information on how to order DVDs, contact Judy Stiles at 417-625-9777 or e-mail stiles-j@mssu.edu.

The ceremony will also be streamed live at www.mssu.edu.

BACCALAUREATE DEGREES

 Summa cum laude (grade point average of 3.90 or above)

Julie Anderson, Columbia
Miranda Blanchard, Lamar
Holly Boles, Joplin
Heather Caldwell, Baxter Springs, Kan.
Debra Gaskill, Joplin
Edward Hembree, Diamond
Tiffany Henning, Carl Junction
Tanya Kimbrough, Stella
Ivy Littles, Carthage
Katie McKibben, Neosho
Rebecca Moore, Joplin
Lindsey Sjorlund, Webb City
Christina Wilson, Webb City

Magna cum laude (grade point average of 3.80 to 3.89)

Justin Barker, Stella
Valerie Black, Duenweg
Amanda Cupp, Joplin
Josiah Edings, Parsons, Kan.
William Ehrheart, Pittsburg, Kan.
Elizabeth Emmerich, California
Jared Frey, Pierce City
Chiew Gan, Carl Junction
Christanne Gayman, Schell City
Jarrett Gilliam, Pineville
Sarah Hall, El Dorado
Brian Harlow, Parsons, Kan.
Amber Korn, Carthage
Matthew Middleton, Joplin
Sunny Musgrave, Seneca
Joanna Persons, Neosho
Bethany Peters, Miami, Okla.
Jesse Poynter, Monett
Beth Purcell, Coppell, S.C.
Jennifer Roberts, Joplin
Christopher Smith, Joplin
Peter Thompson, Joplin
Logan Walker, Webb City
Natalie Ward, Shell Knob

Cum laude (grade point average of 3.70 to 3.79)

Zelina Ambrosius, Carthage
Ava Baggetta, Mesa, Ariz.
Christina Brady, Joplin
Colby Bridges, Carthage
Joseph Cumming, Neosho
Hailey DeGraw, Carl Junction
Michaela Doerr, Webb City
Jennifer Hosp, Carl Junction
Holly Kingore, Joplin
Misti Lopez, Neosho
Ashley Robbins, Joplin
Megan Ross, Joplin
Steven Tuggle, Webb City

ASSOCIATE DEGREES

First honors (grade point average of 3.9 or above)

Julie Anderson, Columbia
Casey Crain, Nevada
Tanya Kimbrough, Stella
Christina Wilson, Webb City

Second honors (grade point average of 3.80 to 3.89)

Justin Barker, Stella
Valerie Black, Duenweg
Elizabeth Emmerich, California
Jarrett Gilliam, Pineville
Brian Harlow, Parsons, Kan.
Jennifer Roberts, Joplin
Jonna Welch, Bolivar