Morris College Celebrates Graduates with In-Person Commencement Convocation

May 26, 2021

Enter to Learn; Depart to Serve

Morris College For Immediate Release
Institutional Advancement
100 West College Street Sumter, South Carolina 29150
tferguson@morris.edu| https://www.morris.edu/

Sumter, S.C. (May, 2021) – Morris College celebrated its Class of 2021 with an in-person outdoor Commencement Convocation on May 1, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. on the lawn in front of the Solomon B. Jackson, Jr. Administration Building. Mask wearing was enforced and the graduates were only allowed to have three guests each attend the ceremony. Others were able to view the live-streamed ceremony via Facebook.

Among the highlights of the Spring 2021 Commencement Convocation was the awarding of three honorary degrees to passionate supporters of Morris College by Dr. Leroy Staggers, Morris College president. Elder J. Elbert Williams, a native Sumterite, a passionate supporter of Morris College, and a community-involved person who looks forward to a lifetime of service to God and humanity received the honorary degree of doctor of divinity along with Dr. Toney C. Parks, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, who ‘loves the Lord, honors his wife, lives for his family, and is dedicated to the church.’ Hilda D. Gadsden received the honorary degree of doctor of humane letters. Gadsden has been President of the Woman’s Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina since January 2019 and her hard work and determination also resulted in her having served as President of the South Carolina Association of Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows, Inc., and the Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows of Charleston County and Vicinity. Gadson is also a former president of the South Carolina State Employees Association.

Not only were three honorary degrees conferred during the annual commencement ceremony, this year’s graduation class included nearly 100 graduates who either plan to further their educational careers or start working immediately. Recently commissioned as Army 2nd Lieutenant, Derrell Watson was among the graduates and Kenton Kelley, who plans to attend Kansas State University in August and major in Community and Urban Development. Kelley credits learning “self-discipline” to Morris College and believes Morris College has helped mold him into the young man he is now.

The Honorable J. David Weeks, an attorney at law, member of the South Carolina State Legislature, religious and civic activist, and current chairman of the Morris College Board of Trustees, and alumnus of the college encouraged the graduates to keep going and not lose the spiritual foundation and lessons that they learned at Morris and to use those same skills to “unlock doors that may have locked you out” and as a “Morris College Man or Woman” follow the college’s motto “Depart to Serve” to “make the world a better place.”

List of 2021 Graduates
* Completed Degree Requirements Summer 2020 ** Completed Degree Requirements December 2020

CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE

**Johntavia Marianna Baxter	Sociology	Lancaster
Sigourney Xi`An Boyd-Ligon, *Cum Laude*	Liberal Studies	Greenville
Briosha Na’Tia Brunson	Sociology	Loris
**Jalen Tramond Colvin	English	Rock Hill
Rayna Kristina Keona Crosby, Cum Laude**	Criminal Justice	Georgetown
Kasean Marquell Daniels	Sociology	Sumter
**Zyiara Olantis Davis	Sociology	Pamplico
Tynasha Jamesa Durant, *Cum Laude*	Sociology	Bishopville
Shandra Latile Graham, Cum Laude**	Criminal Justice	Lake City
Octavius DeVonta`e Green	Criminal Justice	Saint George
Dai`Naiza Zyaire Horton, *Magna Cum Laude*	Sociology	Bennettsville
Patrick Lopaze Jeffcoat, *Cum Laude*	Pastoral Ministry	Sumter
Mirakle Elease Johnson, *Cum Laude*	Criminal Justice	Aiken
Jennifer Kieara Jones	Sociology	Salley
T’Keyah I. Kittrell, Cum Laude**	Criminal Justice	Sumter
Shayneka Tynasia Leverett, *Magna Cum Laude*	English	Sumter
Jawan Matt Linnen, *Cum Laude*	Criminal Justice	Georgetown
**Nejla Ayanna Maddox	Liberal Studies	Conway
**Zy`kia Monique Plowden	Criminal Justice	Summerton
Jasmine Symone Rodgers	Criminal Justice	Pinewood
**Da`Kerhia Seandra Samuel	Criminal Justice	Dillon
Daijia La`Condria Steele	Criminal Justice	Mount Pleasant, NC
Talyric Alidai Toney, *Cum Laude*	Liberal Studies	Hartsville
**Bresia Jhan`e Vaughn	Sociology	Blythewood
Gabrielle DeKara Watkins, Cum Laude**	Sociology	Harper Woods, MI
**Yasmine Nasha Wheeler	Criminal Justice	Hartsville
Branden Marquee Williamson , Cum Laude**	Liberal Studies	Pamplico

CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS DEGREE

Shakyra DeAsia Carter	Mass Communications	Kingstree
Raveen RaGail Childs, *Cum Laude*	Mass Communications	Greenville
Broderick Ivan Gaither, II	Mass Communications	Kershaw
Trayvon Arthur Terrell Jefferson	Mass Communications	Wedgefield
Ty`Dreck La`Garrus Kinney	Mass Communications	Kennesaw, GA
Maegan Aleeya Lawhorne, *Cum Laude*	Mass Communications	Ridgeway
Joshua Thomas Richardson, Cum Laude**	Mass Communications	Sumter
*Tramine Razhane’ Nature-Keoshia Searcy	Mass Communications	Decatur, GA

CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE

DeAngelo Carnell Adams, Cum Laude**	Recreation Administration	Florence
Charles Kennedy Brown, Cum Laude**	Organizational Management	Sumter
Janay Tiana Calice, *Cum Laude*	Biology	Manning
Shaquearian Monique Carmichael, *Cum Laude*	Organizational Management	Bennettsville
Quiaijah Dejanae Carter	Health Science	Sumter
**Taylor Alexis Clarkson	Health Science	Columbia
Zonta` Antoine Davis	Business Administration	Charlotte, NC
Bryanna Sharee Dennis, *Cum Laude*	Business Administration	Sumter
Tierra Janette Faison, *Cum Laude*	Health Science	Salters
Jay`Quan Ramel Fowler	Health Science	Ravenel
Myra Oweida Gibbons-Williams, *Cum Laude*	Organizational Management	Sumter
Kyon Samal Gibson-Spio	Business Administration	Sumter
Zakeya Mae Hairston, *Cum Laude*	Health Science	Sumter
Alliyah Samantha Hayward, *Cum Laude*	Health Science	Orangeburg
Ciara Lakwanna Hutchinson, *Cum Laude*	Mathematics	Jacksonville, FL
Jaquan Maurice Jackson	Recreation Administration	Florence
Patoshia Shenise James, *Cum Laude*	Organizational Management	Sumter
**Brian Alexander Jones	Health Science	Columbia

Kenton O’Neal Kelley, Cum Laude Recreation Administration Charleston

**Ashley R. Knowlin, Cum Laude Organizational Management Nesmith

**Jakayla Alexis Leach Business Administration Lake City

**Bennie Leon Leak, Jr. Business Administration Wadesboro, NC

**Calvin D. Lester, Cum Laude Organizational Management Sumter

Calanda W. Linen Organizational Management Georgetown

Tara Yvonne Lowery, Cum Laude Organizational Management Lynchburg

**Martha Zenobia Ludd, Cum Laude Recreation Administration Sumter

Melanie Monique Mack, Cum Laude Organizational Management Sumter

Latoya McBride, Magna Cum Laude Organizational Management Sumter

**Antoinette Bryanna McCray, Cum Laude Recreation Administration Manning

Ta`Jara Shantell McCullough Biology Florence

Malayna NaTasha McFadden, Cum Laude Business Administration Cades

Deja Nykia McGee Business Administration Greenville

Alicia McIver Recreation Administration Cheraw

Carnell Antonio Montgomery Organizational Management Sumter

Aaryonna Hydea Moses, Magna Cum Laude Health Science Camden

Charles Allen Moses, Cum Laude Organizational Management Columbia

Alex Romon Moss Health Science Milledgeville, GA

Gregory J. Neil Organizational Management Marion

Jasmine Renee Pearson, Cum Laude Organizational Management Columbia

Katrena Charese Pendergrass Mathematics Manning

Jamie Miachavi Pressley Biology Kingstree

Semya Marianda Quarles, Cum Laude Biology Sumter

*Shawn T. Ragin, Cum Laude Organizational Management Sumter

Sylvia A. Richardson, Magna Cum Laude Organizational Management Sumter

Sonya Ricketts-Fullard Organizational Management Turbeville

Sierra Deloren Steele, Magna Cum Laude Health Science Sumter

Hope Stephney Organizational Management Bishopville

**Fedalyia Shree` Terry, Cum Laude Business Administration Hephzibah, GA

Sekina Yolonda Tillman, Cum Laude Mathematics North Augusta

Denise Walker-Taylor, Cum Laude Organizational Management Summerville

**Tyra Katrell Lashay Ward, Cum Laude Health Science Columbia

**Derrell Devon Watson, Cum Laude Organizational Management Sumter

Tatyana Shyqual Weldon Recreation Administration Sumter

Andrew Williams, Cum Laude Organizational Management Sumter

Tiffany Devon Williams, Cum Laude Organizational Management Sumter

**Breana Marion Witherspoon Business Administration Decatur, IL

About Morris College
Morris College is a historically black, coeducational, liberal arts college, founded by the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina in 1908. The college is committed to promoting the intellectual and personal development of every one of its students. The mission of Morris College is to produce graduates who can pursue useful and productive careers and in so doing enhance their own lives and the society in which they take their places. That mission is being successfully implemented by the thousands of Morris College graduates throughout the nation who are continually making significant contributions.

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