Commencement Ceremony Program

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024 / 10:30 AM

CHAPEL AND FINE ARTS CENTER
2201 SILVER LAKE ROAD, BARTLESVILLE, OK

Commencement

*PROCESSIONAL

INVOCATION
Sean Charles Rollins, Class of 2024

WELCOME
Dr. Jim Dunn, President, Class of 1988

SCRIPTURE READING
Kristin Dyan Flick, Class of 2024

STUDENT TESTIMONIAL
James Wallace Reid, Class of 2024

GRADUATE ADDRESS
Dr. Kevin Osborn, Senior Vice President

PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES
Dr. Jim Dunn, President, Class of 1988
Dr. Keri Bostwick, Provost & VP of Academic Affairs, Class of 1998

BE ONE SENT
Dr. Jim Dunn, President, Class of 1988

TASSEL CEREMONY & RINGING OF SAM’S BELL
Dr. Keri Bostwick, Provost & VP of Academic Affairs, Class of 1998
Dr. Monica LaShawn Bowie – Class of 2023**

INDUCTION INTO THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Sandra Kent, Alumni Association President, Class of 1992

BENEDICTION
Dr. Jerome Van Kuiken, Professor of Ministry and Christian Thought

*RECESSIONAL

*Congregation please stand
**Conferred December 2023, walking 2024

Speakers

Dr. Jim Dunn
President (Class of 1988)

Before joining OKWU as President in June 2019, Dr. Jim Dunn served as pastor and leader within The Wesleyan Church denomination. Most recently, he served as Vice-President of Church Relations at Wesleyan Investment Foundation. In addition, he has served in leadership positions on numerous boards and taught at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Wesley Seminary, and Indiana Wesleyan University. He has a BA from Bartlesville Wesleyan College (OKWU), an M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a D.Min. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dr. Dunn and his wife, Wendy, have four children: Dr. Dunn has a son, a daughter, and two grandchildren, and Wendy has two daughters.

Dr. Keri Bostwick
Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs (Class of 1998)

Dr. Bostwick is a proud graduate of Bartlesville Wesleyan College with a BA in Secondary English Education and an M.Ed. (Oklahoma Wesleyan University). She earned an Ed. D. in Transformational Leadership from Concordia University-Portland in 2020. Dr. Bostwick was fortunate to work for Bartlesville Public Schools as a teacher and leader for seventeen years. She came to OKWU as a Professor of Education in 2013. She has also served as the M.Ed. Director, the Dean of Education and Exercise Science, and the Dean of Assessment and Accreditation. She was named Provost in the Summer of 2022. Dr. Bostwick is married to Michael and has three children: Jaxon, Cooper, and Georgia.

Dr. Kevin Osborn
Senior Vice President

Dr. Osborn’s life’s work has been dedicated to helping others discover and live out their callings in service to Jesus Christ. Holding a BS in Biology from Friends University, an MA in Christian Leadership from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Kansas, he brings over 25 years of experience from the intersection of ministry, education, and innovation. As the Senior Vice President at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Dr. Osborn came to OKWU after serving as Associate Provost at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, for ten years. However, his true calling has been to equip and empower believers to impact the world for the Kingdom of Christ. Dr. Osborn lives out his mission professionally and personally alongside his wife Michelle and their four children, Avery, McKenna, Presley, and Caleb – two of whom are current OKWU students.

Graduating Class of 2024

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS

• Katlyn Nichole Carr – General Studies

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE

• Zaw Christ Htuu – Ministry & Leadership

BACHELOR OF ARTS

• Kylie Jordan Bostwick – Pastoral Ministry
• Chloe A. Chenoweth – Pastoral Ministry
• Nathaniel Drake Fuller – Letters † ~
• Cyson George Mathis – Digital Cinema
• Hannah Grace Mantei – Letters † ~
• Ariela Phoebe Nettleton – English and Letters † ~
• Michaela Grace Reinertson – Pastoral Ministry
• Sunny Brooke Rasmussen – Secondary Education English
• Sean Charles Rollins – Pastoral Ministry
• Samuel Wayne Sauer – Graphic Design & Strategy
• Maria Ann Shelby – History/Political Science
• Victoria Marie Sparks – Global Studies
• Hannah Rhea Terrell – Letters † ~
• Kayla Mae Wilden – Music Business

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

• Noah Vinson Adams – Mathematics ➢
• Uros Aleksijevic – Sports & Recreation Leadership
• Elizabeth Katrinna Anderson – Criminal Justice
• Robert L. Blackburn – Ministry & Leadership
• Jillian Noelle Blair – Psychology
• Leslie Elizabeth Bolinger – Business Administration
• Kellen James Brothers – Criminal Justice
• David Dwight Brown – Marketing ➢
• Joshua K. Bybee – Ministry & Leadership
• Filip Cavic – Accounting
• Kevin Chimereucheya Classo – Accounting ➢
• Kignopron Coulibaly – Business Administration
• Nathaniel Thomas Crane – Organizational Management ^
• Liam John Currid – Sports Management
• Connor Joseph Drish – Exercise Science Pre-Therapy
• Godfrey Ebil – Ministry & Leadership
• Taylor Marie Elmore – Psychology
• Kolby Brent Encinas – Accounting & Financial Services ➢
• Nathaniel Drake Fuller – Biology † ~
• Madison Elizabeth Gabeau – Exercise Science Pre-Therapy
• Karmen J. Gardner – Psychology Studies ^
• Paul Anthony George – Business
• Gracee Ruthann Hilburn – Physical Education K-12
• Markesha Marie Hill – Business Administration
• Elizabeth Draven Hope – Exercise Science Pre-Therapy
• Abby Mae Hutchinson – Accounting
• Jordan Albert Irwin – Ministry & Leadership
• Courtney Paige Kelley – Elementary Education
• Kourtney Marie Kelley – Elementary Education
• Mung Lian Kim – Ministry & Leadership
• Wade Austin Landrum – Secondary Education Social Studies
• Hannah Grace Mantei – Criminal Justice † ~
• John Martin McCutchen – Management & Leadership
• Joshua A. McDaniel – Management & Leadership
• Madelyn Faith McKinney – Chemistry
• Shon David Messick – Organizational Management
• Taylen Vaughn Miller – Management Information Systems
• Tynajah Omunique Mitchell – Accounting
• Joshua Evan Moon – Business Administration
• Liliana Krystine Perryman – Exercise Science Pre-Therapy
• Kevin Petrmichl – Sports Management
• Braelen Walker Pippin – Criminal Justice
• Coleman Andrew Pittser – Business ➢
• Gabriel Isaac Pyszka – Organizational Management
• Derek Matthew Ray – Business ➢
• James Wallace Reid – Physical Education K-12
• Kolby Kyle Joshua Rich – Exercise Science Strength & Conditioning
• Chad Michael Sakamoto – Criminal Justice
• Chris Salazar Pasillas – Business
• Shawna Darlene Sanches – Liberal Studies: Specialized ^
• Aida Sanchez Faciaben – Business
• Myson Scott – ­Psychology
• Joshua Kaleb Stokes – Marketing
• Madelyn Grace Taylor – Elementary Education
• Hannah Rhea Terrell – Secondary Education Mathematics † ~
• Hayden Allen Thornton – Business
• Ashlyn Emaline Tipton – Secondary Education Social Studies
• Marissa R. Turley – Business Administration ^
• Teresa Y. Tyler – Business Administration ^
• Jaycee Maeileen VanWinkle – Psychology
• Makiah Aaron Wade – Sports Management
• Jaden Earl Welden – Exercise Science Strength & Conditioning
• Tesla Dawn Willimon – Business Administration
• Jasper Celeste Young – Business Administration
• Matthew Basil Zogob – Biology

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

• Heather Renee Berry
• Lacey Katrinna Coffman
• Nicole Thomas Davis ^
• Kylee Lynn Erickson
• Melissa Kay Flynn
• Symone Rene Gill
• Jill Elizabeth Jones
• Judith Elaine Kelley
• Chandler Dawn Parrish

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

• Lindy Carol Alexander
• Jaime Daniel Arcila Pereira
• Joshua David Logan
• Bobana Marusic
• Rylan Cade McCollum
• Esmerelda Luz Varela

MASTER OF EDUCATION

• Kristin Dyan Flick
• Jeannette Marie Slater

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

• Jordon Cortez Cosma
• Bryce Alan Mosier
• Sarah Elisabeth Smith

DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE

• Dr. Monica LaShawn Bowie

Honors & Recognition

Undergraduate Honors | A graduate who has achieved a certain cumulative grade point average will receive honors recognition and a cord as follows:

Cum Laude 3.5 – 3.69 GPA
Associate’s: White Cord | Bachelor’s: Bronze Cord
Magna Cum Laude 3.7 – 3.89 GPA
Associate’s: Red Cord | Bachelor’s: Silver Cord
Summa Cum Laude 3.9 – 4.0 GPA
Associate’s: Blue Cord | Bachelor’s: Gold Cord

Veterans | Graduates of the US Armed Services are honored with red, white, and blue intertwined honor cords.

➢ Pareto Group | The Pareto Group is formed by the top traditional OKWU Chesapeake Energy School of Business students based on competency, character, and communication.

† Lewis Fellowship | The Lewis Fellowship, sponsored by the OKWU Honors College, is a consortium of student scholars from multiple disciplines within the university. Its focus is the relation between Christ and culture. Graduates who have earned this honor are awarded a light blue cord.

^ Alpha Sigma Lambda | Alpha Sigma Lambda is a national honor society that partners with colleges and universities to celebrate the scholarship and leadership of adult students in higher education. OKWU’s chapter began in 2005. Graduates who have earned this honor are awarded an ivory stole with embroidered ASLHS script and crest. 

~ OKWU Honors College Graduates | The OKWU Honors College is an interdisciplinary learning environment that shapes servant-hearted Christian scholars through classical education and biblical community. Honors College students may earn a Minor or BA in “Letters” (a British designation focusing on the humanities).

Sam’s Bell | To mark a new beginning, the OKWU Bell first rang during the 2019 Convocation, the ceremony signifying the start of the academic year. The bell, named in Sam Shannon’s memory, declares the grace of new beginnings in Christ. The honor of ringing the bell is given to one embodying the spirit and mission of the university.

After the Ceremony, graduates will recess to the lower (west) grass open space to meet family and friends.

Learn more about OKWU Graduation.

Watch OKWU Commencement Ceremonies on YouTube