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Featured photo: Graduates celebrate at the December 2024 Graduation Ceremony. (Photo by Benjamin Rickert. Graduation photos are now available on Google Drive, and an event recording is posted below.)
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. – Blue Ridge Community College celebrated the fall class of 2024 graduates with a record-breaking commencement ceremony on Friday, December 13, in the Blue Ridge Conference Hall in Flat Rock. This ceremony marked the highest attendance for a fall graduation in the college’s history, with the hall filled nearly to capacity. Families and community members gathered to support graduates who had completed their degrees, diplomas and certificates despite the impact of a devastating hurricane in late September.
During her opening remarks on Friday evening, Blue Ridge President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood praised the graduates for their resilience and determination.
“This year, more than ever, your resilience shines brightly as you graduate in a region that has weathered catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene,” she said. “You embody what it means to build a future and rebuild a community. Tonight, we honor both your individual journey and the strength our community has shown in the face of adversity.”
Retired Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services with Henderson County Public Schools and Blue Ridge Community College Trustee Dr. Jan King provided the keynote address. Her message highlighted the many reasons for graduates to celebrate their Blue Ridge education, as well as the ways they will improve their communities through meaningful careers.
“I believe it is no accident that graduation ceremonies are typically one of the most well-attended events hosted by educational institutions,” said Dr. King. “I would argue that we are here because we know what this milestone means for your future and our future.”
The uplifting ceremony concluded after Dr. Leatherwood asked graduates to move their tassels from right to left, a tradition symbolizing a student’s accomplishment of becoming a graduate.
A link to the graduation ceremony video and the College’s photo gallery will be posted on the Blue Ridge website the week of December 16. For more information, visit www.blueridge.edu/graduation.
Blue Ridge Community College’s Fall 2024 graduates* included:
Buncombe County
Rigoberto Arias-Bonilla, Associate in Applied Science
Haley Marie Ball, Associate in Science
Samuel Blake, Associate in Science
Shermonica Denise Darity, Practical Nursing Diploma
Keaton Lankford Davis, Associate in Applied Science
James Dean Farlow, Associate in Applied Science
Nathan Alexander Gulick, Associate in Applied Science
Orlando Genya Jiles, Associate in Applied Science
Ryan Quinn Landon, Associate in Engineering
Mindy Sue Lautner, Early Childhood Education-Administration Certificate
Matthew Thomas Schultz, Associate in Applied Science
Matthew Thomas Sodano, Associate in Applied Science
Renalyn C. Townley, Associate in Applied Science – Medical Office Administration and Office Administration
Burke County
Clint Allen Lail, Jr., Associate in Applied Science
Cabarrus County
Mahayla Marie Bell Robinson, Associate in Science
Cleveland County
Tontianna Shaqua Hopper, Associate in General Education
Columbus County
Shalella Nanane Love, Associate in Applied Science
Cumberland County
Ja-Kia Ericka Taree Baird, Early Childhood Education-Administration
Haywood County
Jonathan Andrew Causey, Practical Nursing Diploma
Henderson County
Dathan Sage Allison, Mechatronics Engineering Technology-Basic Technician Certificate
Isaac D. Bayne, Associate in Applied Science
Michaela Marie Boyle, Associate in Science
Kayla Victoria Bradley, Early Childhood Education-Administration Certificate
Julianna Morgan Bright, Associate in Arts
Ilona Rymska Bryan, Accounting & Finance-Bookkeeping I Certificate
Tanner L. Bullock, Associate in Arts
William Scott Burnette, Associate in Applied Science
Sarah Anne Burnham, Associate in Applied Science
Michaela Chantal Candler, Associate in Applied Science
Pamela Ann Cannon, Associate in Applied Science
Estella Gina Cantrell, Associate in Applied Science
Priscila Lizett Casas, Associate in Applied Science
Carson Ryan Case, Associate in Arts
Kendra Dare Cheatham, Associate in Applied Science – Medical Office Administration and Office Administration
Alexis Jade Clark, Associate in Arts
Jacob Eric Clark, Associate in Science
Amy Johnson Cohn, Associates in Applied Science
Joselynn Karissa Corn, Early Childhood Education-Introductory Certificate
Christian Raul Corral, Associate in Arts
Caleb Sheridan Coss, Associate in Arts
Alford Anthony Davis, Associate in Arts
Haley Madison Deaton, Practical Nursing Diploma
Rosalinda Delgado-Garrido, Early Childhood Education-Preschool Certificate
Christopher Thomas Dotson, Associate in Applied Science
Stephen Matthew Drabicki, Associate in Applied Science
Emilie Jade Drake, Associate in Arts
Gwyneth Ashley Drum, Cosmetology Diploma
Andrew Charles Duncan, Associate in Science
Takerra Alysia Featherstone, Business Administration-Basic Certificate
Leah Faith Fibraio, Associate in Arts
Thomas Filipovic, Associate in Applied Science
Harry Lee Forbes, Human Services Technology Certificate
Melany Brisa Garcia-Aguirre, Associate in Arts
Mary Ann Garren, Associate in Science
Verenice Gonzalez-Leon, Associate in Applied Science
Ashley Michelle Goodman, Associate in Applied Science
Brandi Lynne Gray, Associate in Applied Science
Ethan Mintz Gray, Associate in Arts
Seth Patrick Grimes, Associate in Applied Science – Information Technology-Computer Programming & Development and Information Technology-Data Management
Erin Nicole Gromelski, Practical Nursing Diploma
Katelyn Illene Grover, Associate in Arts
Querida Natisha Guerrero, Associate in Science
Thomas Eldon Hamer, Jr., Associate in Applied Science
Joshua Paul Hansen, Mechatronics Engineering Technology-Industrial Manufacturing Apprenticeship Certificate
Augusta Indirani Haywood, Associate in Science
Savannah Brooke Hensley, Practical Nursing Diploma
Yulisa Hernandez-Antunez, Associate in Science
Kyra Condrey Hewitt, Associate in Arts
Monica Bree Hill, Associate in Science
Maxwell Trenton Holbert, Associate in Arts
Levi David Hord, Associate in Engineering
Brett Geraird Howard, Associate in Applied Science – Information Technology-CyberSecurity and Information Technology-Networking Management
Haley Marcell Hrabar, Emergency Medical Science Certificate
Zachariah Hudson, Associate in Applied Science
Shyler Ann Irish-Posey, Associate in Applied Science
Cory Dean Jones, Associate in Applied Science – Information Technology-CyberSecurity and Information Technology-Support and Services
Patrick June Kim, Associate in Arts
Makayla Lauren King, Associate in Arts
Nicholas Christopher Lacy, Mechanical Engineering Technology-Hydraulics Certificate
Heather Sensing Lance, Associate in Applied Science
Gerardo Lavin Lagunas, Associate in Applied Science and Automotive Systems Technology Diploma
Robert Grant Leatham, Associate in Applied Science
Dylan Conner Levi, Associate in Arts
John Michael William Littauer, Associate in Science
Brittany Nicole Maybin, Associate in Applied Science
Taylor Danielle McAbee, Early Childhood Education-Infant & Toddler Certificate
Joseph Thaddeus Mendrykowski, Associate in Science
Yahir Adrien Mijares Perez, Mechatronics Engineering Technology-Industrial Manufacturing Apprenticeship Certificate
Sianna Elizabeth Miller, Associate in Applied Science
Ezra Kai Mohammed, Associate in Arts
Luigi Jiovany Munoz, Associate in Arts
Elizabeth Orihuela Diaz, Accounting & Finance-Bookkeeping I Certificate
Paulina Ortiz-Ramirez, Associate in Applied Science
Joslyn Padilla-Tavera, Information Technology-CyberSecurity Certificate
Jessica Marie Perkins, Associate in Applied Science and Human Services Technology Diploma
Ida Jaideed Pham, Associate in Arts
Julia Katherine Pisano, Associate in Arts
Hannah Janelle Powell, Early Childhood Education-Preschool Certificate
Abigail G. Pyfrom, Associate in Science
David Alan Ramirez-Flores, Business Administration-Basic Certificate
Francisco Javier Rangel-Trejo, Mechatronics Engineering Technology-Industrial Manufacturing Apprenticeship Certificate
Ana Karen Recendiz-Valdez, Associate in Applied Science
Amy Resendiz Trejo, Cosmetology Diploma
Sofia Andrea Rivera Herrera, Associate in Applied Science
Emma Maeve Roberts, Associate in Arts and Associate in Science
Ella Renẽ Rogers, Associate in Arts
Elki Perrum Rollins-Soy, Associate in Applied Science
Tiffany Araura Rose, Associate in General Education Degree
Daniel Edward Russell, Associate in Arts
Hayden Cooper Russell, Associate in Applied Science
Andres Alfredo Sanchez Escalera, Mechatronics Engineering Technology-Industrial Manufacturing Apprenticeship Certificate
Daniela Sanchez Sanchez, Associate in Applied Science
Angelica Santavicca, Practical Nursing Diploma
Tiffany Star Santiago-Hernandez, Associate in Applied Science – Medical Office Administration and Office Administration
Riley Adam Scheyer, Associate in Applied Science
Stephanie Lynn Guest Smith, Associate in Arts
Zoey Alexandra Sparks, Associate in Arts
Shelby Jo-lyn Sprouse, Practical Nursing Diploma
Karen Khrys Steele, Practical Nursing Diploma
Joshua D. Stewart, Business Administration-Leadership Studies Certificate
Citlalli Stukes, Associate in Science
Camille Nicole Surrett, Associate in Applied Science
Isaiac Christopher Swekosky, Associate in Arts
Mathew Jayde Tallent, Associate in Applied Science
Murphy E. Tittle, Associate in Fine Arts
Maxwell Scott Toshach, Associate in Science
Mary Jean Treadway, Associate in Arts
Cameron Arthur Valentine, Associate in Arts
Sophia Elizabeth Vintimilla, Associate in Science
Brandy Ailene Weatherly, Associate in Applied Science
Hunter Cole Webb, Associate in Arts
David Paul Wilson, Information Technology-Cyber Security Certificate
Alexandra Nichole Wright, Associate in Arts
Baylee Noelle Young, Practical Nursing Diploma
Lincoln County
Natalie Diane Shaw, Associate in Science
Polk County
Danielle Nicole Billings, Accounting & Finance-Bookkeeping I Certificate
Victoria Leigh Greene, Associate in Applied Science
Ariel Lashua Jones, Associate in Applied Science
Jaedin Michelle Jones, Associate in Arts
Samantha Irene Jones, Associate in Applied Science
Mable Joan Littlejohn, Human Services Technology Certificate
Sherry Logan, Business Administration-Basic Certificate
Rachel Leigh Maher, Associate in Science
Brayden Wolf Sparks, Associate in Engineering
Molly Jean Turman, Associate in Arts
Robeson County
Brandy Lynn Locklear, Interpreter Education Certificate and Interpreter Education-Fundamentals of ASL Certificate
Rutherford County
Tonya Maria Larnder, Business Administration-Marketing Diploma
South Carolina
Alex Ryan Cepeda, Associate in Applied Science
Abi N. Gomez, Associate in General Education Degree
Jonathan Michael Robinson, Associate in Applied Science
Rhonda Faye Scott, Associate in Applied Science
Hope Minette Zoccano, Associate in Arts
Transylvania County
Joseph William Bartles, Associate in Applied Science
Joshua Luke Chandler, Mechatronics Engineering Technology-Industrial Manufacturing Apprenticeship Certificate
Rachel Mckay Cobb, Associate in Applied Science
Alex Arthur Eberhardt, Associate in Applied Science and Computer Integrated Machining-Manufacturing Technician Certificate
Kristi Linn Ferguson, Associate in Applied Science
Hannah Francis Fox, Associate in Applied Science
Sierra Leigh Gardner, Associate in Fine Arts
Zachary Scott Hall, Associate in Science
Marion Elisabeth Hawsey, Associate in Arts
Chesney Lauryn Hightower, Cosmetology Certificate
Brandon Scott Holden, Associate in Applied Science
Marissa Lee Livingston, Associate in Applied Science
Nathan Taylor McCabe, Associate in Applied Science
Kelly Ann Olsen, Early Childhood Education-Infant & Toddler Certificate
Daniel Luis Rivera, Associate in Applied Science
Jesseca Natasha Scott, Associate in Science, Early Childhood Education-Infant & Toddler Certificate and Early Childhood Education-Preschool Certificate
Charleigh Shalon Smith, Associate in Applied Science
Michael Elliott Rock Smith, Associate in Science
Robert Wesley Stewart, Associate in Applied Science
Garrett Mcguire Swicegood, Associate in Engineering
Eve Marie Thomas, Associate in Arts
Hadley Grace Troyer, Associate in Arts
Josie Quinn Troyer, Associate in Science
Virginia
Sarah Elisabeth Russell, Business Administration-Graphic Design Certificate
Wake County
Brian Mark LaFever, Accounting & Finance-Bookkeeping I Certificate
Tarja Starielle McDonald, Interpreter Education-Fundamentals of ASL Certificate
Yancey County
James Bradley Duncan, Associate in Applied Science
Jody Lee Ledford, Associate in Applied Science
*Only graduates who gave permission to be named are listed above.