By Shorter University
ROME, Ga. — Shorter University celebrated the Class of 2026 during commencement ceremonies held May 7 at the Winthrop-King Centre as more than 350 graduates crossed the stage surrounded by family, friends, faculty, and the Shorter community.
The commencement exercises were divided into two ceremonies, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, allowing graduates and their loved ones the opportunity to celebrate the milestone together. Degrees were awarded across undergraduate and graduate programs representing a wide range of academic disciplines.
Shorter University Provost Dr. John Reams reflected on the dedication and perseverance that brought students to commencement day while encouraging graduates to move forward with faith and purpose.
“As today’s graduates, you have met many requirements, taken many tests, and have completed them all in a satisfactory manner,” Reams said. “Today is a celebration and a new beginning for each of you.”
Reams encouraged graduates to step into the next chapter with purpose, adding, “Now begins the rest of the story. The time in which you will begin to exercise the gift the Lord Jesus has given you.”
The ceremonies also featured special musical performances by Regan Duke and Olivia Parker.
Commencement speaker Alice Reeves, a Shorter alumna and co-owner of an accounting firm in Fayetteville, shared reflections from her own professional and faith journey, encouraging graduates to trust God’s direction even when plans change.
“You may have big dreams. You may have written out great plans,” Reeves said. “But I challenge you not to limit God.”
Throughout the day, graduates celebrated with faculty mentors, posed for photos with loved ones, and marked the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance, and personal growth.
The ceremonies concluded with the singing of the alma mater and a closing prayer, sending the Class of 2026 forward as they begin their next chapter. The commencement ceremonies reflected Shorter University’s commitment to preparing students for lives of leadership, service, and faith-centered purpose.
Candidates for Degrees
Associate of Science
Lacy Corin Bryan, Amanda Jordan Cathcart, Ashanti Treanna Coleman, Jared Avery Cornwell, Adam Brent Fletcher, Tonya Lynn Fowler, Alexia Elizabeth Tierra Henderson, Destinee Telecia Higgins, Joshua Spencer Hunter, Kaliq Laquan Jordan, David Lawrence Kermit Kraski, Sarah Marie Ledford, Eric Lamont McDonald, Aleya Luraine Patrick, Elizabeth Anna Marie Peterson, Kayla Nicole Powell, Maritza Lizette Segura-Cruz, Elicia Dezrene Stephens, Debra Caryl Waters, Sarah Elizabeth White, Debra Ellison Williams
Bachelor of Arts
Kendall Jane Aycock, Savannah McKenzie Crider, Shelby Kate Dobson, Austin Everett Garner, Brooklyn Claire Garner, Ariel McKenzie Grimwade, Ebony Annileya Jackson, Katelyn Grace Jones, Autumn Lynn Lasseter, Sebastian Robert Martinez, Cade Michael McGuire, Caroline Rhiannon Minucci, Michael Caleb Paden, Esme Eline Perry, Kameron Michael Probst, Cole Charles Rener, Anna Elisabeth Roberts, Preston James Spake, Seth Christian Stringer, Tarah Lea Taylor, Jonathan Luke Welch, Scarlett Anna West, Richard McClanahan Wilcoxson
Bachelor of Business Administration
Terrell L. Adamson, Shalom Akinbulumo, Avery Jacob Alford, Charles Obioma Alia, Rush Ashish Amin, Shyla Janelle Araujo, Brandon Stuart Bailey, Ariel Jaiden Baker, Aiden Thomas Berggren, Isaiah Timothy Blake, Audrey Nicole Brooks, James Chandler Burns, Tyler Jordan Camp, Griffin Walker Clark, Frederick Isaiah Coleman, Kealan Keundae Daniel, Isjah Monae Davis, Cathy F. Douglas, Cody Ryan Earle, Michael Hudson Fetterolf, William Brent Fincher, Tanner Craig Folds, Randall Arthur Franklin, Blake Allen Frost, Sebastian Gamez Parra, Charles Samuel Garcia-Zunun, Gavin David Geros, Thomas Austin Goggans, Santiago Gonzalez Uribe, Cordell Jeremiah Greenwood, Ethan Taylor Haight, Aqueelah Shahida Hargon, Jahseim Elijah Henry, Dylan Daniel Hudgens, Tracy Anna Hughley-Proffitt, Josiah Mendell Johnson, Guadalupe Julaj, Ian Douglas King, Abigail Rose Klinkhamer, Samantha Wolfe Marcos, Dena McCormick, Cole Cardell McCranie, Mario Molina Mari, Rachel Sydney Morton, Miracle Tanika Naylor, Tabitha Maryfae Neal, Lucia Del Carmen Olivas, Eva Yvonne Oliver, Collin Burke Pettegrew, Shamard Isaiah Pittman, Yogeshwarish Purohit, Christopher Reed Randall, Kristina Reyes, Josue Caleb Rivera, Cooper Russell Roderick, Paul Schedlbauer, Alexis Marie Schoggen, Aahana Vishal Seth, Carter Christopher Shall, Danilyn Jaiden Sheats, Caroline Elizabeth Sivills, Griffin Ross Skates, Jabiri Ajjan Smith, Ashton Leigh Stevens, James William Gibson Stewart, Abraham Todd Stowe, Cooper Allen Taylor, Grant William Taylor, Trey Jaquan Thomas, Emily Kate Tilson, Levi Trevino, Enrique Noel Valdez Giraldi, Jeff Mendez Vu, Andrew Parker Waldrep, Jeb Michael Walls, Ja’Than Zakari Willis, Abigail Ann Wilson, Jacob Craig Wilson, Rhyan Emani Wilson, Tyler James Zawacki
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Nola Faith Byrun, Reagan Elizabeth Duke, Taliyah Andrea Ford, Gavin Baylee Gilreath, Olivia Rose Parker
Bachelor of Music
Marisa Kaitlyn Bain, Benjamin David Geiger, Kayla Grace Holloway, Grace Ann Hudgins
Bachelor of Science
Michael Marlon Alpha Jr., Leah Rebecca Anderson, JoElna Faith Arnold, Tionna Michelle Baker, Ella Denise Ballard, Valery Danielle Baxter, Adeline Grayce Bearden, Sophia Ruth Blair, Jabez Tyrone Blake, Montana Skye Bowers, Iris May Chandler, Sydney Nicole Corbett, Dakota Cameron Corntassel, William Riley Cribb, Seth Alexander Crowe, Erin Elizabeth Davenport, Lorenzo D’Cortez Davis, Emily D’Ann Day, Thomas Eugene Dillard, Caden Andrew Dodson, Lucas Enrique Durand, Larry Ellington, Katrice Rene Ferrell, Alayna Gracelynn Findley, Brookelynn Hope Folds, Malon Chiare Frazier, Caitlin Danielle Gifford, Trinity Aleah Gregory, Presley Madison Gross, Victoria Lauren Gross, Alexandria Madison Harris, Ally Elizabeth Hawkins, Raphaella Tamar Hawkins, Olivia Katelin Haynes, Wilmer Henriquez, Alexis Reiley Hollingsworth, Yolonda Houston, John Michael Hughes, Hunter Ethan Hutchings, Reid Mark Jefferson, Payton Lee Jenkins, Keith Alexander Jones, Carter Luke Kelly, Jordan Kemiah Kierbow, Paris Helene Kirby, Landon Garrett Lawson, Mary Grace Lemmings, Mattie Meadows Lester, Kara Joanna Long, Abigail Dawn Love, Allison Crandall Loveman, Claudia Victoria Loyola Mora, Idaicia Adrianna Sequoyah McConnell, Jordan Blythe McGatha, Andre Duke Mills, Elizabeth Ann Mitchell, Jacob Brian Moore, Serene Array Morss, Ryland Evan Murray, Rebeca Araceli Ortiz-Hernandez, Chantesha Mae Parrish, Amya Jascel Patterson, Juliann Skylar Paul, Adrienne Shea Prevost, Esperanza Michelle Reyes, Katelyn Marie Rhinehart, Kendra Dee Robinson, Jenna Grace Rolen, Griffin Allen Rowe, Jason Labrian Rucker, Jeb Lee Odell Satterfield, Amanda Cannon Silver, McKinsey Leigh Spinks, Jacob Evan Strunk, Caleb Thornton Sullins, Brandy BreeAnna Dee Vansant, Maggie Lee Wallace, Ashley Danielle Washington, Tonya Latasha Waters, Shyann Nicole Wells, Taylor Maye West, Tyler Joe West, Kalyn Taliyah Williams, Sophie Mae Williams, Morgan Charisse Wood, Tayla Auniece Woods
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Dalia Alvarez Perez, Ana Berenice Arias-Ramirez, Karen Alejandra Avila-Castro, Emily Marie Barcus, Ariana Sofia Brannan, Kobe Caroun Butts, Gisselle Camacho, Mikah Noelle Cates, Kiersten McKinley Cooke, Kaitlyn Frances Dwyer-Peppers, Trista Bracole Ely, Hannah Renee Farley, Emma Rose Foster, Arlen Kris Freeman, Lauren McElhaney Gambill, Rylee Elise Gattis, Gisselle Guzman, Kyra Alece Jones, Madison Elizabeth Jones, Dori Anne Owen, Molly Jean Speach, Kayla Lynn Watts, Abigail Rene Williams, Dalyn Mackenzie Wooten, Victorious Faith Yoder
Master of Accountancy
Nancy N. Brown, Jacob Andrew Cornwell, Ashley Crowe, Morgan Graham Fountain, Kylee C. Kuykendall, Christopher Lynn Sanchez, Jorane Metelus Talley, Jon M. Wade, Jocelynn S. Walker, Gracie Suzanne West
Master of Business Administration
Grant Isaiah Atchley, Clarkston Samuel Brannon, Zachary Morrison Brooks, Caroline Daisy Conring, Adam James Joseph Depew, Jaden Tremor Ferrell, John Clark Floyd IV, Johnny Eugene Harris, Nicholas Haven Henning, Tiffani Alexis Holbrook, Jonathan Lee Hope, David Thomas Huff, Kody Lee Krause, Norman Daniel Leon, John Adrian Menzies, Caitlin Renae Moore, Nicholas Taylor Riggs, Braden Bon Saunders, Erika Sierra, Terrence Lazarus Vandiver Jr., Andrew Jordan Walters, Rechase’A Deonta Watson, Deidra LeAnn White, Jack Parker Williamson, Darrell Derrod Wright Jr.
Master of Management
Tyisha Joy Johnson, Bryan Austin Rice, Ashley Hunter Woody
Master of Arts in Teaching
Giovanni Angeles, Makenzie Paige Barker, Sonia Karabi Cheatham, Myia Renee Covington, Emily Marie Deal, Diundra Laveka Doughty, Margaret Allison Foster, Summer Amelia Frye, Rondie Caleb Goode, Holly Dahlstrom Hagge, Kevin Daniel Hall, Adam Douglas Bronson Hembrough, Amber Rose Hubbard, Kirsten Nicole Lyles, Curtis McElhaney, Kelly Brett Morrison, Reba Anna Moss, Mark Anthony Noble, Paige Duff Ortwein, Robert Austin Patterson, Samuel Mordecai Price, Keyandra Latranaya Robinson, Hannah Marie Ruis, Stephanie Thomas, Christina Laura Wade, Keever Craig Walker
Master of Education
Amanda Christine Blake, Madison Louise Bookheimer, Mary Avis Casey, Lindsay Morgan Chisenall, Shannon Leigh Cofield, Joseph Garrett Hunter Ellis, Colin James Evon, Emilee Allyce Kelley, Jodi Richardson Knight, Katelyn Louise Oxenreider, Peyton Ryan Posey
