University of Mobile graduates 420, awards honors

Some 420 University of Mobile (UM) graduates were awarded master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees during commencement exercises May 7 at the Mobile Civic Center.
   
Commencement speaker John Hunter, a New Orleans attorney, urged graduates to focus on character and Christian leadership. 
   
UM President Mark Foley charged the graduates to “go change the world. When I see you in the future, I will ask you how you are doing it, and I look forward to the answer.”
   
During graduation, top honors were awarded to 50 outstanding graduates. The university’s highest honor, the H. Austill Pharr Award, was presented to Heidi J. Hutcheson of Billings, Mont. 
   
She was selected by university faculty as the senior who best exemplifies the attainment of education values consonant with the purpose and objective of the institution. 
   
Hutcheson, who graduated summa cum laude and with honors, received a master of business administration and a bachelor of science in accounting. 
   
She was awarded the Alumni Award in recognition of her 4.0 grade point average (GPA), as well as the area award in accounting, the School of Business Award and the William K. Weaver Honorary Fellows Undergraduate Award.
   
Hutcheson received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years, while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
Hutcheson and her husband, Ryan Boone, graduated together. He received a bachelor of science in social sciences.
   
Hutcheson has been employed with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers as a financial manager/accountant for the past two years. Following graduation, she will travel to Washington for a three-month training program with the U.S. Army.
   
Robin McKee Richardson of Bayou La Batre received the Annie Boyd Parker Weaver Auxiliary Award for the female senior who best exemplifies the outstanding qualities of character, leadership and service. 
   
Richardson, who graduated with a bachelor of arts in humanities, also received the area award in humanities.
   
Nathan M. Blaylock of Mobile received the University of Mobile Regents Award for the male senior who best exemplifies the outstanding qualities of character, leadership and service. 
   
Blaylock graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business administration.
   
Lawrence Herring of Mobile received the President’s Leadership Award, presented to the nontraditional-age student who best exemplifies both Christian leadership and academic excellence. Herring graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in organizational administration and leadership.
   
The J.L. Bedsole Awards were presented to: Deena Katherine O’Dillon of Mobile, summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in music education, also received the Alumni Award; Christopher Steven Lockwood of Mobile, bachelor of music in church music, also received the area award church music; and April Louise Jackson of Robertsdale, bachelor of science degree in nursing. 
   
The Bedsole Awards are given to students who have demonstrated the most significant progress while at the university.
   
The William K. Weaver Honorary Fellows Graduate Award was presented to John Charles Dean of Daphne, honors with a master of business administration. Dean also received the School of Business MBA Award.
   
The University of Mobile Alumni Award is presented to students with the highest GPA in the bachelor’s and associate’s degree programs. 
   
In addition to Hutcheson, 10 others received this award.
   
Among this year’s graduates were twins Holly Person and Heather Person Fricke, originally from Fairbanks, Alaska, who both received a bachelor of arts degree in art. 
   
The twins were also awarded the area awards in art. Both girls played soccer for the UM Rams. 
   
This summer, the two will work with their brothers Brian and Joel, both UM alumni, hosting a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) soccer camp and varsity soccer camps for area students. 
   
Following graduation, each of the girls will pursue their master’s degrees. Both say they will continue to make soccer a part of their lives.
   
“It’s hard to take something like that out of your life — we’ve played all of our lives,” Holly Person said.
   
Mother and daughter Rhonda Pierce and Chasity Veazey also received their degrees together. Pierce, 48, received a master of science in nursing, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. 
   
Veazey, 26, received a bachelor of arts degree in organizational administration and leadership. 
   
She is a single mother, working full-time and attending school full-time. Her mother, when not in school, and father have helped her raise her 2-year-old child, Mallori, while going to school. 
   
“We got through this together,” Veazey said. (UM)