Williams Baptist University awarded degrees to 93 graduates during its 2021 commencement exercises Saturday, May 1.  The graduates represented 19 Arkansas counties, ten states and three nations.

Kelcey Abney of Ash Flat, Ark., Magenta Holland of McRae, Ark., and Kelsey Robinson of Harrison, Ark. were honored as the graduates with the highest honors, all finishing their degrees with perfect 4.0 grade point averages.

Honor graduates were recognized as being cum laude (3.5-3.69 cumulative grade point average), magna cum laude (3.7-3.84 GPA) or summa cum laude (3.85-4.0 GPA).

Those receiving the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and Master of Science in Education (MSE) are noted below, as well.

Williams is a private, Christian university in Walnut Ridge.  

WBU graduates from Arkansas, listed by county, included:

Boone County – Alpena: Brock Gilliam; Bergman: Tatum Little (cum laude); Harrison: Kelsey Robinson (summa cum laude); Lead Hill: David Stober.

Clay County – Corning: Brayden Brewer (magna cum laude); Rector: Ana Karen Ransom.

Cleburne County – Heber Springs: Tess Temple.

Craighead County – Bay: Katlyn Ferguson; Bono: Sarah Holmes; Lake City: Renita Courtney (MAT); Jonesboro: Elijah Barnes, Logan Bracey, Kierra Huskey (summa cum laude), Scarlett James, Sara Michael, Rebekah Sullinger.

Crittenden County – Marion: Camryn Martin (magna cum laude).

Cross County – Wynne: Molly Mingo (magna cum laude), Heath Taylor (cum laude), Brady Taylor.

Faulkner County – Greenbrier: Chastity Grandy.

Greene County – Lafe: David Ellis (cum laude); Marmaduke: Julie Foster (magna cum laude); Paragould: Andrew Cooper (cum laude), Caiden McFadden, Elizabeth Stoddard (cum laude), Abigail Taylor, Trevor Thomas, Faith Jankoviak (magna cum laude); Shelby Wolk.

Independence County – Cave City: Carson Day (MAT), Brady Smith.

Izard County – Calico Rock: Emma Shinn (cum laude); Mt. Pleasant: Cailey Cossey.

Jackson County – Tuckerman: Sarah Brunner.

Lawrence County – Black Rock: Benjamin Brightwell (MAT), Rebekah Kopp (summa cum laude); Imboden: Annie Doney (summa cum laude), Ashlyn Marlow King (cum laude), Jessica Powell (MSE); Saffell: Morgan Johnson (summa cum laude); Smithville: Chasaty Malone; Sulphur Rock: Mashae Smart (cum laude); Walnut Ridge: Henry Bournigal (cum laude), Abbey Cox, Blan Williamson.

Mississippi County – Osceola: Tevin Howard (MAT).

Pulaski County – Little Rock: Isaiah Phillips; Maumelle: Maleek Caton; North Little Rock: Laderrious Perry.

Randolph County – Maynard: Whitney Meridith; Pocahontas: Connor Daniels (cum laude), Ashlyn Ellis (summa cum laude), Hannah Koons (cum laude), Andrew Radcliff (cum laude); Reyno: Diane Rasmussen (MAT); Karen Watson (MAT).

Saline County – Benton: Heath Kendrick; Bryant: Joseph Colvert.

Sharp County – Ash Flat: Kelsey Abney (summa cum laude); Sidney: Harley Thomason.

St. Francis County – Forrest City: Hunter Taylor.

White County – Beebe: Hannah Crafton (cum laude), Kayla Green (cum laude); McRae: Magenta Holland (summa cum laude); Pangburn: Seth Haile (magna cum laude).

WBU graduates from other states, listed by city, were:

Florida

Ocala: Alexandra Devin-Thigpin.

Georgia

Hepzibah: Pierre Dowling.

Kansas

Maize: Shackeel Butters.

Missouri

Alton: Bryce King.

East Prairie: Alexander Cowgill.

Fredericktown: Brennan White.

Holcomb: Colton Dunbar.

Ironton: Hayden Helvey.

Kennett: Maggie Crossno.

Marshall: Evan Weaver.

Myrtle: Andrew Taylor (magna cum laude).

Poplar Bluff: Gavin Wells.

Russellville: Jacob Whittle.

Steele: Grace Williams.

New York

Bronx: Daniel Cabassa.

Ohio

Mason: Devon Amburgy.

Oklahoma

Seminole: Makena Cramer.

Tennessee

Cleveland: Kyla Hudson (magna cum laude).

Memphis: Karla Garcia.

Murfreesboro: Karly Meyer.

Texas

Cedar Creek: Mikayla Adams.

Dallas: Shelby Henson.

Houston: Katelynn Christian (MSD).

Yoakum: Kelcey Cooper.

WBU graduates from other countries, listed by city:

Brazil

Araras: Joao Filipe Lucredi (cum laude).

Belam: Petro Piwtorak.

Nigeria

Port-Harcourt: Grace Opufou-Wellman (cum laude).