Williams Baptist University awarded degrees to 120 graduates during its 2025 commencement exercises. The graduates represented 23 Arkansas counties, 10 states and seven nations. Commencement exercises were held May 3 in WBU’s Southerland-Mabee Center.
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).
In addition, Coe Scholars were recognized for their outstanding academic achievement. Coe Scholars are a select group of exceptional WBU students who participated in an enhanced academic experience during their time at Williams.
Founders Awards were presented to Addison Little of Batesville and Dawson Inzer of Greers Ferry. The Founders Award is selected by a vote of WBU faculty each year, signifying a female and a male graduate who best represent the ideals and mission of Williams.
Williams is a private, Christian university in Walnut Ridge.
WBU graduates from Arkansas, listed by county, hometown and degree included:
ASHLEY COUNTY
Crossett: Mary Katherine Armstrong, Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies; Sidne Michelle Mills (magna cum laude), Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries.
BOONE COUNTY
Bergman: Trevor Mathis Little (cum laude), Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries.
Harrison: William Joseph Gossage, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts.
Valley Springs: Makenzie Marie Graves (summa cum laude, Coe Scholar), Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies.
CLAY COUNTY
Corning: Jayden Shane Wiedeman, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management.
Piggott: Harmony Sanders, Master of Arts in Teaching.
Rector: Lane David Stucks, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts.
CLEBURNE COUNTY
Greers Ferry: Grady Dawson Inzer (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Finance.
Pangburn: Jadyn Ramsey (magna cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Marketing.
Quitman: Tierney Lee Glenn, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY
Bono: Charlotte Taylor Belk (summa cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; John Paul Jones III, Bachelor of Science in Biology.
Jonesboro: Nathan Geoffrey Belk (summa cum laude, Coe Scholar) Bachelor of Science in Finance; Mattea Grace Cliff (summa cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Tiffany Lynn Hensley (summa cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies; Hudson Fowler Maddox, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management; Tracie Angela Mae Petty (summa cum laude), Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts; Tyler Douglas Whipkey, Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries; Anna Michelle Yates (summa cum laude, Coe Scholar), Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.
Lake City: Teddy Ray Barnes, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts.
CRAWFORD COUNTY
Alma: Josiah Lane Weaver, Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries.
Cedarville: Austin Luke Cluck (summa cum laude, Coe Scholar), Bachelor of Science in Mid-Level Math/Science; Jacob Daniel Richards, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Van Buren: Omar Alexander Franco Gutierrez, Bachelor of Science in Finance.
CRITTENDEN COUNTY
Marion: Sarah Hunter, Associate of Arts.
CROSS COUNTY
Cherry Valley: Sarah Ann Futrell (summa cum laude), Bachelor of Science in English Education.
FULTON COUNTY
Viola: Breanna Walker, Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
GREENE COUNTY
Lafe: Tristin Brian Judd, Bachelor of Science in Secondary Social Studies Education.
Paragould: Abbie Nealynn Benson (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts; Erin Emily-Irene Bradley (magna cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; Tyler Cook, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Melody Louise Crosno (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Mid-Level Math/Science; Emmy Ervin Robinson, Bachelor of Arts in English; Elijah Max Hooten, Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries; Lyndi Reese Martin (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies; Hunter Payton Massing, Bachelor of Science in Finance; Margaret Christian McDaniel, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; Crystal Gayle Monreal, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts; Hannah Grace Stallings (summa cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies; Blaine Thomas Wood (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Mid-Level Math/Science.
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY
Batesville: Anna Caroline Clark, Bachelor of Science in Biology; Addison Crain Little (summa cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies; Kaylee Brooke Isaacs (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; Dawson Riley McMahan, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Gunner Chase Shell, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management; Alana Nicole Taylor (summa cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Pine Bluff: Alonna JaNae Thomas, Bachelor of Science in Biology.
Redfield: Thomas Lee Corp, Bachelor of Science in Biology.
LAWRENCE COUNTY
Black Rock: Alyson Paige Woodard, Associate of Arts.
Imboden: Rebecca Marie Simington (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Biology; Bryson Clarke Vance, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts.
Saffell: Ashley Wright, Master of Arts in Teaching.
Strawberry: Madeline Michelle Doyle, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; Emma Jeanette Howard (summa cum laude; Coe Scholar), Bachelor of Science in Marketing.
Walnut Ridge: William Lane Davis, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Kenneth Samuel Lewis, Bachelor of Arts in History; Andrew Wade Meyer, Master of Arts in Teaching; Michael Leon Steele, Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
LONOKE COUNTY
Austin: Adam Russell Huffmaster (cum laude), Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.
Cabot: Abigail Cole Thomas (summa cum laude; Coe Scholar), Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts; Nolan Paul Williams (summa cum laude; Coe Scholar), Bachelor of Arts in History.
Carlisle: Bailey Elizabeth Crump (summa cum laude; Coe Scholar), Bachelor of Science in Biology.
England: Tyler Lee Parr, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management.
Lonoke: Courtney Michelle Bettis (summa cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY
Blytheville: Ronald Lamond Hill, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts.
Leachville: Kiersten Bearley Meares, Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.
POINSETT COUNTY
Marked Tree: Eugene Doggett, Master of Arts in Teaching.
PRIARIE COUNTY
Des Arc: Shelby Alyssa Cain, Bachelor of Science in Finance.
PULASKI COUNTY
Little Rock: D.J. Townsend, Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.
Maumelle: Jason Elwood Detrick, Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries.
McAlmont: Darlisa Ware, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts.
RANDOLPH COUNTY
Pocahontas: Allyson Jeanette Harvey, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Kylee Nicole Steele (summa cum laude; Coe Scholar), Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies.
SHARP COUNTY
Ash Flat: Abram Thomas Fessenden (cum laude), Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.
UNION COUNTY
Huttig: Rebekah Faith Gunter (magna cum laude) Bachelor of Arts in History.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Fayetteville: Austin Kyle Brewer, Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries.
WHITE COUNTY
Beebe: Savannah Cheyenne Garringer (summa cum laude; Coe Scholar), Bachelor of Arts in English.
Searcy: Luis Anthony Arman, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts; Emilee Grace Knighton, Bachelor of Science in Biology.
Graduates from other states, listed by state and hometown, included:
CALIFORNIA
Chico: Todd David McIntyre, Master of Arts in Teaching.
Rancho Cordova: Alex James Gaela, Bachelor of Science in Finance.
ILLINOIS
Mount Olive: Tori Paige Kierbach (summa cum laude; Coe Scholar), Bachelor of Science in Biology.
KANSAS
Ellis: Elliott AnnaMarie Cox (summa cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies.
LOUISIANA
Albany: Madison Ashley Knight (magna cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.
Deville: Kaleb Rhett Paulk, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts.
Lecompte: Elizabeth Grace Broussard (summa cum laude), Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education: Social Studies.
MISSISSIPPI
Clarksdale: Tyrell Malik Burnett, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management.
Olive Branch: Gavin Myles Mink, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management.
Olive Branch: Alexander Orman, Bachelor of Arts in Finance.
Southaven: Hannah Tabor Johnston (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies.
MISSOURI
Bloomfield: Jenna Leigh Yates, Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies.
Cooter: Jacob Wayne Watkins, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management.
Ellsinore: Levi Hayden Boyer (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Mid-Level Math/Science.
Macon: Kinsman Pryor, Associate of Arts.
Malden: Tucker Ray Coleman, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management.
Neelyville: Parker Alan Jeffries, Bachelor of Science in Physical Education.
Oran: Rylee McKenna Boshell (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts.
St. Louis: Nijah Amari Moore, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management.
NEW MEXICO
Los Alamos: Eric Jayson Burns (magna cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
TENNESSEE
Arlington: Carmen Taylor (cum laude), Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.
Arlington: Charmen Taylor, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Franklin: Kyle Bai Lee, Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.
Lebanon: Akiraona Steverson, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Memphis: E.J. Johnson, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management.
TEXAS
El Paso: Dayshia Deshae Espinosa-Ford (summa cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Houston: Makayla Ann King, Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
McKinney: Monica Simmone Horne, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts.
Missouri City: Jordan Johnson, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management.
Spring: Natalia Daniela Watkins, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts.
WBU graduates from other countries included:
BRAZIL
Ipatinga: Arthur Gomes Nunes Ferreira (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Sao Paulo: Andre Hideki Akabane (magna cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Finance.
BAHAMAS
Nassau: Kyla Lauren Bethell, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts.
COLUMBIA
Cali: Juanita Trujillo, Bachelor of Science in Finance.
FRANCE
Paris: Sloan Tshilenge, Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.
PORTUGAL
Lisbon: Rodrigo Miguel Pina, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management.
SPAIN
Alcoy: Jorge Gisbert, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management.
Alcoy: Fernando Paya (magna cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Finance.
Alcala de Henares, Madrid: Hugo Gil, Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management.
Madrid: Adrian Briceno, Bachelor of Science in Finance.
Madrid: Jacobo Obradors, Bachelor of Science in Business administration.
