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Many Effingham grads among GSU Class of 2009
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STATESBORO — More than 20,000 family and friends were in attendance as Georgia Southern University presented degrees to one of its largest-ever graduating classes at Spring Commencement at Allen E. Paulson Stadium on May 9.

More than 2,500 graduates earned their degrees this spring with more than 2,100 participating in the formal commencement ceremony.

The spring 2009 graduating class included 80 doctoral degree recipients, 399 master’s degree recipients and 2,060 bachelor’s degree recipients. Also, 271 students graduated with honors and 72 students were awarded online degrees, the most ever presented in one ceremony at Georgia Southern University.

The graduating class represented 42 countries and 32 states; however, 90 percent of the graduates are native Georgians. The youngest undergraduate this spring is 20 years old and the oldest graduate is 61. The average age for the graduating class is 26.

In a fitting end to the formal ceremony, Georgia Southern’s bald eagle Freedom made his first flight during the University’s commencement ceremony.

U.S. District Court Judge B. Avant Edenfield served as the commencement speaker. He congratulated the graduates and told them their happiness will be determined by the values with which they go through life. “Let me remind you that this is not the end of your pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. Keep those tools sharp,” Edenfield said.

The following students from Effingham County graduated from Georgia Southern University this spring:

Adolphus Johnson from Clyo earned a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in accounting.

Tia McCarthy from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in accounting.

Stephen LaValley from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Arts majoring in anthropology.

Eva Walker from Bloomingdale earned a Bachelor of Science in biology majoring in biology.

Jeffrey Kramer from Rincon earned a Master of Business Administration majoring in business.

Jennifer Thornhill from Bloomingdale earned a Master of Business Administration majoring in business.

Kindall McLendon from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Science majoring in child and family development.

Abby Smith from Springfield earned a Master of Education majoring in counselor education.

Kristen Wert from Guyton earned a Master of Education majoring in counselor education.

Brittany Exley from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Science in Education majoring in early childhood education.

Christina Coats from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Science in Education majoring in early childhood education.

Christine Raines from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Science in Education majoring in early childhood education.

Courtney Peavy from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Science in Education majoring in early childhood education.

Hannah Stanhope from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Science in Education majoring in early childhood education.

Nancy Lawler from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology majoring in exercise science.

Amy Turner from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in finance/risk management.

Jeremy Turner from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Science in education majoring in health and physical education.

Carrie Davis from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Science majoring in hotel/restaurant management.

Jessie Gardner from Guyton earned a Master of Education majoring in instructional Technology.

Susan Doyle from Guyton earned a Master of Education majoring in Instructional technology.

Thomas Harris from Rincon earned a Master of Education majoring in instructional technology.

Emily Hall from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Science in justice studies majoring in justice studies.

Lucas Hynes from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Science in justice studies majoring in justice studies.

DeJuan Pinkney from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in logistics/intermodal transportation.

Raymond Lacross from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering technology majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology.

Crystal Jenkins from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Science in education majoring in middle grades education.

Leslie Smith from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Science in education majoring in middle grades education.

Rebecca Shealy from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Music majoring in music education/instrumental sequence.

Kaylee Gaskin from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing majoring in nursing.

Kelli Cooler from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing majoring in nursing.

Stephanie Burchette from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing majoring in nursing.

Charlene Andrews from Guyton earned a Master of Education majoring in reading education.

Charles Blewett from Clyo earned a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in regional economic development.

Dana Barnwell from Rincon earned a Master of Arts in teaching majoring in science education.

Nicholas Smith from Springfield earned a Master of Arts in teaching majoring in social science education.

Kalvin Houk from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Science majoring in sport management.

Jennifer King from Guyton earned an education specialist majoring in teaching and learning.

Tracy Walker from Rincon earned an education specialist majoring in teaching and learning.

Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students. Through eight colleges, the university offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The university, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education.

For more information, visit www.georgiasouthern.edu.