VALDOSTA, GA — Valdosta State University is proud to announce the members of its graduating class of fall 2018. This includes the following area residents:

Matthew Allen of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Chandler Barnes of Boston, who earned the Bachelor of Business Administration in Management

Amber Baugh of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Rick Boles of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems

Hannah Bush of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and the Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing

Lakeisha Coleman of Thomasville, who earned the Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership

Payton Dixon of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Education in Middle Grades Education

Jared Eaton of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Mikayla Fillyaw of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education

Anne-Marie Holland of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education

Charity Hood of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

Brett James of Thomasville, who earned the Education Specialist in Instructional Technology

Katie Johnson of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education

Kelli Johnson of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education

Melody Johnson of Pelham, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Toni Knight of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership

Lauren McLamb of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and the Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

Lori Parker of Ochlocknee, who earned the Bachelor of Business Administration in Management

Marcus Powell of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Office Administration and Technology

Tangela Robinson of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

Devin Spencer of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration

Emily Upton of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education

Alley Wilson of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Gavin Wilson of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Science in Education in Middle Grades Education

Travon Wimberly of Thomasville, who earned the Bachelor of Arts in English

More than 900 undergraduate and graduate students completed the requirements for their respective degrees during the Fall 2018 semester.

“Graduation is a defining moment in every student’s life,” said Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, president of VSU. “We are excited to pay tribute to the outstanding efforts of our fall graduates and celebrate education as the foundation upon which success is built. These students have had to overcome any number of challenges to reach this point in their life’s journey. It is that very perseverance that protects and nurtures Blazer Nation’s 100-plus-year-old tradition of academic, creative, athletic, research, and service excellence. This celebration is not an ending but the beginning of many great things to come.”

Established in 1906, Valdosta State University is a premier comprehensive university that offers both the extensive academic, cultural, and social opportunities of a major university and the small classes and close, personal attention of smaller institutions. It boasts more than 100 degree, certificate, and endorsement programs on campus and online for undergraduate and graduate students. It also has a full menu of extracurricular activities, from national championship athletic and academic teams to honors organizations, sororities and fraternities, intramural sports, educational and service clubs, a symphony orchestra, art and theatre, research opportunities, and more. Even as underclassmen, students file patents on inventions and make life-changing scientific discoveries, present at national and international conferences, publish research in collaboration with their professors, work in campus-based clinics that benefit the community, live and learn at partner institutions around the globe through study abroad, and more.