2022 Commencement Exercise Program

2022 Commencement Exercise Virtual

Saturday, May 7, 2022 11:00 A.M. CST

Dr. Dwight J. Fennell President Trustee Lawrence L. Reddick III Chairman, Board of Trustees

Commencement Speaker Candidate for the Honorary Degree Doctor of Humane Letters Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, Sr.

Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, Sr. was elected the 62nd Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church on July 1, 2014, at the 37th Quadrennial Session and 38th General Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Presently, Bishop Thomas serves as the Presiding Prelate of the Second Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The areas of his oversight include the states of Kentucky, Ohio, and the Central Indiana Regions. He also serves as the chair of the denomination’s Department of Lay Ministry and is the acting pastor of the Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. His ministerial assignments have also included serving as pastor of Walls Memorial CME Church in Chicago, Illinois, and serving in other capacities as presiding elder in the states of Alabama and Tennessee. He also pastored the Good News Community CME Church in Lithonia, Georgia. Prior to his election as Bishop, he was the seventh president and dean of The Phillips School of Theology, at The Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Further, he was the Chair of the Council of Deans and an adjunct instructor. Additionally, his academic experiences have included serving as the Vice President for Student Affairs and as a faculty member in the Department of Religion while at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, and as a member of the faculty and administration at Stillman College. Bishop Thomas holds the Bachelor of Arts degree in History, with a minor in Sociology, from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He also earned the Master of Divinity degree from The Phillips School of Theology at ITC and the Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Bishop Thomas is a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He is the second of six children born to Mrs. Minnie Thomas Brown. Bishop Thomas has two adult children, Ms. Kourtney Lea Thomas and Mr. Marvin Frank Thomas, Jr., and has one grandson, Kameron.

Candidate for the Honorary Degree Doctor of Humane Letters Rev. Russell O. Fuller, Sr.

Rev. Russell O. Fuller, Sr., currently serves as the Presiding Elder of the Dallas District for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. Fuller is one of three Presiding Elders entrusted to serve the Dallas-Fort Worth/Northwest Texas Region of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church’s Eighth Episcopal District. In addition to his duties as Presiding Elder, Rev. Fuller also serves on the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Judicial Council, to which he was elected as a member in 2018 at the General Conference held in Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to joining the Judicial Council, Rev. Fuller served as an alternate member for the council from 2010 until his election in 2018. In January of 1991, Rev. Fuller answered his call to ministry and preached his first sermon at Elizabeth Chapel in Dallas, Texas. He quickly assumed ministerial duties, as he was appointed to pastor New bethel CME Church in Stephenville, Texas, in April of 1991. Rev. Fuller is a native of Doyline, Louisiana, where he attended Louisiana Public Schools and graduated from Doyline High School. Rev. Fuller holds the Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management Science from the University of Phoenix - Dallas Campus in Dallas, Texas. In addition to his baccalaureate degree, Rev. Fuller has also earned the Certification in Theology from the International Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Rev. Fuller is married to Sharon A. Walker Fuller. They have five children, 14 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

PROGRAM President Dwight J. Fennell, Presiding

MUSICAL PRELUDE

“War March of the Priests”

CALL TO ORDER

President Dwight J. Fennell

NATIONAL ANTHEM

“Star - Spangled Banner”

NEGRO NATIONAL ANTHEM

“Lift Every Voice and Sing”

INVOCATION

Rev. Dr. Jamie Capers Campus Minister

OPENING REMARKS

President Dwight J. Fennell

GREETINGS

The Honorable Don Warren Mayor, City of Tyler The Honorable JoAnn Hampton County Commissioner and Alumna Tyler, Texas The Honorable Dr. Shirley McKellar Councilmember, District 3 - Northwest Tyler, Texas

Trustee Patricia McKenzie Texas College Board of Trustees

Texas College Choir

MUSICAL SELECTION INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKER

President Dwight J. Fennell

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Bishop Marvin F. Thomas, Sr. Presiding Prelate of the Second Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Marvin Sapp

MUSICAL VIDEO PRESENTATION * INTRODUCTION OF THE GRADUATING CLASS

"Never Would Have Made It"

Dr. Jan Duncan Vice President for Academic Affairs President Dwight J. Fennell

CONFERRING OF DEGREES ROLL CALL OF CANDIDATES

Dr. Jan Duncan

AWARD OF HONORARY DEGREES Doctor of Humane Letters Presented to Marvin F. Thomas, Sr.

PRESENTATION OF CITATION

Trustee Lawrence L. Reddick III, Chairman Texas College Board of Trustees

Doctor of Humane Letters Presented to Russell O. Fuller, Sr.

PRESENTATION OF CITATION

Trustee Sarah Wilborn Texas College Board of Trustees

INDUCTION OF GRADUATES

Trustee Gwendolyn Collins President, Texas College National Alumni Association

BLESSING OF THE GRADUATES

Rev. Dr. Jamie Capers

CLOSING REMARKS

Trustee Lawrence L. Reddick III

BENEDICTION

Rev. Dr. Jamie Capers

Texas College Choir

TEXAS COLLEGE ALMA MATER POSTLUDE

*Resource:YouTube

2022 Candidates for the Associate and Baccalaureate Degrees Muhammed Amin Markeithius Baker

Jaylon Redwine Justice Rochell Christian Rodriquez Makayla Sanders Jared Shears Emorson Shelvin Semaj Short Ashley Simon Brittany Simon Kourtnie Smith Dejah Stewart Dontavia Vaughn Kethern Vaughn, Jr. Brittany Washington Bianca Watts Jasmine Weatherall Muriel Webb

Tyesha Hardemon Dana Henderson Jazmyne Hicks Dajuan Hill JB Hines Levann Jackson Yvonne James Thalia Johnson Katriarna Johnson Ronald Johnson II Dezsek Kindles Gayla King Viola King Lauren Lafitte Dayza Lane Jeremy Lavergne I'Yanna Leaks Breana LeBlanc Kentauri Lee Travian Lewis

Zachary Barker Montel Barree Mollie Blakely Devin Bradford Carl Bradley Lynzie Brigham Delvonte Brown John Brown, Jr. Ladarriuss Brown Nekia Chappell LaJavia Collins Hernando Colorado Desere Cooper Eriann Cooper Taylor Crabtree Trevon Donnell Myoshi Dudley Janvier Emmanuel Laura Floyd Michael Garcia, Jr. Anoiya Gentry Ariel Gill Shelley Goldson

Daminicio White Kiahna Williams Kiara Williams

Olympia Williams Rashalon Williams Marques W i lliams-Bey

Kenneth Lewis , Jr. Jeffrey Mackey , Jr. Quinton Mason Brishe McKinley Briauna Mergerson Jacorian Miller Alexia Nance-Thompson

Chantia Womack Jamison Wooden Dyamond Woods Irvin Yanez Jerron Young Harold Young III

Shania Gosa Devin Grant

Chasmyn Green Lareese Hanks

Celia Polsky Medric Poole Rontrel Randall

The Commencement program booklet is not an official source for determining completion of graduation requirements. Some names may be omitted or included due to publication deadlines.

Mission Statement

Texas College is a Historically Black College founded in 1894, by a group of CME ministers. Our mission continues to embody the principles of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The College shall prepare students with competencies in critical and creative thinking related to the knowledge, skills, and abilities as defined in areas of study. Additionally, the College shall provide an environment to inspire intellectual, spiritual, ethical, moral, and social development, which empowers graduates to engage in life - long learning, leadership, and service.

Core Values

To address the mission, the College incorporates the Core Values listed below: ·

Academic Excellence - developing a culture of curiosity and creativity that will challenge the frontiers of teaching/learning; stimulate research; raise the level of analytical reasoning and inquiry; and enable students to acquire leadership, human relations, communication, and technology skills. · Integrity - instilling the pursuit of character, honesty, and sincerity of purpose as the moral rubrics upon which the behaviors of our graduates and College family are anchored. · Perseverance - implanting diligence, enterprise, and pride in the application of skills, knowledge, and abilities developed during the course of study at Texas College. · Social Responsibility - promoting in the College community a conscious awareness that we are all stewards of the resources entrusted to our care. · Tolerance - emphasizing openness to divergent points of view, applying an eclectic approach to rational and analytical thinking. · Community Service - encouraging self - extension in service to others as the heart and soul of our educational enterprise.

Vision Statement

Texas College — a creative, culturally diverse, inclusive environment, preparing students who aspire to be purpose - driven, financially secure and marketable leaders.

Commencement Planning Committee

Dr. Jan Duncan, Chair Dr. Cynthia Marshall - Biggins Ms. Millicent Rickenbacker Mrs. Angelia Fennell

Mr. John Roberts Mr. Jacob Martin Rev. Dr. Jamie Capers

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