University of the Ozarks conferred bachelor degrees on 44 graduates on Saturday morning during the 2024 Fall Commencement ceremony.
Jerry Glidewell, a 1979 Ozarks graduate and retired CEO of the Fort Smith (Ark.) Boys & Girls Clubs, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony.
Glidewell told the graduates to be flexible and to embrace the journey.
“Your thoughts, values and goals will change over time; don’t let success inflate your ego and don’t let failure diminish your worth,” he said. “In other words — Don’t get above your highs, and don’t get below your lows. Sometimes progress is not always a straight line and you might have to take a few steps sideways before being able to move forward … And, embrace the journey — breathe it in. Keep the big picture in focus, but always be aware of the little things that make life special.”
Claudia Garcia, an elementary education major from Clarksville, provided the senior address.
“I am thankful for the opportunities this school has afforded me and feel well-equipped to shape young minds into future upstanding citizens,” Garcia said. “I know as the years go by, I will look back on my time here and cherish my service as an ambassador, my opportunity to study abroad in Northern Ireland, the soccer games I played in, and most importantly, the relationships that have been built with students, faculty, and staff.”
Here is a LINK to the livestream recording of the ceremony.
The Fall 2024 graduating class included:
Caleb Daniel Anderson
Broken Arrow, OK
BS, Accounting
Minors: American Studies and Mathematics
Cum Laude
Kelly Elissa Dayana Arango
Gutierrez
Guatemala City, Guatemala
BS, Psychology and Business Administration
Minors: Management and Religion
Summa Cum Laude
Fernando José Argueta Guzmán
Ilopango, El Salvador
BS, Business Administration
Minors: Art and Psychology
Magna Cum Laude
Brock Edison Bernard
Heath, TX
BS, Biology
Minors: Business Administration,
American Studies and Chemistry
Mary Elizabeth Bien Aime
Nassau, The Bahamas
BS, Business Administration
Minors: History and Psychology
Seria S. Cash
Nassau, The Bahamas
BS, Psychology
Minor: Music
Magna Cum Laude
Raquel Andrea Castellanos Quemé
Villa Nueva, Guatemala
BS, Environmental Studies and Business Administration
Minors: Philosophy and Health Science
Summa Cum Laude
Carlos Andres Castillo Ortega
Panama City, Panama
BS, Business Administration
Minors: Health Science, Spanish and Athletic Coaching
Roberca Celine Chery
Nassau, The Bahamas
BS, Biology
Minors: Business Administration and Theatre
Edgar Eduardo Contreras Sanchez
Chanmagua, Guatemala
BS, Psychology and Business Administration
Minors: Art and Education
Summa Cum Laude
Corbin Dallas Cooper
Mount Ida, AR
BS, Business Administration
Minors: American Studies and Sustainable Agriculture
Magna Cum Laude
Colin James Cosby
Broken Arrow, OK
BS, Psychology
Minors: History and Business Administration
Cum Laude
Andrew James Duncan
Alma, AR
BS, Health Science
Minors: Business Administration and English
Raynier Enrique Ferrer Medina
Panama City, Panama
BS, Business Administration
Minors: Psychology and Spanish
Jonathan Manning Steinmetz Firra
Dallas, TX
BS, Environmental Studies
Minor: Political Science
Summa Cum Laude
Ethan Clark Fleming
Mount Pleasant, AR
BS, Biology
Minor: Education
Jackson Cole Frederick
Charleston, AR
BS, Biology
Minors: Business Administration, Chemistry and Music
Summa Cum Laude
Loren Mackinnley Dodd
Hot Springs, AR
BS, Elementary Education
Claudia Garcia
Clarksville, AR
BS, Elementary Education
Minor: Spanish
Summa Cum Laude
Magali Elizabeth Garcia Ceballos
Clarksville, AR
BS, Elementary Education
Steve Wiley Grantham
Canton, MS
BS, Accounting
Minors: American Studies and Biology
Magna Cum Laude
McKenzie Lynn Greeson
Morrilton, AR
BS, Health Science
Minors: American Studies and Athletic Coaching
Magna Cum Laude
Blanca Eileen Gutierrez Garcia
Soná, Veraguas, Panama
BA, Communication Studies
Minors: Health Science, American Studies and Marketing
Summa Cum Laude
Heaven Hayden
Desoto, TX
BS, Health Science
Minors: American Studies and Business Administration
Lillian Kate Hill
Conway, AR
BS, Psychology
Minors: English and Sociology
Magna Cum Laude
Garrett Morgan Howard
Clarksville, AR
BA, Communication Studies
Minors: Psychology and Theatre
Magna Cum Laude
Berth Jessie Isaac
Port au Prince, Haiti
BS, Biology
Minors: Music and Management
Matthew John Kremers
Subiaco, AR
BA, Communication Studies
Minors: History and Psychology
Magna Cum Laude
Karanessa LeAnne Lemcool
Memphis, TN
BS, Psychology
Minors: Art, Biology and Marketing
María Fernanda Maltez Navarrete
Managua, Nicaragua
BS, Chemistry and Biology
Minor: Art
Summa Cum Laude
Hilia Yimabel Montalván Roiz
La Ceiba, Honduras
BS, Business Administration and English
Minor: Health Science
Summa Cum Laude
Alexus Jade Patrick
Central City, AR
BA, Communication Studies
Minors: English and Environmental Studies
Christopher Stif Pérez Fallas
San Jose, Costa Rica
BA Philosophy, Business Administration and Political Science
Minor: Psychology
Summa Cum Laude
Naïla Pierre
Port au Prince, Haiti
BS, Business Administration
Minors: Environmental Studies and Spanish
Magna Cum Laude
Destini Rachelle Powell
Minden, LA
BS, Psychology
Minor: Education
Olivia Grace Reed
St. Peter’s, MO
BS, Physical Education
Summa Cum Laude
Hayley Ray Rivett
Berryville, AR
BS, Physical Education
Cum Laude
Emillia Paige Smith
Russellville, AR
BA, English
Minor: Psychology
Magna Cum Laude
Gabrielle Elise Stringer
Oklahoma City, OK
BS, Finance
Minor: Psychology
Magna Cum Laude
Vicente Alejandro Urdaneta Navarro
Maracaibo, Venezuela
BS, Business Administration
Minors: Psychology and Philosophy
Halley Koryn Wheeler
Heath, TX
BS, Psychology
Minors: American Studies and Health Science
Summa Cum Laude
Kathleen Elisabeth Wilken
Claremore, OK
BS, Biology
Minors: Environmental Studies and Music
Magna Cum Laude
Jasmine Diane Wynos
Prairie Grove, AR
BS, Health Science
Minors: Athletic Coaching and Art
Magna Cum Laude
Hikaru Yamaya
Kobe, Japan
BS, Business Administration
Minors: Psychology and Philosophy