News & Events

UNC Asheville Celebrates 82nd Annual Commencement

May 15, 2010

More than 4.500 family and friends gathered on UNC Asheville's Quadrangle Saturday morning to celebrate UNC Asheville's 2010 graduating class. Some 677 students were honored during the 82nd Commencement Ceremony, including 436 spring graduates, 34 summer graduates and 207 winter graduates, who were snowed out of their ceremony in December.

Among them were Lindsay, Nick and Rachel Prather of Cary, N.C., the university's largest group of siblings to graduate in the same class. Twins Lindsay and Rachel studied sociology as North Carolina Teaching Fellows. Older brother Nick majored in music technology.

The three siblings agreed that UNC Asheville was an easy choice when it came time to choose a college—and that it had been a good decision for them all. "We loved the campus right away," said Lindsay. "And we all really appreciated the personal relationships we formed with professors, the challenging coursework and small classes."

Early in the ceremony, UNC Asheville Chancellor Anne Ponder presented honorary degrees to noted civil rights leader and freedom singer Bernice Johnson Reagon, legendary Tar Heel men's basketball coach Dean E. Smith and current UNC-Chapel men's basketball head coach Roy A. Williams. Williams accepted the award on behalf of Smith, who was unable to attend.

After receiving the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, Reagon addressed the graduates. "What if you are not an aberration? What if you are more than the result of maybe? What if you are called into this time because you are desperately needed? Keep in mind, as you move from this day, that you might be much more than you think you are," she said. "...This planet awaits you. This nation needs you desperately. This nation needs all you can bring to the table: your learning, future training and your questioning. What if you are not an aberration?"

Chancellor Ponder also addressed the Class of 2010, saying, "Graduates, as you leave here today and go into the world, I know that you will remember fondly your Alma Mater. May you be assured in the knowledge that the University of North Carolina at Asheville is behind you all the way."


Hitting the Job Market

Despite the ongoing economic downturn, many UNC Asheville graduates will be trading their caps and gowns for corporate wear in the next few weeks.

Amanda Bowen, an atmospheric sciences major, has been hired by the National Weather Service's Forecast Office in Melbourne, Fla. Bowen will verify severe weather warnings, collect daily climate data and take weather observations. "Thanks to all I've learned in the UNC Asheville Atmospheric Sciences Department, I feel like I'm ready for the job,” she said.

Asheville native Jerome Hughes has landed a position with Goldman Sachs in New York City. Hughes, a computer science major, worked as an intern last summer in Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management Division. Hughes made such a positive impact that he was immediately offered a job.

Renee Royal is has secured a highly coveted spot in the National Institute of Health’s Intramural Research Training Award Program in Baltimore, Md. In this paid post-baccalaureate program, she will conduct cutting-edge biochemical research in one of the nation’s top laboratories. Less than 10 percent of those who applied for a spot in the program were accepted. Royal said, “It’s a really refreshing way to see that all my hard work at UNC Asheville is paying off.”

Closer to home, graduates have secured jobs with A-B Tech, Asheville School, dataBridge, Earth Fare’s corporate office, Grandfather Mountain and HomeTrust Bank.

Many others have been accepted to graduate school, including the University of Georgia, James Madison University, University of Oregon, University of Florida and Wake Forest University Medical School.


Student and Faculty Awards

During the ceremony, three graduates received UNC Asheville's highest student awards. A top faculty teaching award was also presented.

Greensboro native Alikhan Salehi received the William and Ida Friday Award for Community Service. Salehi, a sociology major, has been an active member of UNC Asheville's Latino student group and Diversity Action Council. He has also served as a tutor at Asheville High School and helped bring the Mexican consulate to the area to meet with Asheville and Hendersonville residents.

The A.C. Reynolds Award and the Thomas D. Reynolds Prize for Leadership and Campus Service was presented to Sara Lenthall. This Knotts Island, N.C., native has served in the Student Activities and Integrated Learning Office, helped with orientation, and has been an active member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority and the Student Management Association.

Literature & Language major Jacob Riley was named recipient of the Manly E. Wright Award, which is presented to the student first in scholarship. He graduated with Latin honors, departmental distinction, distinction as a University Research Scholar and distinction as a University Scholar. In the fall, the Chelsea, Mich., native will attend graduate school at the University of Florida.

The Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award was presented to Grace Campbell, lecturer and senior capstone course coordinator in the Humanities Program. Campbell, who joined the faculty in 1999, has been instrumental in cultivating a number of academic programs, including serving on the Chancellor's Task Force on Sustainability to integrate greater environmental literacy into the curriculum.

Additional information:

Photographs: Graduates' photographs were taken as they received their diplomas by the Georgia-based company Action International Marketing. In the next few weeks, the photographer will send purchase information to graduates' permanent addresses on file with the University. Images will also be available online or you may go to www.mygradphotos.com to view and order photographs.

Video: DVD copies of the Spring 2010 Commencement will be available on May 26. Please email your name and address to media_request@unca.edu. You may also drop by the CITS desk (Ramsey Library Room 002) and pick up a DVD during regular library hours. DVDs are $5 per copy.


Class of 2010 Facts

Total Number of Graduates: 676
Spring graduates: 435
Winter graduates: 207
Summer graduates: 34

Gender
Male: 40%
Female: 60%

Age
Youngest graduate: 19
Oldest graduate: 63

Origin
Percent from Buncombe County: 40%
Percent from Western North Carolina: 52.5%
Percent from the Piedmont: 30.8%
Percent from Eastern North Carolina: 5%
Percent from out-of-state: 11.7%
Number of states, excluding North Carolina: 23
Number of countries, excluding the U.S.: 3

Most Popular Majors (based on primary major)
Psychology: 13.9%
Management & Accountancy: 8.2%
Literature & Language: 7.8%
Art: 7.6%

Additional Information

Photographs: Graduates' photographs were taken as they received their diplomas by the Georgia-based company Action International Marketing. In the next few weeks, the photographer will send purchase information to graduates' permanent addresses on file with the University. Images will also be available online or you may go to www.mygradphotos.com to view and order photographs.

Video: DVD copies of the Spring 2010 Commencement will be available on May 26. Please email your name and address to media_request@unca.edu. You may also drop by the CITS desk (Ramsey Library Room 002) and pick up a DVD during regular library hours. DVDs are $5 per copy.