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BLACKSBURG, Va., July 9, 2009 -- The following Virginia Tech students were among those honored at the university's spring commencement ceremony held May 15, 2009, in Lane Stadium. Approximately 5,000 bachelor's degree, master's degree, and Ph.D. candidates along with their families and friends attended the on-campus ceremony presided by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger.

Retired United States Air Force Gen. Lance L. Smith delivered the university commencement address. Smith is a graduate of the Pamplin College of Business who served as the commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Va., and NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation from 2005 to 2007. Businessman, philanthropist, and statesman, Nicholas Frank Taubman, delivered the keynote address at the graduate commencement ceremony. A former U.S. Ambassador to Romania, Taubman and his wife are the largest donors to the Taubman Museum of Art in downtown Roanoke.

Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech is the most comprehensive university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is among the top research universities in the nation. Today, Virginia Tech's eight colleges are dedicated to quality, innovation, and results through teaching, research, and outreach activities. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg and other campus centers in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, Southside, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 180 academic degree programs.

Kendall Atkins

Atkins received a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude in communication from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Andrew Chester

Chester received a Bachelor of Science degree  in building construction from the College of Architecture and Urban Studies.

Lydia Chester

Chester received a Bachelor of Science in Business degree magna cum laude in marketing management from the Pamplin College of Business.

Sarah Firebaugh

Firebaugh received a Bachelor of Science degree cum laude in animal and poultry sciences from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Anna Furry

Furry received a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude in interdisciplinary studies from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Lindsey Grier

Grier received a Bachelor of Science degree  in biological sciences from the College of Science.

Joanna Hardie

Hardie received a Bachelor of Science degree magna cum laude in human nutrition, foods and exercise from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Emily Kirby

Kirby received a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude in English from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Andrew Ledwith

Ledwith received a Bachelor of Science in Business degree  in finance from the Pamplin College of Business.

Joseph Lemanski

Lemanski received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree  in mechanical engineering from the College of Engineering.

Jennifer McDaniel

McDaniel received a Bachelor of Science degree  in sociology from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Sanja Mujkic

Mujkic received a Bachelor of Arts degree  in history from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Cameron Pickle

Pickle received a Bachelor of Science degree  in building construction from the College of Architecture and Urban Studies.

Dustin Pickle

Pickle received a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in interdisciplinary studies from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Joshua Pratt

Pratt received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree cum laude in civil engineering from the College of Engineering.

Joshua Quesenberry

Quesenberry received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering degree  in computer engineering from the College of Engineering.

Amrita Raja

Raja received a Bachelor of Science degree summa cum laude in interior design from the College of Architecture and Urban Studies.

Amrita Raja

Raja received a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude in French from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Lindsay Schaffer

Schaffer received a Bachelor of Science degree  in biological sciences from the College of Science.

Zachary Secor

Secor received a Bachelor of Architecture degree summa cum laude in architecture from the College of Architecture and Urban Studies.

Larry Simmons

Simmons received a Bachelor of Science degree  in computer science from the College of Engineering.

Whitney Thompson

Thompson received a Bachelor of Science in Business degree  in hospitality and tourism management from the Pamplin College of Business.

Ryan Tompkins

Tompkins received a Bachelor of Science in Business degree  in management from the Pamplin College of Business.

Calvin Waldron

Waldron received a Bachelor of Science degree  in food science and technology from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Cherish Wertz

Wertz received a Bachelor of Science in Business degree summa cum laude in accounting and information systems from the Pamplin College of Business.

Corey Whisler

Whisler received a Bachelor of Science in Business degree magna cum laude in business information technology from the Pamplin College of Business.