Sixteen Roanoke area residents were among the 422 students to receive diplomas during Averett University’s Dec. 8 Commencement, which was held at its E. Stuart James Grant Convocation and Athletic Center.

David Ronald Reedy of Salem was awarded the Frank R. Campbell Award for having the second highest grade point average in the graduating class for the Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Program. He graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of business administration degree.

Averett President Dr. Tiffany Franks awarded 186 master’s degrees and 236 bachelor’s degrees to members of the December and August graduating classes.

Students who received bachelor of business administration degrees through the University’s Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Program were Roanoke residents Rita V. Levesy Lavender, Jeneva Loraine Lucas who graduated summa cum laude, Donna W. Lynch who graduated cum laude, Sara Klontz McKnight who graduated cum laude, Randy Lynn Peggins, Michael C. Prosser, Dominique P. Simmons and Maceo C. Toney Jr. Salem residents Laura Perdue Mossor who graduated cum laude and Sheryl A. Ruocco as well as Vinton resident Amanda Boone Davis, who graduated cum laude also received bachelor of business administration degrees through the GPS Program.

Master of business administration degrees were awarded to Ebony Alethea Jordan and Jessica McCauley Webb, both of Roanoke, Shannon Lawrence Mitchell of Troutville and Yvonne Tichenor Campbell of Vinton.

Chartered in 1859 and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga., Telephone: 404-679-4501), Averett is a coeducational, comprehensive university located in Danville, Va. Averett enrolls more than 2,600 students on its Main Campus and in its statewide programs.

Submitted by Emily Tomlinson