Approximately 5,000 bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and Ph.D. candidates, along with their families and friends attended Virginia Tech’s spring commencement 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.
Roanoke residents earning degrees included: Kristi Emmons,receiving a Master of Arts in Education degree in counselor education; Sarah Cocowitch receiving a Master of Arts in Education degree in counselor education; Erin Ratchford receiving a Master of Accountancy and Information Systems degree in accounting and information systems; Elizabeth Scaggs, receiving a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree in urban and regional planning; James Allen,receiving a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering; Winfred Garst,receiving a Ph.D. in public administration/public affairs; Ian Austin, receiving a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies; Patricia Bidanset, receiving a Master of Accountancy and Information Systems degree in accounting and information systems; Catherine Boatwright,receiving a Master of Accountancy and Information Systems degree in accounting and information systems; Karen Drahos receiving a Master of Science degree in biological sciences; Jennifer Mecca, receiving a Master of Arts in Education degree in curriculum and instruction; Susan Brown, receiving a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction; Jeffrey Newman, receiving a Master of Public Administration degree in public administration/public affairs; Michael Rayl, receiving a Master of Science degree in civil engineering; Michael Vaught,receiving a Master of Science degree in civil engineering; Holly Boland, receiving a Ph.D. in animal and poultry sciences; Brian Chisom, receiving a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies; Charles Crabtree, receiving a Master of Arts in Education degree in curriculum and instruction; David Dallas, receiving a Master of Science in Education degree in health and physical education; Brian Hall, receiving a Master of Information Technology degree in information technology; Dallas King, receiving a Master of Arts in Education degree in curriculum and instruction; Laurie Spotswood, receiving a Master of Science in Education degree in health and physical education.
