BELMONT — More than 300 students graduated from Belmont Abbey College May 12, during commencement exercises that followed a Baccalaureate Mass at Mary Help of Christians Basilica.
Graduates included 111 non-traditional students from the college’s Center for Continuing & Professional Studies, including Susan K. Fitzgerald, who was named the first-ever Loughridge Center for Continuing & Professional Studies Student of the Year.
Mary Theresa Jacobeen was valedictorian. Abbey Student of the Year was Gavin Schaffer, a student-athlete on the men’s volleyball team who served in several leadership roles on campus, including on the student-athlete advisory committee and as president of the Student Government Association.
Dr. Julia Beeman, chair and associate professor of criminal justice, was honored with the 2017-’18 Adrian Award for Teaching Excellence. Faculty and students nominated her for the award. The homilist for the Commencement Mass was Raleigh Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama. Bishop Zarama, alumnus George Horner and avid supporter Bob Luddy received honorary degrees from the college.
— Photo provided by Rolando Rivas