Creative Arts Graduates of 2024!
Congratulations on reaching this milestone! You have many reasons to celebrate! In addition to the reasons previous generations have had for celebration, you are a class that has endured an unprecedented rate of disruption.
Many of you came to WVU in the midst of the greatest health “disruption” of our time. As you leave WVU another great disruption, Artificial Intelligence, has arrived as our future. We are uncertain of the potential good, or harm, of this new technology. However, we know it is our future. You are also leaving this college at a historic moment. You are the last class to graduate from the College of Creative Arts.
With all the change that you have already endured, what advice can I offer. The first piece of advice is simple, and already has been suggested: be adaptable. While it is possible that the disruptions that occurred during your college years have been the largest of your life, it is also possible that we have entered a “new normal.”
- A normal where “changing modalities” happen with ever increasing regularity
- A normal where “artistic content” is accessed whenever and wherever the audience desires
- A normal where the owner of “content” is less certain
- A normal where the human impact on creativity cannot be assumed
While we do not know where this “new normal” may take us (or what “new normal” we cannot even imagine yet), we do know that you must continue to do what creatives have done for eons — you must adapt. The wonderful thing is that when you adapt you get to flex your creative muscle, and that is one of the many strengths you bring to our ever-changing world.
The other piece of advice is a phrase that I must share with you. The phrase is not mine, it belongs to our late colleague, mentor and friend, Travis Stimeling. The phrase is simple, “people first.”
No matter how much time and effort are demanded by your coming professional pursuits, please make the time to appreciate people. Even better, let the people who you appreciate know how much they mean to you. The time with those who are important to you is precious, and not to be taken for granted. A simple phrase, like “people first,” can become a powerful mantra.
Please take a moment to reflect and enjoy your achievement. Now is the time to know we will miss you (so please visit!). Now is the time to share hugs (if you are OK with that) and take lots of selfies. Now is the time to rest before leading us to a brighter future, one that is filled with “new normal” but where people still matter.
Congratulations! I look forward to witnessing all that you bring to our “new normal.”
H. Keith Jackson, DMA
Philip J. Faini/Falbo Family Dean
May 2024 Graduates
Doctor of Musical Arts
Collaborative Piano
- Xinxin Zhang
Composition
- Michael John Kahle
Conducting
- Natalie Nicole Shaffer
Performance
- Min Ji Baek
- Yangyang Cao
- Alan Wayne Cline
- Brianna Eddy
- Albert James Houde III
- Carl William Richter
- Weiyang Sun
Master of Fine Arts
Acting
- Justin E Borak
- Matthew L Frye
- Shelby Garrett
- Spencer Dee Hansen
- Erika Suzanne Kuhn
- Charles Wesley Meeks
- Josey Miller
Art and Design
- Payton Olivia Brown
Ceramics
- Stacy Lynn Larson
- Heather Nicole Lepp
Costume Design and Technology
- Katrina Lundquist
Intermedia and Photography
- Kristian Thacker
Lighting Design and Technology
- Maren Taylor
Painting
- Kamara V Townes
Scenic Design and Technology
- Alina Michelle Cannon
Technical Direction
- Patrick Philip LoRicco
Master of Arts
Art Education
- Kevin Richard Trautwein
Music Business and Industry
- Justin Paul
- Georgina Smith
Music Theory
- Malik Jordan Nowlin
Musicology
- Andrew Patrick Simonette
Master of Music
Composition
- Anna Elizabeth Higgins
Conducting
- Daniel Charles Zipin
Jazz Pedagogy
- Artur Chagas de Souza Carneiro
- Alton Xian Rong Wong
Music Education
- Ryan Jerome Kerwin
- Kaitlyn Marie Schramm
- Hannah Wagoner
Performance
- Madison A Cardenas
- Jose Gonzales
- Benjamin Russell McFarren
- Malik Jordan Nowlin
- Juniper Parker
- Alton Xian Rong Wong
Bachelor of Arts
Art History
- Hannah Ginley
- Riley Ann Klug ☙ ***
Art Therapy
- Raina Nevan Brown
- Emily Paula Budik ***
- Gabrielle Anne Cummings ***
- Heather Baylea Hainer *
Dance
- Sarah Anne Arcona *
- Megan Curry
- Hailey Marie Dicea **
- Lauryn Bailey Fusca
- Cambrie Grace Gerdes ***
- Danni Jean Gravley
- Adair Clara-Marie Keener *
- Sevanna Lynea Kisko ***
- Chloe S Mansheim
- Madison Lee McNeil **
- Haley Nicole Meade **
- Shanley Eileen O'Brien
- Karrah Renae Parsons
- Cady Anne Potter *
- Savanna Powroznik Jr.
- Bethanny Prascik ☙ ***
- Larry Smith III *
- Monica Symons
- Laura C Tighe ☙ ***
- Megan Elizabeth Troppman **
Music
- Elyssa Lynn Allen ***
- Ruth Noelle Hartmann
- Katherine Christine Loayza ***
Music Industry
- Isabel A Castaneda
- Dalton Linwood Crampton
- Michela Donatina Dorsett **
- Bryan Griffith
- Adam Colton Judy
- Madeline G L'Ecuyer
- Mia Norelle Miller
- Zachary Arthur Nichols
- Lindsey Ryan O'Shea
- Isabella A Stamm
- Kacey Lindell Wright
Technical Art History
- Amelia Kate Blevins ***
Theatre
- Sterling Dane Gibson *
- Emma Rae Ream ☙ ***
- Alyssa G Russell
- Kristy Zou ***
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Acting
- Silas Leavitt Bright ☙ ***
- Holly Jane McMullen **
- Robert N Sidow **
- Gina Velardi *
- Sophia Noelle Villano **
- Veda Wheeler *
- Reilly Elizabeth Wilcox **
- Natalya V Wood *
Art and Design
- Caitlynn Marie Buckler ***
- Helena Rose Harman ***
- Zachary Morphew ***
- Anna Elizabeth Pavlik *
Art Education
- Christiana Carole Bouvy **
- Megan Elizabeth LaBarbera ***
- Carlie A Pollock *
Ceramics
- Sarah L Cunningham *
- Kathleen Joan Gruendler **
- Kamryn A Hastings **
Graphic Design
- Katelyn Samantha Carman
- Kenneth Lamont Farmer Jr. *
- Kerin Michelle Lancaster
- Erica G Morton
- Miranda G Osborne **
- Thomas Walter Plachcinski *
- Kayla L Singer
- Wyatt Strauser *
- Peter Thomas
- Alexis Nicole Turner
- Andrea Kate Valaitis ***
- Gabrielle Monique Washington
- Nathaniel S Windom ***
- Hunter A Young **
Intermedia/Photography
- Laurna Janine Atkins
- Adele Rose Berkowitz **
Musical Theatre
- Christian Robert Clausnitzer **
- Alexa Christine Fanning ***
- Anthony Justice Gjelaj
- Catherine Mae Green ***
- Mariel Sinclaire Hazelwood
- Elijah Christian Nygaard **
- Larry Smith III *
- Joseph Solmor *
Painting
- Lilly Ann Marie Adkins ***
- Sara Nicole Haggerty *
- Laikyn Jade Samples *
- Robin Leigh Smith
Printmaking
- Desiree Thuy Vu
Sculpture
- Lilly Ann Marie Adkins ***
Theatre Design and Technology
- Allison Marie Cartmill
- Jacob Tyler Goedeke *
- Margarita Victoria Helfst ☙
- Isaac X Johnson *
- Jada Rose Pinsley ☙ ***
- Rachel M Rock ***
Bachelor of Music
Music Education
- Abigail Joy Adamiak ***
- Mason James Atha ***
- Jakob Tomarick Baker ☙ ***
- Simon W Cheuvront *
- Logan Anthony Karwoski ***
- George Chapman Kester ***
- Luke A Mazure **
- Gayle Marie Oberacker *
- Brandon Scott Saghy **
- Patrick David Smith ***
- Lauren E Sperry *
- Philip Trey Wilfong *
Music Performance: Instrumental
- Eli Thomas Hall ***
- Christopher Scott Little
- Geoffrey Peter Madge ***
Music Performance: Jazz Studies
- Shane Bowman *
Music Performance: Piano
- Ryan Richard Walker *
Music Performance: Voice
- Alexandra Lee Berze ***
Music Therapy
- Sydnie Toni Alexander
- Mikala Renea Fling *
- Timothy Michael Scheuvront **
- Carly Paige Scruggs *
Bachelor of Science
Music and Health
- Hannah Leilani Marie Tackett ☙ ***
Certificate
Therapeutic Art
- Ola ElWassify
- * Cum Laude
- ** Magna Cum Laude
- *** Summa Cum Laude
- ☸ Honors EXCEL Scholar
- ☙ Honors Foundations Scholar
- ⟡ Honors Laureate
Names listed in this program are taken from applications for graduation made to the WVU Office of the University Registrar. This document is not an official record of degrees awarded. Honors listed in this program are based upon the next-to-last term of enrollment and are not official until all academic work has been certified by the WVU Office of the University Registrar.