Bethany Graduates 52 Student-Athletes

Bethany, W. Va – Bethany College celebrated the 179th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m. As a part of that merriment, 52 student-athletes received their baccalaureate degrees.

Joined by their fellow classmates, the Bison student-athletes listened to commencement speaker Alumnus Thomas Buergenthal, class of 1957, world-renowned judge, and one of the youngest survivors of the Auschwitz and Sachenhausen concentration camps.

Buergenthal advised the graduates continue learning by reading, traveling, seeing good movies and plays, developing hobbies, and getting to know and engage with people of different backgrounds.

Bethany College president, Rev. Dr. Tamara Nichols Rodenberg, commended graduates and challenged them to take on the challenges of the world.

Senior soccer player Marlon Mejia expressed his feelings about Bethany College and how much is has taught him throughout the years, not only academically but socially. Mejia thanked the faculty, students, and staff for letting him get to know them and making his four years at Bethany great.

In part of the celebrations of the Bethany College student-athletes, seniors Will Kanters and Abigail Turner were named PAC Scholar Athletes Honorees. On Tuesday, May 14, the two athletes were recognized at the 2019 PAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Banquet.

Will Kanters was named to the PAC Academic Honor Roll and was one of 17 PAC student-athletes to be recognized by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (NFF) as a member of Hampshire Honor Society, which is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers. Will earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and minor in criminal justice, graduating with a 3.53 GPA. After graduation Will plans on applying to be an U.S Marshall. He is joining the Ohio National Guard as a 27 D. Paralegal Specialist and is in the application process for Ohio State Patrol.

Abigail Turner was named to the PAC Academic Honor Roll after both her junior and senior seasons. She received her bachelor's degree in biology (biochemistry track), graduating with a 3.92 GPA. In August, Abigail will begin her studies at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

A total of 87 Bethany College student-athletes were placed on the on the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) 2019 Academic Honor Roll this year. The PAC Academic Honor Roll recognizes student-athletes on varsity sports teams who have earned a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.6 or higher on a 4.0 scale during their semester of competition. 

A full list of the 52 student-athlete graduates can be found below:

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Sierra D. Cuellar Aberdeen, Maryland Soccer / Lacrosse
William Brandon Kanters Massillon, Ohio Football / Track & Field
Alexandra Courtney Metz Frostburg, Maryland Soccer
Saige Anthony Micomonaco Middletown, Ohio Baseball
Zachary Paul Nahra Mayfield Heights, Ohio Basketball
Caleb Janós Staudenbaur Bainbridge, Ohio Lacrosse
Jacob D. Stemmerich Greensburg, Pennsylvania Baseball
Abigail Elaine Turner Huntington, West Virginia Soccer
Brooklyn P. Wilson Washington Court House, Ohio Tennis
Landon K. Winstead Somerville, Alabama Soccer
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Drake Alexander Ray Berlin Washington Court House, Ohio Tennis
Daniel Robert James Booth Manchester, England Soccer
Francesca Noelle Capaldi Steubenville, Ohio Softball / Tennis
Shaka Conteh Alexandria, Va. / T.C. Williams Football / Lacrosse
Mychal Cooper Los Angeles, California Football / Track & Field
Matthew M. Corraini Ambridge, Pennsylvania Baseball
Ashley M. Duthie Madison, Ohio Basketball
Shaquille Ellis Anderson, South Carolina Football
Emily Sarah Folk Hagerstown, Maryland Softball / Tennis
Adam Quevi Franco Inglewood, California Tennis
Leighanna N. Frantz East Liverpool, Ohio Soccer
Tyler Lee Frazee Markleysburg, Pennsylvania Baseball
Haylee Nicole Frazier Hamilton, Ohio Tennis
Patience Diane Frazier Washington, Pennsylvania Track & Field
Nicholas L. Gross Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Baseball
Anthony B. Helias Erie, Pennsylvania Lacrosse / Swimming
Alyssa Ann Hill Buckhannon, West Virginia Lacrosse
Nicholas Holmes Brooklyn, New York Lacrosse
Darren Phillip Johnson Jr. New Orleans, Louisiana Tennis
Taylor Nicole Large Hopwood, Pennsylvania Basketball
Joshua Michael Lonero Trafford, Pennsylvania Baseball
Nathan W. Marko McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania Baseball
Byron N. Mayers Brownsville, Pennsylvania Football / Track & Field
Marlon Zoir Mejia Puyallup, Washington Soccer
Maggie E. Merren Oregon, Ohio Volleyball
Nick Metz Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Basketball
Alexander Moore Michalenko Moon Township, Pennsylvania Track & Field
Jacob Duncan O'Donnell Cardiff, Wales Soccer
Christopher Waters Ray Henrico, Virginia Tennis
Kenneth M. Ryan Brownsville, Pennsylvania Baseball
Lee E. Sanders Jr. Waldorf, Maryland Football
Ryan T. Senka Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania Golf
Isaiah Spencer Brownsville, Pennsylvania Soccer
Cheyne Paul Stresky Oxford, Michigan Swimming
Rhone Lysle Thrash Parkersburg, West Virginia Tennis
Bradley Glenn Turner Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia Soccer
Bryan Uth Falling Waters, West Virginia Football
Brandon Wagner Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Baseball
Samantha Ellen Weiss Taylorstown, Pennsylvania Basketball / Soccer
Kai C. Whitney Melbourne, Florida Soccer
Neil John Woods Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Baseball
Thomas John Zarewicz Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Baseball