Sarah Clay received a four-year scholarship to run track at the University and became a Six-time All American. She admits time management was her biggest struggle while pursuing a bachelor's degree but feels she reached her fullest potential during the process. A Christian, the psychology student would like to counsel young men and women and share the gospel with those in the psychology profession.
Name: Matthew Rogers Age: 23 Hometown: Palmer Park, Md. Major: Business Administration Concentration: Management
Mathew Rogers transferred to Bowie State University to play football. "During the transition, I found myself and became a leader in everything I touched," says Rogers. "I became a defensive captain on the football team and a mentor for the younger players. I also became the lead male peer educator with the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Prevention Center (ATOD), senior class vice president, treasurer of the Mu Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc., member of the Entrepreneurs Club, the Golf Club, and I served on several boards in the American Marketing Association. I realize that I am capable of more than my mind can even fathom. My plan is to continue my legend and make my family proud, as I am the first person to graduate from college on either side of my family." "A leader is not created, he is born."
Kyne came to Bowie State on a football scholarship and with a service attitude. His list of extracurricular activities include Mr. Bowie State Elect 2006, president of the Student Advisory Council 2007, president of the Student Athletic Advisory Council 2006, vice president of The American Marketing Association, insurance liaison/office manager of the Bowie State Wellness Center and student athlete (track and football). "Once my last breath has been taken on this earth, my legacy will be one of determination, strength, consistency and intelligence."
This graduate student overcame the odds to succeed academically with a learning disability during her K-12 years. With hard work, Joy Medley graduated from high school with a 3.0 plus GPA and she will graduate from Bowie State University with a Master of Art in Teaching and a 4.0 GPA. Prior to coming to the University, she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, a painful disease, which delayed her entry by two years into the graduate program. But she realized during this time while she was sick that she wanted to become a teacher who inspires many children.
Name: Dominique D. Beatty Age: 26 Hometown: Washington, D.C. Major: Business Administration Concentration: Management
Dominique Beatty's three year-old son serves as inspiration to never give up on her dreams. She says, "Being in college has been a terrific experience for me. I have come to know more about what I am capable of accomplishing. There have been times when you ask yourself ‘what I am doing this for?' and you remember how far you have come and you keep pushing. I will be my parent's first college graduate and a leading example for my siblings."
Name: Paulette Smith Age: 28 Hometown: New York, NY (Harlem) Major: Communications Concentration: Broadcast Journalism
Two weeks before graduation, Paulette Smith completed an internship with Fox5 television where she learned a lot about how a broadcast newsroom works. She also has worked for Radio One and Sirius Satellite Radio. She plans to use the media as a platform to make African American issues the concern of those around the world. "It is not enough to heal my people of the depression swirling within our community, it is necessary to change the stereotypical climate that too many face each day . . . Five years from now . . . I hope to have a nationally syndicated show called "How.I.See.It"., publish a book with the same name, receive a master's degree in sociology and teach at BSU."
In May 2008, Christen Grant-deMedeiros married a BSU alum whom she met while pursuing her undergraduate studies at the Bowie State. A couple of years after she received her bachelor's degree in 2005, she decided to enroll in the graduate program at the University because of the intimate classroom settings and the personalized attention that the professors gave to students. As she worked toward her master's degree, the newlywed learned an important lesson: " . . . that I could not continue to do all the extracurricular activities I wanted to do. Once I realized my limitations, I was much less stressed about things."
A graduate student who is a wife and soon-to-be mother, Natalie Cole-McCarter works as an admissions counselor and recruiter at Bowie State University. She chose to attend graduate school at BSU because she believes that the close-knit supportive campus community allows students "to truly absorb the knowledge they gain inside the classroom so they can apply it in their career and daily lives." The 4.0 student presented her thesis , entitled "High School Counselor's Perceptions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Maryland," at a graduate forum in April. She received a tremendous amount of positive responses from faculty and students alike. "I hope that my research is used and implemented to assure the continued growth and success of HBCUs nationally," she says. The thesis will be published in May.
Name: Fola A Oyeneyin Age: 23 Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria Major: Business Administration Concentration: Marketing
"I am a very open and optimistic individual. Very often caught smiling, I believe that laughter is the best medicine and although times get hard there is always something to look forward to. During my college experience I lost my father and my boyfriend, which changed my views on life. It allowed me to cherish people and time; to be generous with my time and love because those are two things no one can take back. ‘Life isn't always fair, but it is beautiful;' that is my quote, and I believe no matter what happens or how the story ends, there is something to thank God for. I thank God for my family everyday because they are the reason why I am here; they are my backbone, especially my mother Doris."
Name: Tamira Conner Rogers Age: 22 Hometown: New York, NY Major: Communications Concentration: Print Journalism
"I am beyond hard working and I never give up," says Tamira Conners. She calls herself a perfectionist and overachiever. Conners chose Bowie State University because it wasn't too far from home and she received a volleyball scholarship and an academic scholarship to the University's Honors Program. Where does she see herself five years from now? "I will have graduated from a university with a Juris Doctor and a Master in Business Administration as well as a paralegal certification. I plan on being a career woman working for a major private law firm or having my own business, . . . so marriage and children are far off in the distance."
Name: Leonard Smith Age: 23 Hometown: Lemoore, Calif. Major: Mass Communication and Journalism Concentration: Public Relations
Leonard Smith enrolled at Bowie State University as a National Exchange student. "I wanted to see what all the hype was about Historically Black Institutions," Smith says. "After my first year of visiting BSU, I looked at college in a totally different way. Bowie State instilled in me not only a sense a pride but a value of accountability for being the determiner of my own destiny. My sense of family, tradition and values were enhanced. I felt challenged in succeeding not only in the classroom but outside of the classroom by the motivation of my peers who all were highly active in campus activities and in the community."
Jamecia L. Muckelvene is a full-time student who works full-time for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Mitigation Directorate. A single mother of two, Muckelvene's strongest motivators are single mothers who do not believe that they can obtain a degree, work and raise kids. She has done it and wants single mothers to know, they can do it too! Her favorite quote: "The fact that the adult American Negro female emerges a formidable character is often met with amazement, distaste and even belligerance. It is seldom accepted as an inevitable outcome of the struggle won by survivors, and deserves respect if not enthusiastic acceptance."--Maya Angelou
Name: Joshua Miller Age: 21 Hometown: Salisbury, Md. Major: Political Science Concentration: Government
If you ask Salisbury, Md. resident Joshua Miller, how does he keep himself busy, he will respond: "researching political information, working out for the football season and preparing for the future." He describes himself as "a decent person who has a hunger for athletic competition and a desire for academic knowledge." One of his career goals is to become a candidate for state political office. If he does not or until he can achieve this goal, he plans to use his talents to help a dedicated and well-qualified political candidate get elected.
COMMENCEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Spring 2009 Commencement Committee Members Dr. Roosevelt Newson, General Chair Dr. Freddie T. Vaughns, Co-Chair Ms. Vera D. Chesley, Co-Chair Ms. Kelechi Anynwu, President, Graduate Student Association Mr. Leonard Smith, President, Senior Class Dr. Shirelle Briscoe Dr. Monika Gross Dr. Joan Hillsman Dr. Otis Thomas Prof. Renee Charlow Prof. Adolph Wright Ms. Patricia Mitchell Ms. Jacqueline Jackson-Palmer Ms. Cynthia Coleman Chief Ernest Waiters Acting Sgt. Lashelle Powell Ms. Dorothy Holland Ms. Doris Gillard Ms. Dale O'Neal Mr. Darren Swain Ms. Tammi L. Thomas
We are looking for interesting Spring 2009 Bowie State University graduates to feature on this site. If you are interested, send an email to rdaniel@bowiestate.edu.
Name: Sarah Clay
Name: Matthew Rogers 
Name: Yeahmu Kyne
Name: Joy Medley
Name: Paulette Smith
Name: Christen Grant-deMedeiros
Name: Natalie Cole-McCarter
Name: Fola A Oyeneyin
Name: Leonard Smith
Name: Jamecia L. Muckelvene
