BETHUNE-COOKMAN COLLEGE GRADUATES 238 
AT SPRING COMMENCEMENT

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Describing Bethune-Cookman College’s 2004 graduates a “righteous class,” Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole drew on her experiences with College founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune in her commencement address Monday, May 3 in the Ocean Center.

Bethune-Cookman College President Dr. Oswald P. Bronson Sr. with his grandson, Warnell A. "Johnnie" Vickers, who graduated Monday, May 3.

VIDEO Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole reflects on receiving an honorary degree from Bethune-Cookman College CLICK HERE (41 seconds .mpg format)

“I continue to draw inspiration from a most admirable woman,’’ the President of Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C., told the graduating class of 238 plus an arena filled with family, friends and supporters.

A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Dr. Cole often visited with Dr. Bethune on the B-CC campus during her youth.  Dr. Cole has carried over many of Dr. Bethune’s teachings and philosophies in her distinguished career as an educator and a humanitarian.

Dr. Cole told the senior to remember the importance of service as they enter society.

“What you are doing for others is how you will be measured,’’ Cole said. “As you climb, you must lift others.”

Dr. Cole praised B-CC President Dr. Oswald P. Bronson, Sr. for his “29 years of distinguished service.” This was the final Spring commencement for Dr. Bronson, who will retire in mid-August.

Among the graduates was Dr. Bronson’s grandson, Warnell A. “Johnnie” Vickers, Jr. Vickers became the fourth generation of Bronson to matriculate through B-CC.

Dr. Cole was conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree – her 49^th honorary degree. Baccalaureate speaker Walter Scott Thomas, Pastor of New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland, was conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.

A posthumous honorary degree was conferred to David Hinson, Sr., a 1966 B-CC graduate who had over 37 years experience in the Volusia County School System, rising from teacher to principal of two area high schools to the role of area superintendent. Hinson was killed last August in an automobile accident. His widow, Celestine D. Hinson, a 1965 alumna, accepted the degree on his behalf.

In other presentations, Juliann McIntosh Blackmon, a 1971 alumna, received the College’s Distinguished Service Plaque in recognition of her contributions for being named 2003-04 Outstanding Faculty Award winner at Florida Community College in Jacksonville, Fla.

Betty Brooks,  Executive Secretary to the Vice President for Student Affairs, received the Ja-Flo Davis staff member of the Year. Her boss, Clarence N. Childs, was honored with the Ja-Flo Davis President’s Award. Childs will retire this summer after 35 years of service to the College. Dr. Morrison Obeng, Head of the Pre-Engineering Department in the School of Science and Mathematics, was honored as Faculty member of the year.  

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Bethune-Cookman is a comprehensive college, which offers degrees in liberal arts as well as professional fields, such as business, education and nursing. A United Methodist Church-affiliated school, the College has a diverse and international student population of more than 2,700 and a solid reputation for academic excellence and community service. As evidence of its outstanding program, the College has been listed in the Templeton Honor Roll of Character Building Colleges and Universities, and it was ranked by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the “Top 50” schools in the nation for black students.  B-CC is one of 10 charter member colleges of Project Pericles, a program to create civic leadership and involvement on its member campuses.  The College will celebrate its 100^th year of founding on October 4, 2004.

For more information, contact our website http://bethune.cookman.edu. 

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