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D&E announces top three honors for class of 2020

College plans commencement Sept. 19

ELKINS — Three members of the Davis & Elkins College Class of 2020 were surprised by a phone call from President Chris A. Wood congratulating them on their academic rankings. With the tabulation of final grades, Wood was ready to announce the Class’s valedictorian, salutatorian and highest-ranking Associate Degree recipient.

Earning the honors are Valedictorian Jonna Burnside, Salutatorian Julia Hancock and Highest-Ranking Associate Degree recipient Sarah Figueroa.

Burnside, a resident of Hambleton, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. In the spring 2020 semester, she was a student teacher at Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School and was recognized for academic achievement in the D&E Teacher Education program. In her senior year, Burnside served as president of the D&E chapter of Kappa Delta Pi international honor society in education, and in 2018 she was selected as a Junior Marshal. She is the daughter of Darren and Stacy Burnside.

Hancock is a resident of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Outdoor Recreation with a minor in Sustainability Studies. This spring, she was recognized for academic achievement in the D&E Division of Business and Entrepreneurship. In her senior year, she served as Vice president of the Delta Epsilon Chapter of Delta Alpha Pi international honor society and in 2019, she was selected for a Junior Marshal Award. Hancock is the daughter of Frank and Maria Hancock.

Figueroa, who lives in Huttonsville, earned an Associate in Science degree in Nursing.

In 2019 and 2020, she was recognized for academic achievement in nursing. In her senior year, she served as secretary of the Davis & Elkins College Student Nurses Association.

Davis & Elkins College will host Commencement ceremonies on Sept. 19.

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