Submitted photo Commencement speaker Michelle Williams Combs, ‘73, addresses the graduates in the Wilcox Chapel on the Alderson Broaddus Campus.

PHILIPPI — Alderson Broaddus University proudly hosted the 2022 Graduate Commencement Ceremony. One member of the Class of 2022 Information Technology Administration, two members of the Anatomy, and 27 members of the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program received their Master of Science degrees during a Commencement Ceremony held in the Wilcox Chapel on the campus of Alderson Broaddus University.

Nathan Dean Fortney of Elkins, became the inaugural graduate of the 2022 Master of Science in Information Technology Administration, while Heather L. Kiblinger of Beckley, and Kassidea Lynnae Mathews of Fairmont, received their Master of Science in Anatomy.

The Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2022 include Tayla Jo Anderson of Cumberland, Wis., David Bednov of Rockville, Md., Jordan Bowers of Philippi, W.Va., Harsha Medhana Chekuri of Lexington, S.C., Grace Chou of Orlando, Fla., Eleana Marie Cook of Vandergrift, Pa., Marina Kiyoko Doi of Kingsburg, Calif., Tyler M. Gast of Nevada, Mo., Frank Edward Gregalit, Ill. of Morgantown, W.Va., Hunter Joseph Hayes of Adrian, Mich., Juilia Anne Harman of Flemington, W.Va., Mamie Rene Henshaw of Vienna Va., Sarah D. Hutchinson (posthumously) of New Albany, Ind., Kate Dale Evans Jones of Linden, Va., Emily Paige Lauer of Brighton, Mich., Hanna Mae Noel Lewis of Virginia Beach, Va., Mackenzie Paige Moler of Purcellville, Va., Cassandra Renee Plishka of Elkins, W.Va., Andres Arthur Preston of Phoenix, Ariz., Kayla Breanne Ratcliff of Bridgeport, W.Va., Cooper Alan Robbins of Randleman, N.C., Katelyn N. Steigerwald of Franklin, Pa., Gavin B. Vincent of Harrisville, W.Va., Mia Isabella Virgili of Waynesburg, Pa., Mara Elizabeth Viterisi of Zionsville, Ind., Madison Taylor White of San Diego, Calif., and Cap Nicholas Wilson of Goodrich, Mich. 

Michelle Williams Combs, a 1973 alumnus of AB University, gave this year’s commencement address. Having first worked as a PA with the AB PA program and serving as their educational coordinator, Michelle worked in several different positions as a PA, including the Health Department in Lexington, Kentucky, during the HIV/AIDS pandemic; Planned Parenthood, and for more than ten years in Primary Care.

After working for 14 years in Hematology/Oncology, Combs retired after 48 years as a practicing PA.

Her address to the graduates, “You Graduated; Now What?” challenged students to find joy in their life.

“Find someone to love and something to look forward to always,” explained Combs. Quoting Winston Churchill, Combs reminded graduates that “we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Andrea Bucklew presented the class with degrees. One student, Marina Kiyoko Doi, was inducted into Pi Alpha, the national Physician Assistant honor society that honors significant academic achievement, leadership, research, community, and professional service.

The Master of Science in Information Technology Administration student, Nathan Dean Fortney, was presented his hood by Dr. Derek A. Holbert; Dean, College of Adult and Distance Education.

Graduate students of Anatomy and the Physician Assistant Studies Program were presented hoods by Dr. Thomas F. Moore ’04, ’07; Dean, College of Medical Science; Director of Physician Assistant Studies Program.

Bucklew conferred the degrees, encouraged graduates to celebrate their accomplishments, and left graduates with parting remarks from the Bible verse, Micah 6:08; “to act justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with our God.”

“I speak for the entire university community when I say how proud I am of the Class of 2022,” explains Bucklew. “These graduates have faced unprecedented obstacles during their education, yet they not only persevered, they thrived. I know they will be as successful in their next endeavors as they have been at Alderson Broaddus University.”