The $$Danville, Kentucky Campus celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2014 on Thursday, May 22nd during a beautiful graduation ceremony which was held at the First Christian Church of Danville. Danville Mayor Bernie Hunstad, who has had successful careers in business, the military, and public office, shared his insights and advice with the graduates as their commencement speaker.
“I want to first tell you how fortunate I think that we are, speaking as the Mayor of the city of Danville, to have an institution like American National University in our community,” said Mayor Hunstad. “Today there is a disconnect between education and industry and American National University performs a vital role in removing some of that,” he said. “Work is worthy. Every time that we have one of our citizens go to institutions such as American National University, and they get a degree, and they go out into the workforce, our nation is strengthened, our state is strengthened, and our city is strengthened.”
Following Mayor Hunstad’s address, several students were presented with awards in recognition of outstanding academic achievement. The M.A. Smythe Award was presented to Delana Hall; the E.M. Coulter Award to Antonia Powers; The Mary P. McGurn Award to Doris Patten; and the Joseph E. Hurn Award to Brandon Anderson.
In addition, Crystal Scott, a student in the business administration-management program, was given the Achievement Award, and medical assisting student Traci Jones was presented with the Leadership Award.
Brandon, a U.S. Army veteran who graduated from the business administration-management program with high honors, said that he’s gained a great amount of confidence in his program at American National University. “I never thought that I would ever go for any type of degree,” he shared. “It’s given me the confidence to keep going.”
[img]Stephanie Slone, a graduate who worked in home health care for almost 9 years, and now serves as the director of health care education for the campus, was presented with the Alumni Hall of Achievement Award, the most distinguished award bestowed on alumni of the college.
“American National University is my passion. I was a student here, and then I became an instructor, and now the director of health care education. It means a lot to me to make a difference in students’ lives like a difference was made in my life,” said Stephanie. “I strive to give 100% to the students, because I want them to give me 100%.”
A-Danville, Kentucky Mayor Bernie Hunstad
B-Director of health care education Stephanie Slone, recipient of the Alumni Hall of Achievement Award, is shown with campus director Lee Bowling.
