MOBILE, Ala. – Graduation day was especially meaningful for seven University of Mobile graduates who were the first in their families to graduate from college. They were honored prior to the Christian university’s May 4 commencement with a special RamLegacy pinning ceremony.
The RamLegacy program was founded to help first-generation students not just survive the college journey, but to thrive, walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, and leave the University of Mobile with added tools, resources and attitudes to help them throughout their adult life.
Along with the culture of mentoring that the University of Mobile fosters, the RamLegacy program helps first-generation students establish friendships, strengthen interpersonal skills, improve study skills, access networking opportunities and develop mentorships with first-generation alumni faculty and staff.
UM’s RamLegacy celebrated the following students, pictured from left:
- Randall Luke Killam of Semmes, Alabama: Master of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Management, Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. Killam also received the William K. Weaver Jr. Excellence Award, School of Business Achievement Award, Area Award: Piano Performance, and graduated summa cum laude.
- Alyssa K. Brashier of Crowley, Texas: Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Robert Terrell Letterman of New Orleans, Louisiana: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management. Letterman also received the Area Award: Healthcare Management .
- Carli Rouse of Mobile, Alabama: Bachelor of Science in Pre-Health Biology.
- Naomi Shirley of Kissimmee, Florida: Bachelor of Science in Criminology.
- Haylee Lynd Springer of Eight Mile, Alabama: Bachelor of Science in Management. Spring graduated magna cum laude and was an Honors Program graduate.
- TaNaja Williams of LaPlace, Louisiana: Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered university with a vision of “Higher Education for a Higher Purpose,” founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions in an environment where they are known. Located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, the university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs.The University of Mobile was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222
Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the University of Mobile unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.