Celebrating academic achievement at Tinker Published June 26, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- For many, June 18 wasn't just another Thursday. It was the culmination of hard work and persistence executed by more than 100 associate, bachelor and master degree graduates. The afternoon of June 18 was Tinker's 19th annual Academic Recognition ceremony. Hundreds of graduates, families and friends celebrated the occasion at the Tinker Club. The graduates -- Tinker Airmen, civilians, contractors, retired service members and their families -- had attended on-base colleges and universities. Retired Maj. Gen. William Bowden also spoke. He congratulated the graduates and their families, reflected on personal experiences and offered tips and advice. "Not only do I want to congratulate the graduates for the long hard work that you did, pulling off two jobs -- your day job and then going to evening classes -- but I really want to pay tribute to the husbands and wives and families of the graduates," General Bowden said, "because you're the ones who stood behind them and allowed things to happen." Referencing his own educational pursuit at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., the general said he helped his wife and children with everyday activities as much as he could, but their lives were often altered by his studies. When he did study and type papers, he remembered his daughter, Marjorie, then a colicky baby, was soothed by the clinking of the typewriter keys. And, his wife, Isabella, encouraged him to type. General Bowden said he is grateful to the Air Force for allowing him to further his education and also, enhance his career. While the degree itself is important, he said students should behave with a certain responsibility, one that will ultimately make them better leaders. "I think the most important thing that I came across is, becoming an expert," the general said. "You've got to become an expert in what you do. If you do that, you gain respect from all your bosses, peers, and even strangers you come into contact with." The general also suggested being a team player, getting to know others in the organization and praising co-workers for doing good work. Anne Avery-Pearce of the 544th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron was one of the graduates. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Management/ Computer Information Systems. Like General Bowden, she said she owes much support to her family. "I had to give up most of my spare time, after work and most of the weekends," she said. "My husband was very supportive of me during my study times and it took a lot of the stress off of me." But, ultimately, she is proud of her accomplishment. "It's a goal I've wanted to achieve for a long time," Ms. Avery-Pearce said. "It took me a while, but I have a sense of accomplishment." Graduates Park University Associate of Science, Management/Human Resources Staff Sgt. Eric Silva Bachelor of Science, Computer Science Travis James Joslyn Jordan Scott Whitacre Bachelor of Science, Management Tech. Sgt. Robert Barnes Master Sgt. Michael Brown Julita Casey Staff Sgt. Christopher Harlan Marico Jefferson Master Sgt. Michael Summers Cheri Warren Bachelor of Science Management/Computer Information Systems Anne Avery-Pierce Richard Brandt Matthew Brown Master Sgt. Eric Robinson Robert Saffle Andrea Talley Master Sgt. Frederick Thomas Ray Valadez Bachelor of Science, Management/Human Resources Master Sgt. Dionicio Alvardo Stacey Bromme Chief Master Sgt. Eddie Compton Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Heath Jeffrey Kimbro Master Sgt. Bryan Wilson Alumni Certificate Master Sgt. Cynthia Daniels Aviation Alliance Bachelor Of Science, Aviation Management - Safety Tech. Sgt. Robert Ahern Master Sgt. Cecil Ennett Staff Sgt. Cory Ferguson Senior Airman Jason Henry Vince Hooper Thomas Leinneweber Christopher L. Poston Bryan Sheehan Tech. Sgt. Randy Taylor Bachelor Of Science, Aviation Management - Maintenance Senior Master Sgt. David Brummell Tech. Sgt. Shawn Clay Tiffany Cluck John Freeburg Elliott Mullinax Drew Spears Master Of Science, Aerospace Administration and Logistics Capt. Sean Ames Maj. Gerald Anderson Maj. Clifton Barger Tech. Sgt. James Barnett Capt. Dave Bautista Eunhee Diana Beck Robert Britton Angela Burris Capt. Gregory Carlson Kevin Cook Capt. Christopher Cooper Anne Copeland Capt. Justin Crawford Michelle Crom Capt. Tiffany Day Capt. Robert Desautels Capt. Joel Doss Capt. Ben Edwards Richard Fenton Randi Freimann Carl Garcia Brian Gilliam Catherine Guttery Capt. Nathan Hartman 1st Lt. Nicholas Hatcher 1st Lt. John Haynes Steven Hellums Thomas Helsley William Hudson Kevin Jaworsky Laurian Jones Linda Kenyon Maj. Trevor Kimbal Gregg Larman Capt. Eric Lazanby Sang Lee Capt. Robert Mayers Karl McCausey William David Melton Caysie Mercer Paul Miller Caroline Moore Master Sgt. Barry Muntz Chief Petty Officer Michael Neal David Painter Stephen Palmer Capt. Jason Parker 1st Lt. Chester Peyton Jason Pruder Maj. Scott Pukay Brandon Pullins Staff Sgt. Joshua Quirk Staff Sgt. Lily Rollins Aaron Keith Sandefur Capt. Steven Schutrum Capt. Brian Servant Master Sgt. William Simmons Brian Smith Krystal Smith Daniel Sorrells Bryan Spears Mikell Spencer 2nd Lt. Matthew St. Pierre Joe Starwalt Steve Stoner Justin Stubblefield Shawn Taylor Leslie Thompson Paul Steven Updyke 1st Lt. Alyson Van Ness Rick White Capt. Gene Williams Martin Williams Master Sgt. Craig Wilson Kenneth Wimer Staff Sgt. William Wirstrom Milton Wooten Rose State Associate in Science, Biological Science Timothy Miller Business Associate in Science, Biological Science Christopher Basden Tech. Sgt. Hope Bruce Julie Cook Master Sgt. Stephen Goodwin Airman Joseph Macaluso Senior Airman Vitold Rodriquez Leandra Wood Associate in Arts Pre-Nursing Staff Sgt. David Lamm Staff Sgt. Rahsha Stowers Associate in Arts, Liberal Studies - Aviation Option Mitchell Calhoun Bradley Darling Hai Luong Vu Nguyen David Van Nostrand Drew Spears Associate in Arts, Liberal Studies Master Sgt. Paul Bilbao Aaron Botts Patrick Bowman Master Sgt. William Caho Grant Cully Phong Duong Tech. Sgt. Vincent Floyd Aleta Ginn Staff Sgt. Guillermo Giron Senior Airman Jason Henry Frances Jack Blake Jones Staff Sgt. Loukas Jonson Senior Airman Julian Jung Michael Lindsey Tech. Sgt. Malika Likavec Bradley Mackerelle Aaron Matthews Master Sgt. Douglas McRay Phillip Messer Timothy Misner Elliott Mullinax Mark Oliver Carol Parker Christopher Poston Tech. Sgt. Alejandro Rull Bryan Sheehan Tech. Sgt. Randy Taylor Jerome Teschendorf Senior Master Sgt. Douglas Wiggins Nathan Williams Joseph Yannarella Andrew Wynn Pre-Education Ruby Goethe Psychology Brooke Torres Elementary Education Staff Sgt. Rachel Bankemper Associate in Applied Science: Applied Technology - Office Technology Option Michael Stuck Business Administration - Management Option Cathy Gonzalez Nursing Science Rebekah Loney Webster University Master of Arts, Management and Leadership Dennis J. Daniel Master Sgt. Gary M. Kehoe Matt Loveless Amanda M. McGovern Capt Zach D. McKissick Rhonda R. Motley Lt. Col. J. Michael W. O'Neal Capt. Susan M. Sheets Capt. Shane R. Smoot Angelia M. Walker Michael K. Wilcox Capt. Dale A. Williquette Master of Arts, Information Technology Management (formerly Computer Resources and Information Management) Mark A. Dietrich Betty J. Dill James W. Gravely Lt. John Heatherly Maj. James F. Marlow Brandon W. McEachern Trung M. Pham Delbert H. Vick Jayson E. Miller Oklahoma City University Master of Business Administration Lindsay Oudit Colin Armentor Capt. Richard Barber Staff Sgt. Jeffery Bennett Jacqueline Black Capt. James Combs 1st Lt. Scott Dunlap Tammi Fallis Capt. Kevin Fletcher Navy Lt. Nicholas Frazier Jennifer Green Christopher Hathaway Capt. Michael Holtz 2nd Lt. Edward Hurd Jeffery Jodlowski Blake Johnson Bryan Johnson Christopher Jones Loribeth Jones Capt. Clifford C. Jackson Russell Keene Rikki Keller Renee Kirby Ricardo Lira Hope Locke Jody D Mack Lisa Martinez Capt. Dennis McCullough 1st Lt. Edward Ortiz Mike Potts Jason Shirazi 1st Lt. Cory Steinbrecher Maj. Steven F Stiegel Mai Throng Andrew Vaughn Fredrick Wernke Staff Sgt. Anthony Zeno University of Oklahoma Master of Human Relations Capt. Carlo Alvarez Adam Beam John Bennett Brandon Bussell Pamela Cowns Capt. Natalie D'Alessandro Diane Deal Wannie De Bouse Capt. Virginia Diehl Capt. Ross Fielding Maj. Edward Goebel Capt. Joseph Granistosky Senior Airman Alyson Gildner Capt. Gloria Ramirez-Hickey Maj. James Warf III Capt. Jonathan Watson Quintin White Master of Economics 1st Lt. Joshua James 1st Lt. Eamonn Needler Master of Public Administration Capt. Eric Landreth Master of Arts, International Relations Capt. Nathan Dever