TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama awarded some 2,467 degrees at spring commencement ceremonies held Friday, May 16, in Coleman Coliseum on the Tuscaloosa campus.

Internationally renowned flutist and conductor Ransom Wilson gave the commencement address at UA’s two University-wide commencement ceremonies held at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. Wilson, an Artist Member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, is professor of flute at Yale University. He has recorded 30 albums as both flutist and conductor and was nominated three times for the "Grammy" award.

Wilson received an honorary doctorate of human letters from UA. Two notable Alabamians also received awards at the 9 a.m. ceremony. Wayne Flynt, Distinguished University Professor at Auburn University and an expert on Southern history, politics and religion, received the Hugo Black Award, UA’s top award, in recognition of his distinguished service to the people of Alabama and the nation. H. Pettus Randall III, who served as chair of Randall Publishing before his death in 2002, was the posthumous recipient of the Julia and Henry Tutwiler Distinguished Service Award.

David Bronner, CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, was the speaker for the UA Law School graduation ceremony held Friday at 5 p.m. Bronner holds both a law degree and a doctorate degree from the University and served as assistant dean of the UA Law School from 1972-73.

With this graduating class, UA has awarded more than 185,000 degrees since its founding in 1831 as the state’s first public university. UA holds commencement ceremonies three times a year.

The following students from the Florence area were listed as candidates to receive degrees:

JURIS DOCTOR DEGREE

FLORENCE -- Shane Padgett Morris

MOULTON -- Joshua Byron White

MASTER’S DEGREE

ATHENS -- Karen M. Clem, Martha Susan Fry, Anna Shero, Dallas Shea Smith

FLORENCE -- Ana Carolina Behel, Kimberly Lovelace Mann, Daniel Trent Miles, James Clayton Rikard, Gregory Alexander Robinson, Stephanie Gail Smith, Andrew W. Stanfield

KILLEN -- Robin Leigh Hughes

MOULTON -- Vickey A. Lundy

MUSCLE SHOALS -- John Brian Jones Jr.

ROGERSVILLE -- Tracy Nichole Graves

RUSSELLVILLE -- Molly Ann Bates

SHEFFIELD -- Mitzi Lana Ladner

TOWN CREEK -- April Lavette Jones

TUSCUMBIA -- Kevin Gilbert Cook, Mary Misner

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

ATHENS -- Amy Elizabeth Anderson, Frederick Ladd Burgreen, Melissa Susan Disher, Michael Barrett Dorne', Lisa Lee Dunn, Somer Nicole George, Laura Paige Hudson, Brandy Leigh Reece, Christy Leigh Rogers, Telitha Elaine Sparks, Chandra Lynn Styer, Leslie Ann Taylor, James Wright Woodroof V

CHEROKEE -- Joshua Adam Burcham

ELKMONT -- Heavenie Page Rose

FLORENCE -- Jordan Thomas Glass, Su Jin Head, David Kirby Howard Jr., Adam Keith McDaniel, Tamara L. Moody, Adam Selig Muhlendorf, Stephen A. Phillips, Lydia Marie Seabol, Jill Elizabeth Sealy, Christy Leigh Sharp, Jonathan Wade Snider, Julie Ann Yates

LEXINGTON -- Anthony Dwain Bradley

MOULTON -- Joseph Hunter Williams

MT HOPE -- Autumn Lea Smith

MUSCLE SHOALS -- Amanda Diane Blackburn, Michael Gabe Bonfield, Nathaniel Blake Jones, Britney Suzette Letson, Anton Lamar Young

PHIL CAMPBELL -- Emily Suzanne Bishop, Candice Michelle Ergle

RED BAY -- Leah Catherine Lindsey

ROGERSVILLE -- Victor Roessel Dura, John Aubrey Howard, Kelli Brooke Thomas

RUSSELLVILLE -- Mary Emily Habig, Christy Deann Lane, Brian Ashley Pounders, James Keith Sumerel

SHEFFIELD -- William Thomas Hallman, Maleah Beth Young

TOWN CREEK -- Kellye Suzanne Roberts

TUSCUMBIA -- Megan Jessica Holt, Mary Anna Hudson, Daniel Freddy Mitchell, Luke Jared Retherford