Graduation #1

This year the Nobles will have THREE graduations!  So, Alyssa's is #1, and it is official...she is a graduate of Berry College with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood. She graduated Magna Cum Laude, which is not the highest of Summa Cum Laude. Her GPA was a 3.8912, and it has to be a 3.9 to graduate with the highest honors.  It doesn't matter to us, we are so proud of her.

It's been a fast and furious four years of college.  Alyssa has enjoyed  her Berry experience, and she has boxes of t-shirts to prove it!! Having grown up at Berry, she really wanted to go away, but she couldn't find Berry in any of the other schools she visited. Once she was accepted into the Winshape College program she was hooked, and she thrived at Berry.

Lisa, Alyssa & Rebecca at Winshape Senior Banquet

Winshape provided a wonderful community that taught her leadership & also helped her grow spiritually. Berry challenged her academically, and taught her the joy of service.  Alyssa really lives the Berry motto found in Matthew 20:28 "not to be ministered unto, but to minister:"  As she leaves Berry and Rome for Mississippi she will get a chance to further the understanding of that motto as she teaches in Hazelhurst Mississippi.  She joins the Delta Corp of  Teach for America beginning June 5.  She could have had a job at Elm Street Elementary in Rome, where she student taught, but she chose to serve in a region of the country where students struggle to achieve academically.

Photo highlights from graduation!

Good friends, Surls & Weeks! Occasionally found at the Nobles Sunday lunch table

Before the ceremony

Laurie Chandler was Alyssa's work supervisor in the Bonner Center.

ECE Majors:survived junior block and now graduating together!

Lining up for the processional

Because I work at Berry I was privileged to give Alyssa her diploma!!

The family after the HOT ceremony

Dr. Pethel & Aaron enjoying lunch on the patio behind Cook.

Kathryn & Layne Stewart, Berry grads from the early 80's. Layne is Rachel & Rebecca's mom.
Layne helped me get everything ready for the party today! I couldn't have done it without her!

Hug from Ally Slade, mentor and friend!

Hug from Mrs. Forsyth, her supervising teacher at Elm Street.

Alyssa loved working in Mrs. Forsyth's 3rd grade classroom.

Morgan is a special friend from high school.
This was Morgan's first outing following surgery for a brain tumor!!

Alyssa & Alesa, Winshape friends! 

Dr. Slade, teacher, mentor and friend.
Alyssa spent the summer  between freshmen & sophomore year with the Slades ,
teaching English in Costa Rica.

Alyssa & Rebecca, joined at the hip.

Lisa & Alyssa, roommates one year - friends for life!!

Grandmommie helped us celebrate & helped make some delicious food for our lunch!

Gifts from friends, which is the real gift!

A map from Coach Davis. He never lets her forget that she got lost going to a soccer match in Canton.
This map highlights the route from Rome to Hazelhurst MS!!

So happy that Brandon was able to attend! He has had several surgeries this spring,
but is on the road to recovery & soon going to Colorado with us!!

Sisters, plus Rachel...she is one of the family too!

Proud parents of a college graduate!

We are very proud of Alyssa and all she has accomplished.  We look forward to how God will use her in Mississippi, and the lives of those she teaches.