William Carey University will award two honorary degrees during commencement services on Saturday, May 19.
Col. Sheila Varnado will receive the Doctor of Humane Letters at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, and Dr. Don Stewart will receive the Doctor of Divinity at the 4 p.m. ceremony.
Sheila VarnadoVarnado served in the U.S. Army from 1976-2004, retiring with the rank of colonel. In addition to her military career, she has more than 10 years of experience working in local government and non-profit organizations. She is co-owner of Leaders and Shakers, a leader-development company. She is the founder and retired executive director of Recover, Rebuild Restore Southeast Mississippi (R3SM), for which she created a network of volunteers consisting of community leaders, social service agencies, local government entities, civic clubs, emergency management officials and faith-based disaster recovery organizations.
During her military service, Varnado received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary medal. She was recognized in 2006 at the Spirit in Action: 8th Anniversary National Award Celebration in Dallas, Texas, and is the recipient of the Wesley Medical Center Strong Women Award for leadership (2007), City of Hattiesburg’s Jesse L. Brown Distinguished Community Service Award (2007), City of Hattiesburg Veteran of the Year (2012), Rotary Club of Hattiesburg “Service Above Self” Citizen of the Year Award (2012), and Historic Downtown Hattiesburg Association Leadership Award (2013).
Varnado received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Ohio University in 1973 and a master’s degree in library science from Syracuse University in 1974. She also attended The University of Southern Mississippi (1997-1999), Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama, (2001), and Harvard University Kennedy School’s executive education program in community development (2012).
Don StewartStewart was a professor and administrator at William Carey College (now University) for 15 years. He served as dean of men and associate professor of religion from 1963-1965, chairman of the Department of Biblical Studies from 1965-1967, chairman of the Division of Religion and Philosophy from 1967-1978, and as a member of the administrative council from 1965-1978.
Following his time at Carey, Stewart spent 25 years as an administrator and professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary before retiring in July 2003. Since retiring he has served at churches in Mississippi, South Louisiana and Alabama, including Perkinston Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Glendale and Hardy Street Baptist Church in Hattiesburg.
Stewart holds a bachelor’s degree in English from William Carey College (1957), a Bachelor of Divinity (1960), a Doctor of Theology (1965), and a Doctor of Philosophy (2002) from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
WCU Commencement ScheduleWilliam Carey University will conduct six commencement ceremonies May 17-19. All ceremonies will be held in Thomas Fine Arts Center on the Hattiesburg campus. The schedule is as follows:
Thursday, May 17, 7 p.m.
Master of Education, Master of Science
Friday, May 18, 7 p.m.
Doctor of Education, Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, Education Specialist, Master of Biomedical Science
Saturday, May 19
- 9:30 a.m. - Noonkester School of Arts and Letters (undergraduate and Master of Arts), School of Business (undergraduate and Master of Business Administration)
- 1 p.m. - School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences (undergraduate), Fail School of Nursing (undergraduate BSN and Master of Science)
- 4 p.m. - The School of Education (undergraduate), Winters School of Music and Ministry Studies (undergraduate and Master of Music)
- 7 p.m. - Tradition campus ceremony (all graduates and undergraduates)
WCU Medical School Graduation: Commencement for the College of Osteopathic Medicine will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, at Thomas Fine Arts Center on the Hattiesburg campus.