Forty-Two Complete Doctor of Chiropractic Program at Sherman College

by Cheri Anderson-Hucks

Spartanburg, SC (06/26/2024) — Forty-two students from across the U.S. received the doctor of chiropractic degree from Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at the college's 147th commencement for June and September 2024 graduates.

"Congratulations to our most recent Sherman graduates on your Doctor of Chiropractic degrees! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence have prepared you to make a significant impact in the field of chiropractic care," said Sherman President Dr. Jack Bourla. "As you embark on your professional journeys, you carry Sherman's proud 50-year legacy with you. We are confident that you will continue to uphold the highest standards of our profession and inspire positive change in the well-being of your communities. Know that when you leave here, you are ready. You have proven yourselves to be worthy of doctors of chiropractic, and we could not be more proud of you."

Many students were recognized throughout the ceremony for academic honors, outstanding service and volunteerism, clinical excellence, and exceptional philosophy distinction. Edgardo Rivera, M.D., a beloved professor and Sherman's Anatomy Lab Manager, gave a heartfelt commencement address to students and expressed gratitude to the college for extraordinary opportunities throughout his Sherman tenure.

The 2024 student farewell address to classmates was given by Benjamin McBurney of Illinois (June) and Ashley Lake of South Carolina (Sept.).

Recipients of the Academic Achievement Award were Benjamin McBurney (June), graduating magna cum laude with a 3.758 GBA, and Eliza Lamb (September), graduating summa cum laude with a 3.964 GPA. This award is given to the individual in each graduating class who maintains the highest grade point average throughout his or her studies at Sherman College.

The Service Distinction Award is presented at graduations only when a student has made significant and distinguished service contributions in three key areas throughout the course of their studies at Sherman: the college, the local community, and the chiropractic profession. This award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond and demonstrate a commitment to service and excellence at Sherman. It is a testament to their dedication and impact within both the academic environment and the broader community. Bryan Vega Cordero of Puerto Rico received the 2024 Service Distinction Award.

The Clinical Excellence Award is presented in recognition of successful practices by interns in the Sherman College Chiropractic Health Center. The college's on-campus chiropractic health center is where Sherman interns, under the supervision of licensed doctors of chiropractic, attend to their patients, providing more than 30,000 patient visits to members of the local community. This Clinical Excellence Award is given to an intern in each class who has diligently worked to develop skills in the art, science and philosophy of chiropractic, maintained, at a minimum, an A average throughout his/her internship, excelled in all phases of clinical practice from technical skills in the examination and care of patients to showing strong respect and consideration of patients, and encouraging good health practices including lifetime spinal examinations. The recipients have attended more than the required number of patients, cared for them with great skill and extraordinary compassion, have been exemplary in his/her concern for patients' time, and have made informing patients of valuable principles an integral part of his/her practice. The 2024 recipients were Gabriel Matos Rivera (June) and Ashley Lake (Sept.).

The B.J. Palmer Philosophy Distinction Award is presented only when a student distinguishes his or herself in the areas of scholarship, leadership, and service with regard to representing chiropractic's philosophical base to his or her peers, profession and the public. Recipients demonstrate these areas by winning scholarships and introducing and helping others to better understand the underlying philosophy and principles of chiropractic, which is reflected by going beyond the curriculum and graduation requirements. Because philosophy provides a foundation that drives chiropractic science and is expressed through the art of adjustment, this award is especially significant when presented to a deserving student. The 2024 B.J. Palmer Philosophy Distinction Award was presented to Ashley Lake (Sept.).

The commencement address was given by Edgardo Rivera, M.D., Sherman College's Anatomy Lab Manager since 2015. In this capacity, Dr. Rivera worked closely with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine's Body Donation Program to maintain the college's highly regarded anatomy/cadaver lab to support instructors' needs and comply with all necessary licensing, policies, and laws. Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Rivera received his pre-medical education at Catholic University in Ponce and his medical doctorate from Veracruzana University in Veracruz, Mexico. Since then, Dr. Rivera completed an internship at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in the open heart medical center and has held leadership positions, including working with the Secretary of Health for Puerto Rico as his special assistant, serving as the director of ambulatory clinics at Oncology Hospital at Puerto Rico Medical Center, and working as Pfizer's country director for Puerto Rico and Miami, Florida. Throughout his career, Dr. Rivera has also been a professor teaching human anatomy and human physiology, medical terminology, working as an anatomist, and assisting with work-study students interested in becoming laboratory prossectors. He is passionate about his work and believes educating the community is the best way to promote chiropractic. Dr. Rivera has been married for 47 years to Myrna O. Torres, who is now retired after a career as a bank manager. They have three sons and four grandchildren, ages 4-17. All of their family live in Puerto Rico. Dr. Rivera expresses deep gratitude for the opportunities Sherman College has given him. He is retiring at the end of the Spring quarter following Sherman's graduation ceremony.

Class of June 2024 Graduates:

Tatiana Maria Bazzani, New Hampshire

Hunter Bigler, North Carolina - cum laude

Grant Blanton, North Carolina

Christopher John Brown, South Carolina

Robert Evan Burns, Virginia - cum laude

Luis Fernando Contreras Nazario, Puerto Rico

Abigail Farrar, Florida

Samuel David Goodman, Missouri

Tre Park Hayden, Florida

Kamyab Kamali, Iran

Gabriel A. Matos Rivera, Puerto Rico

Benjamin Ross McBurney, Illinois - magna cum laude

Noah Ostlund, Colorado

Joseph David Pelicano, South Carolina

Jordan Scharf, New York

Brandon Jacob Scheidel, Pennsylvania

Gabriela Neslian Torres Rivera, Puerto Rico

Bryan Vega Cordero, Puerto Rico

Gabriela Lazara Verdura, Florida

Joshua Samuel Yachter, Florida

Class of September 2024 Graduates:

Francesca M. Bogiatzis, Pennsylvania

Shannon Makala Bramlett, New Mexico

Alicia Caraballo Angulo, Puerto Rico

Brian Choi, South Carolina

Luke Hamilton Davis, South Carolina

Robert Cecil Keys IV, North Carolina

Ashley Danielle Lake, South Carolina

Eliza Lam, South Carolina - summa cum laude

Alayna Nicole Miracle-Rangel, Kentucky

Jorge D. Pagan Maldonado, Puerto Rico

Kiara Liz Rivera Alsina, Puerto Rico

Efrain Rivera Bonilla, Puerto Rico - magna cum laude

Joselyn Elizabeth Salmeron, North Carolina

Andrew Schott, Ohio - cum laude

Felicia Schumacher, New Jersey

Jacob O. Shively, Idaho

Ashley Renee Sosnowski, Pennsylvania - magna cum laude

Jose Luis Torres-Rivera, Puerto Rico

Victoria Wagner, North Carolina

Courtney Warlick-Williams, North Carolina

Sara Weeks Winburn, South Carolina

Becca Rose Wilson, Michigan

The doctor of chiropractic program at Sherman College requires students to complete nearly 5,000 hours (14 quarters) of classroom and laboratory study and includes an internship in the college's on-campus Chiropractic Health Center. To enter the D.C. program, students must have at least 90 semester hours of college-level courses, including courses in the sciences.

Photos are available for download via Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/199729886@N05/albums/72177720318044154

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