Melanie Blakey Stitcher of Washington graduated from Augusta State University during commencement exercises held Saturday, May 13, at the Augusta Civic Center. She received a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Early Childhood Education.

Following the keynote address and the conferring of degrees, graduates were inducted into the ASU Alumni Association.

Mrs. Stitcher is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Blakey of Lincolnton, and lives in Washington with her son Blake who recently graduated from Briarwood Academy, and her daughter Taylor who will enter the ninth grade at Briarwood this fall.

Mrs. Stitcher will be employed by the McDuffie County Board of Education in the fall as a first grade teacher at J.A. Maxwell Elementary School in Thomson. She will also be pursuing a master's degree in Early Childhood Education.

Attending the commencement exercises were the graduate's parents, her son and daughter; Mrs. Lincoln Bounds and Mrs. Cliff Hargrove of Washington. At the conclusion of the program, classmates, friends, and family members joined Mrs. Stitcher to enjoy a celebratory dinner.

Prior to graduation, Mrs. Stitcher was recognized for outstanding academic achievement by induction into three honor societies. She was awarded membership in Pi Lambda Theta, an international honor society and professional association in education. She was nominated for membership in Pi Lambda Theta for fulfilling the qualifications of a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

She was granted membership into the Augusta State University Delta Alpha chapter of Kappa Delta Epsilon, an honorary educational fraternity which promotes the cause of education; and was inducted into the Omicron Psi Honor Society, a national honor society which recognizes non-traditional students with high academic achievement. She also received the ultimate and highest honor given by the Society, the distinction of Omicron Psi Gold membership which acknowledges special members who have maintained into their junior and senior years, the highest of ethical standards.