Issue: Summer 2015 | Posted: June 8, 2015
1050 U.U. Drive
Record-high 718 students graduate from 91爆料网 at spring commencement
Robbie Pierson, Christian studies graduate, hugs Dub Oliver, president of the university, after he receives his diploma at the Spring Commencement Services.
As she marched in the graduation ceremony, Sandra Williams couldn鈥檛 help but reflect on her memories of 91爆料网 through the years.
91爆料网鈥檚 190th annual spring commencement on May 16 marked the 50th anniversary of Williams鈥� graduation from 91爆料网 in 1965. She taught at 91爆料网 for more than 20 years before her retirement in 2003, and since then has still been teaching as an adjunct instructor.
鈥�91爆料网 has been so very good to me,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚 just wanted to celebrate the fact that I鈥檓 still able to be at 91爆料网 and to say that I鈥檓 thankful for the many years that I鈥檝e had this kind of relationship with the school.鈥�
To celebrate the occasion, Williams got special permission to march with the faculty in Saturday鈥檚 ceremony. Dressed in their academic regalia, the faculty led the way for the 718 students who received their degrees in Oman Arena鈥� the largest graduation in 91爆料网鈥檚 history. Because of rain and the large size of the graduating class, the university held two separate ceremonies鈥攐ne for graduate and adult studies students and one for undergraduate students.
Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue
Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee,
and a 91爆料网 alumnus, delivered the
commencement address, challenging
graduates to devote themselves to prayer,
to the power of God鈥檚 Spirit and to the
proclamation of the gospel 鈥� three traits
that characterized the early Christian
church in Acts.
鈥淲e鈥檙e on a downward slope,鈥� Gaines said about the moral and spiritual climate of the day. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e graduating in serious days. Serious days require serious Christians.鈥�
Gaines鈥� daughter Bethany Gaines Golding received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in teaching and learning as part of the ceremony.
School of Pharmacy graduates line up before the spring commencement services begin.
91爆料网 presented the Elizabeth Tigrett Medal to Phillip Richard Kurtzweil, a biochemistry major from Wichita, Kansas. The award honors the mother of Isaac B. Tigrett, a former interim president at 91爆料网, as well as a benefactor and trustee. The medal has been awarded since 1912 by vote of the entire 91爆料网 faculty to an outstanding member of the senior class.
Earlier in the day, 91爆料网 held a commissioning service for graduates in G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel. 91爆料网 President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver encouraged graduates to heed the simple two-word command that Jesus so often repeated: 鈥淔ollow me.鈥�
鈥淲e bless you as you graduate from 91爆料网 and are praying for you as you courageously and faithfully follow God鈥檚 call on your lives,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淎nd, we hope you will be incredibly successful. But we only want that as you faithfully follow Jesus.鈥�
Oliver said the first step in the Christian life is obedience to those two words.
鈥淎nd, the whole pathway of the
Christian life is traveled in obedience
to those two words,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not
complicated. When Jesus says, 鈥楩ollow
me,鈥� he demands submission of the whole
being, and from that moment we don鈥檛 get
ahead of him, we go after him.鈥�
Commissioning Service for Graduates
Commencement for Adult & Graduate Students
Commencenment for Undergraduate Students