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2015 USA/Canada Commencement Report
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NCN News compiled the following list of spring commencement reports from each of the Nazarene institutions of higher education on the USA/Canada Region:
Ambrose University
President: Gordon T. Smith
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Web: ambrose.edu
Date of Graduation Exercises: April 25
Commencement Speaker: Bruce Hindmarsh, professor at Regent College, Vancouver
Number of Graduates: 136
Fast Facts: This was Ambrose's 74th Undergraduate Convocation and the 43rd Seminary Convocation ... Ninety-six students graduated from the Faculty of Arts & Sciences and 40 from the Faculty of Theology ... Convocation events were held in Ambrose Gymnasium and broadcast live over the Internet ... Full story.
Eastern Nazarene College
President: Corlis McGee
Location: Quincy, Massachusetts
Web: enc.edu
Date of Graduation Exercises: May 9
Commencement Speaker: Dan Chung, medical affairs ophthalmic lead for Spark Therapeutics
Number of Graduates: 287
Fast Facts: This was ENC's 93rd Spring Commencement ... Lambert Brandes (music) and Nancy Detwiler (athletics) were recognized as faculty emeritus/a ... The college presented awards to Maegan Bourne and Jake McAuliffe (outstanding seniors), Sandrine Pires (outstanding undergraduate, adult studies), Joan Ford (outstanding graduate, adult studies), and Valerie Coyle (outstanding graduate, Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy) ... The senior class presented ENC President Corlis McGee with a gift of $10,000 to begin a fully endowed scholarship ... Photos ... Video.
MidAmerica Nazarene University
President: David J. Spittal
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Web: mnu.edu
Dates of Commencement Exercises: May 2
Commencement Speakers: Larry Fine, professor emeritus of practical theology (undergraduate), and David Spittal, MNU president (professional and graduate)
Number of Graduates: 696
Honorary Doctorate Degrees: Larry Fine and Stephen Cole
Fast Facts: MNU's 44th Commencement was held at Olathe College Church of the Nazarene ... Honorary doctorates were awarded to Larry Fine, who is retiring after 45 years of full-time teaching, and Stephen Cole, professor emeritus ... Fine was recognized as faculty emeritus ... Joanne McDermott received the Robert I. Brower Award for excellence in teaching Professional and Graduate Studies ... The American Heritage Award, the highest award for one undergraduate male and female, was awarded to Kathleen Flack, nursing major and Jorge San Jose, ministry major ... Photos ... Full story.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
President: Henry W. Spaulding II
Location: Mount Vernon, Ohio
Web: mvnu.edu
Date of Graduation Exercises: May 16
Commencement Speaker: Karen Wright, president and CEO of Ariel Corporation (traditional), Curtis Gingrich, vice president for medical affairs at OhioHealth Grant Medical Center (graduate and professional studies)
Number of Graduates: 719
Honorary Doctorate Degrees: Karen Wright
Fast Facts: This was MVNU's 46th Spring Commencement ... The Class of 2015 included 312 traditional undergraduate students and 407 graduate and professional studies students ... Photos ... Full story.
Nazarene Bible College
President: Harold B. Graves Jr.
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Web: nbc.edu
Dates of Graduation Exercises: May 22-24
Commencement Speaker: Dan Copp, Church of the Nazarene education commissioner
Number of Graduates: 94
Fast Facts: This was the 45th Spring Commencement at NBC ... The traditional Call and Response of the Apostles was held in Apostles Court ... Awards were bestowed on six Delta Epsilon Chi members and eight students on the Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges list ... Bachelor of Arts in Ministry degrees were awarded to 66 individuals, 25 of whom majored in pastoral ministries and two who completed their degree in Spanish (a first for the college).
Nazarene Theological Seminary
President: Carla Sunberg
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Web: nts.edu
Date of Graduation Exercises: May 9
Commencement Speaker: Kevin Mannoia, Azusa Pacific University chaplain
Number of graduates: 34
Fast Facts: This was the 69th Spring Commencement at NTS ... Commencement activities were held at Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene ... The 34 graduates of the Class of 2015 received degrees as follows: 8 Master of Arts, 19 Master of Divinity, and 2 Doctor of Ministry ... Nine of the graduates earned additional certificates or diplomas, including four who received them along with their degrees: one Advanced Graduate Certificate in Wesleyan Pastoral Theology; one Certificate in Chaplaincy Ministries; one Certificate in Pastoral Counseling; three diplomas in cross-cultural ministries (365m Program); and one Diploma in Family Ministries ... The graduates represented three countries: U.S., Portugal, and Russia ... Grant Christy preached the Corlett Senior Sermon at Kansas City First Church.
Northwest Nazarene University
President: David Alexander
Location: Nampa, Idaho
Web: nnu.edu
Date of Graduation Exercises: May 9
Commencement Speaker: David W. Graves, Church of the Nazarene general superintendent
Number of Graduates: 596
Honorary Doctorate Degrees: Stephen Borger and Cynthia Ulrich Tobias
Fast Facts: Degrees were conferred on the Class of 2015 ... Honorary degrees were awarded to Stephen Borger (Doctor of Divinity) and Cynthia Ulrich Tobias (Doctor of Humane Letters) ... NNU's graduates represented 11 countries ... The university honored 30 "Golden Grads," who received their degrees 50 years ago ... The NNU School of Nursing held its 13th annual pinning ceremony ... Photos ... Full story.
Olivet Nazarene University
President: John C. Bowling
Location: Bourbonnais, Illinois
Web: olivet.edu
Date of Graduation Exercises: May 9
Commencement Speakers: John C. Bowling, Olivet President (graduate and continuing studies ceremony)
Number of Graduates: 1,477
Honorary Doctorate Degrees: Gary Bond (Doctor of Divinity) and Samuel L. Mayhugh (Doctor of Letters)
Fast Facts: This was Olivet's 102nd annual commencement ... The Baccalaureate Service was held in Centennial Chapel May 8 with Olivet President John C. Bowling addressing the graduates ... At the undergraduate ceremony, awards were presented for the outstanding male and outstanding female graduates, as well as scholarly excellence ... Registrar Jim Knight was recognized for 40 years of service ... Honorary degrees were presented to Gary Bond and Samuel L. Mayhugh ... During the Graduate and Continuing Studies ceremony, the first Master of Arts in Urban Pastoral Ministry and Master of Arts in Christian Thought degrees were presented ... Peter Radulovic became the first Olivet student to graduate with all four degrees the university offers — A.A. (2009), B.B.A. (2011), E.M.B.A. (2012) and Ed.D. ... There were 586 undergraduate degrees, one associate's degree, 275 adult studies bachelor's degrees, 10 adult studies associate's degrees, 533 master's degrees, and 22 doctoral degrees ... Full story.
Point Loma Nazarene University
President: Bob Brower
Location: San Diego, California
Web: pointloma.edu
Date of Graduation Exercises: May 9
Commencement Speakers: Kathryn G. McConnell, Point Loma dean of the College of Arts & Sciences (undergraduate convocation), and Ron Benefiel, Point Loma Dean of Theology and Christian Ministry (graduate convocation prayer)
Number of Graduates: 729
Fast Facts: This was PLNU's 110th annual commencement ... All three ceremonies (two undergraduate, one graduate) were held in the historic Greek Amphitheater on PLNU's campus ... This year's class included 30 honors scholars ... Seven retiring faculty members were recognized ... Photos.
Southern Nazarene University
President: Loren Gresham
Location: Bethany, Oklahoma
Web: snu.edu
Date of Graduation Exercises: May 9
Commencement Speaker: David A. Busic, Church of the Nazarene general superintendent
Number of Graduates: 428
Honorary Doctorate Degrees: Juanita V. Copley and Bobby Gruenewald
Fast Facts: This was SNU's 112th Spring Commencement ... Juanita V. Copley, SNU Board of Trustees member and chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee, received the Doctor of Humane Letters and Bobby Gruenwald, pastor and innovation leader at LifeChurch.tv and the founder of the YouVersion Bible app, received the Doctor of Humane Letters degree ... The Crimson Award was presented to Margaret Farmer for her 27 years of service to the university ... Grace Williams and Tyler Lloyd received The President's Award, the highest award for undergraduates, in recognition of their academic excellence, service, campus leadership, and demonstration of the qualities reflected in SNU's motto, "Character, Culture, Christ" ... The morning commencement was followed by the Tradition of the Ivy Ring with graduating seniors and their families ... Photos ... Full story.
Trevecca Nazarene University
President: Dan Boone
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Web: trevecca.edu
Date of Graduation Exercises: May 9
Commencement Speaker: Alisha Russell, associate professor of biology
Number of Graduates: 739
Fast Facts: This was Trevecca's 114th Commencement ... Included in this year's graduates were the first students to receive degrees from the university's online Christian ministry program ... Trevecca President Dan Boone presented the Trevecca Citizenship Award to Corey Williams ... Photos ... Full story.