By Ashley Zsedenyi, staff writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY. – “Tonight is about you,” said Dr. Bill Henard.
Henard is pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, and was the guest speaker at Campbellsville University’s second December commencement.
The commencement for 139 graduates was Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Ransdell Chapel.
Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, said, “This is a very special day – it’s a day you as graduates and your families will long remember.”
Carter congratulated the students for their accomplishments and for the sacrifices they and their families have made to “reach this important milestone in your life and educational career.”
He thanked and welcomed the faculty and staff, CU alumni and friends of the university who give of their time and resources to “keep the university moving forward.”
He said, “The theme ‘Find Your Calling’ is more than just a marketing theme – it expresses the very essence of what we do and who we are as a community of learners seeking to provide quality Christian higher education to women and men of all ages with an emphasis on servant leadership.”
Carter announced the completion of the Centennial Capital Campaign that helped to open the E. Bruce Heilman Student Complex, the School of Nursing, the new art building, the Gosser Gym and the Ransdell Chapel, as well as adding academic programs and reducing the student to faculty ratio.
Carter said, “The future depends on education.”
Henard urged the graduates to “Go out and claim the future God has for you.”
“Act upon the promises of God. Go out and serve God,” he said.
He said to follow God’s leadership – “if you trust God, you will make the right decisions.”
“Believe the promise of His protection. You will face opposition – trust and wait upon God and he will knock those giants down. Be a person of courage.”
Finally, he asked the graduates to “obey God’s word.”
“Make sure God directs you in whatever direction you take,” Henard said. “God will never let you down, He will never fail you.”
“Prepare yourself for the future. Have trust to go for the future God has planned for you,” he said.
He prayed the graduates will “impact the world” and “make a difference morally and ethically.”
Blake Lawyer, a bachelor of arts in educational ministries graduate from Elnora, Ind., gave the response to the charge.
Lawyer said, “No matter what charge I or anyone else gives you tonight, it is the charge from God that will always ring the truest and loudest. Work for the Lord, it’s Jesus Christ you are serving.”
Dr. Wesley Roberts, professor of music, served as organist during the ceremony; Dr. David Morris, chair of the CU Board of Trustees, gave the invocation; Ying-Huei Ting, of Taiwan, and Eldia Carla Farias, of Brazil, the first two master of music in piano pedagogy recipients of CU, provided special music; Leah Noe Magers, president of the CU Alumni Association, installed the alumni; Dr. Jeanette Parker, assistant vice president for academic affairs and assistant professor of psychology, gave the benediction; and Clint Warf, a bachelor of music graduate from Greensburg, Ky., sang the alma mater.
Both graduate and undergraduate students received their degree at the ceremony.
The graduates who received degrees are as follows: 45 bachelor of science; 37 master of arts in special education; 17 bachelor of science in business administration; nine master of business administration; eight bachelor of arts; eight bachelor of social work; three bachelor of music; three master of arts in music; two master of theology; two master of science in counseling; two master of music in piano pedagogy; one master of music in church music; one master of arts in social science; and one associate of science.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2009 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.