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Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 Graduates Recognized in Four Commencement Ceremonies

On Saturday, May 8, the University honored the graduates of Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 over the course of four commencement ceremonies. The commencement ceremonies were held in the gymnasium for the first time since December 2019. To gather with the graduates and their families and sing 鈥淕reat is Thy Faithfulness鈥 together was a poignant moment for those in attendance.听

view of commencement platform from behind guests sitting in chairs
Each graduate invited three guests to attend the indoor ceremony. Even more loved ones watched the livestreamed event.

The Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 graduates showed resilience over the past year and reached substantial academic achievement. Of the 213 graduates, 99 students received master鈥檚 degrees and 141 received baccalaureate degrees. 80 undergraduate/dual-level students received Latin honors for maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Fall 2020 graduates Courtney Bottge, Karina Chiang, and Veronica Pascual had a three way tie for the second highest grade point average of 3.99. Abigail Rider, social work major, had the highest GPA of 4.00. Among the Spring 2021 class, there was a tie between Christina Brambilla and Korissa Nauman for the second highest GPA of 3.99. Three students tied for the highest GPA of 4.00: Katrina Eichenauer, Shelby Longo, and Andrea Vincent.听
graduates walking in a single file into the gymnasium at the beginning of the ceremonyPresident Williams addressed each group of graduates, encouraging and exhorting them from Hebrews 12:1鈥2. He encouraged them to find comfort in the 鈥済reat cloud of witnesses,鈥 to 鈥渢hrow off the sin that so easily entangles,鈥 and 鈥渞un with endurance the race that is set before you.鈥
Most importantly, he reminds them to 鈥渇ix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. There are many things in this world that will vie for your attention, things on the left and things on the right. There are also things that will distract you, like your future. There are also things that will haunt you, like your past. You are to set it all aside and look straight ahead at Jesus.鈥
Congratulations, Classes of 2020 and 2021!

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