BRIEF: Commencement recognizes 254 graduates

The 114th annual commencement took place today. (Photo by Jessi Emmert)

The 114th annual graduation ceremony was today in the Merillat Physical Education and Recreation Complex. The day began with a morning baccalaureate service where Tim Smith, FRHistS, associate professor of history, gave the sermon. Smith urged the graduates to refresh themselves before taking on tough tasks in life, referring to Ecclesiastes 9:11. He also assured them they would be remembered by faculty, staff and students.

The university gave 6 Master of Arts degrees, 9 Master of Education degrees, 64 Bachelor of Arts degrees, 1 Bachelor of Music degree, 120 Bachelor of Science degrees, 17 Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, 9 Bachelor of Social Work degrees, 3 Associate of Arts and 15 Associate of Science degrees.

Three individuals were given honorary doctorates. An honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree was presented to Dan Wolgemuth, president and CEO of Youth for Christ USA, who was the commencement speaker, for his years of service with Youth for Christ. Rev. Luther Whitfield, senior director of Youth for Christ’s Primetime Community Center in Fort Wayne and senior pastor of New Covenant Worship Center, was given an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. An honorary Doctor of Humane Letters was given to 1977 Huntington alumni Charles Curie.