For The Record

Submit birth, marriage and obituary records online.

Personal Ads

Meet new friends today!

Advertising

Put your message in front of 19,000 readers.

PDF documents on this site require the free Adobe Reader:

Get Adobe Reader

2008-05-20 issue:

1,145 students in five MC USA schools in commencement exercises by May 4

Bluffton University has second-largest class in its history; 37 year provost honored at Eastern Mennonite University; Goshen College again notes GPA

by Compiled by Anna Groff

Print Article

Eastern Mennonite Seminary
April 26
30 graduates

For John M. Stoltzfus of Stuarts Draft, Va., it was his first commencement ever. Growing up in the Amish Mennonite church in Pennsylvania, he had finished his formal schooling with the eighth grade.



On April 26 Stoltzfus was a member of the Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Va. graduating class of 2008.

“This is a dream come true,” said Stoltzfus. “I lived with a sense of call to ministry for a very long time but never thought I’d see it happen.”

Stoltzfus and six others received master of arts in church leadership degrees during the seminary’s 59th annual commencement. Fifteen of Stoltzfus’ classmates received three-year master of divinity degrees. Two students received master of arts in religion degrees, and six were awarded certificates.

Commencement speaker Marva Dawn, renowned speaker and author, encouraged the class to hold on to disciplines that equip them for ministry.—Laura Lehman Amstutz


Eastern Mennonite University
April 27
411 graduates

On April 27 more than 3,500 family members and friends celebrated the achievements of the 411 members of the Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va., Class of 2008.














Eastern Mennonite University graduating seniors from left: Katrina Alger, Kristina Zaccaria, Andrea Shellenberger, Mikaela Bender and Jameson Jarvis. Photo by Jim Bishop.

President Loren Swartzendruber awarded 291 undergraduate, 89 graduate, 17 associate degrees and 14 study certificates during the ceremonies to cap the university’s 90th anniversary year.

EMU provost Beryl H. Brubaker, who is retiring after 37 years on the faculty, gave the commencement address, “A Metaphor for Remembering.” She called the graduates to go out into the world as “bridge builders.”

She went on to describe the work of several alumnae who are working at reconciling people in difficult settings—Jessica King, who served as executive director of Union Project in Pittsburgh, Pa., whose aim is to foster constructive relationships among neighbors; Sharon Kniss, who works for an organization called Bridge Builders in London, England; and Carolyn Schrock Shenk, a professor of peace and justice at Goshen (Ind.) College who built a relationship with a local woman whose son is a soldier in Afghanistan.

Some students wore green ribbons to signify their commitment to a graduation pledge which states, “I commit myself to a lifestyle of social and environmental integrity and will seek to improve these aspects of the community in which I work.”

The class of 2008 had 90 honors graduates, including three students who finished with perfect 4.0 grade point averages.—Jim Bishop


Goshen College
April 27
230 graduates

Goshen (Ind.) College’s class of 2008 received degrees on April 27 after being encouraged to be lifelong learners and to reach for high goals by James E. Brenneman, president, and Mukarabe Makinto-Inandava, an advocate for poor people in Africa.

Twenty-seven students graduated with highest honors—grade point averages of 3.9 to a perfect 4.0. In addition, 88 others were on track to achieve GPAs of 3.60 and above.

Sunday was the second consecutive year, after a break of four decades, that the college has recognized such academic honors.

Makinto-Inandava urged the graduates to pursue their highest goals, no matter how difficult to achieve and regardless of the obstacles along the way.



Mukarabe Makinto-Inandava delivered the commencement address for Goshen (Ind.) College. Photo by Jodi H. Beyeler.

Makinto-Inandava is an ordained minister and a co-founder of Amahoro International, a faith-based organization. A native of Burundi, East Africa, Makinto-Inandava rose from an impoverished background to go to college, learn four languages and ease suffering in Africa’s war-torn regions.

“As improbable as it seems that an African country girl bound for illiteracy stands in front of you to deliver your commencement speech, it may seem highly unlikely to you that one day you might find yourself in the position of an astronaut, a missionary in Burundi, in Rwanda or in Burkina Faso or why not the president of Goshen College or the president of the United States?” she said. “God has a plan for you, so keep on climbing.”—Richard R. Aguirre


Bluffton University
May 4
304 graduates

During May Day weekend, May 2-4, the second largest class—304 members—of Bluffton (Ohio) University received diplomas.
















Rachel Alvarez, graduating Bluffton (Ohio) University senior, accepts her diploma from President James M. Harder. Photo provided.

Brenda Phillips, commencement speaker, congratulated the graduating class on its achievements and encouraged individuals to continue actively engaging those around them as they find their places in the world.

Phillips is a a professor in the fire and emergency management program at Oklahoma State University and senior researcher in the Center for the Study of Disasters and Extreme Events—and a 1980 Bluffton graduate.

“If you had told me 28 years ago that I’d be doing what I’m doing today, I wouldn’t have believed you,” said Phillips. “I waited many years for someone to hear what I had to say, and your moment will come too.”

On May 3, graduates, alumni and friends took in the annual Maypole dance, which has been part of Bluffton’s graduation weekend since 1910.

A senior king and queen, elected by students, presided over the ceremony, which recognized all graduating seniors. This year’s king and queen were Jake Ross (Newark, Ohio) and Jenna Patty (Wauseon, Ohio).

The class of 1958 celebrated its 50th reunion and, as a class gift, donated more than $14,000 to the completion of the Circle of Remembrance located at Bluffton University Memorial Field.—Jill A. Duling


Hesston College
May 4
170 graduates

On May 4, 170 Hesston (Kan.) College graduates received associate degree diplomas. Terry Shue, a 1977 graduate of Hesston College and pastor of Kidron (Ohio) Mennonite Church, spoke to graduates, family and friends, faculty and staff on the topic, “Remember as You Become.” Shue also spoke at the commissioning of four Pastoral Ministries graduates on May 3. His message was titled “Can you hear me now?”

Also on May 3, 47 nursing graduates received their nursing pins. Guest speaker Vallerie Gleason, vice president of Physician Services at Newton (Kan.) Medical Center, spoke on the topic “The Whosoevers.”

Other May 3 activities recognized five graduates of the Disaster Management program and 12 aviation graduates.—Phil Richard

Related Resources

Discussion Guides:

Current Stories

Articles

News stories, digests and Meno Acontecer

Columns

Readers Say

Subscribe