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UPDATE: Evangel University’s 58th Annual Commencement week activities

Published on Apr 28, 2016 by Paul K. Logsdon

Four days of events to honor the Class of 2016 — undergrad, graduate and seminary     

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A variety of commencement week activities for Evangel University graduates and their families will take place on Wednesday, May 4, through Saturday, May 7.

Awards and honors will be given at formal baccalaureate ceremonies for Evangel’s adult learners on Wednesday and for traditional undergrad students on Thursday. Receptions will follow each event in Crusader Hall.

The 58th annual Commencement Ceremony for Evangel University will be held on Friday, May 6, at 9:30 a.m. in the James River Church auditorium in Ozark, Mo.

This year a total of 625 degrees will be conferred at Evangel’s graduation. This includes 424 bachelor’s degrees, 108 master’s degrees and 37 associate’s degrees, 31 of which are from the James River Leadership Campus. In addition, 56 degrees will be conferred by the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary at Evangel on Saturday morning.

“Everyone is encouraged to allow at least 45 minutes to get through the traffic in Ozark, because of construction at the intersection by James River Church,” said Paul K. Logsdon, director of public relations for Evangel. “Nearly 4,000 family and friends will be present to experience this celebration of their students’ accomplishments.”

Evangel’s Commencement ceremony will be streamed live: https://www.evangel.edu/2016/04/28/stream-commencement-online/

TIME Magazine “most influential” to speak

2016-05b Pastor Choco
Pastor Choco (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

The speaker for Evangel’s graduation on Friday will be Wilfredo “Choco” De Jesús, senior pastor of New Life Covenant Church in Chicago, the largest Assemblies of God church in the U.S., ministering to more than 17,000 globally through church plants and more than 130 ministries.

In April 2013, Rev. De Jesús was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world, on a list as varied as Pope Frances, Stephen Spielberg and the presidents of Mexico, South Korea, the USA and the NRA.

“We are honored to have my friend Pastor Choco challenge and inspire the Class of 2016,” said Dr. Carol Taylor, president of Evangel University.

“He is a pastor, community leader and author from Chicago, Ill., who is reaching the most disenfranchised – the broken hearted, poor, homeless, prostitutes, drug addicts and gang members,” said Taylor.

For more on Pastor Choco, https://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/2016/04/14/time-magazines-influential-commencement/

 

Commencement Week Highlights

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4

• Adult & Graduate Studies Baccalaureate

President Carol A. Taylor (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

On Wednesday, May 4, at 7 p.m., Adult & Graduate Studies graduates will be recognized with a baccalaureate awards and honors ceremony in the Robert H. Spence Chapel auditorium. A hooding ceremony will also be held for master’s level students.

Evangel University’s president, Dr. Carol Taylor, will be the speaker.

• AGS Reception

A reception for Adult & Graduate Studies graduates and their families will be held in Crusader Hall immediately following Wednesday’s baccalaureate ceremony. Graduates will have an opportunity to introduce family members to President Taylor, administrators and professors.

 

THURSDAY, MAY 5

• Parents’ Brunch

At 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 5, a brunch will be held in Crusader Hall for parents only. Parents are asked to RSVP to Teresa DeVries at (417) 865-2815, ext. 7290.

Undergraduate Baccalaureate

On Thursday, May 5, at 3 p.m., the undergraduate baccalaureate awards and honors ceremony will be held in the Robert H. Spence Chapel auditorium.

Senior elementary education major Charisse Green was selected by her classmates to deliver the baccalaureate message for the ceremony. She serves as RA in Spence Hall and is the daughter of Evangel graduates Rev. Doug ’85 and Brenda (Swint ’84) Green of Brea, Calif.

• President’s Reception

A reception for undergraduates and their families will be held in Crusader Hall immediately following Thursday’s baccalaureate ceremony. Graduates will have an opportunity to introduce family members to President Taylor, administrators and professors.

 

FRIDAY, MAY 6

• Evangel Commencement Ceremony at James River Church

Evangel University will celebrate the 58th annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 6, at 9:30 a.m. in the James River Church auditorium. James River Church is located just off of Hwy. 65, south of Springfield.

• AGTS Doctoral events

Doctoral candidates and their work will be honored during a series of public events at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, on the north end of the Evangel campus, on Friday, May 6. Events include a Doctor of Ministry Symposium at 12:30 p.m., a reception at 2 p.m. and an Intercultural Doctoral Studies Investiture at 2:30 p.m.

 

SATURDAY, MAY 7

• AGTS Commencement Ceremony at Evangel

The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary will celebrate its 43nd annual Commencement on Saturday, May 7, at 10 a.m. in the Robert H. Spence Chapel at Evangel University. The public is invited to attend. AGTS will confer 56 degrees — 37 are master’s degrees and 19 are doctoral degrees.

This is the first commencement under the leadership of President Mark A. Hausfeld.

AGTS graduation press release:http://agts.edu/news/news_archives/2016_04Hausfeld_Inaugral_Commencement.html

 

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Graduation numbers for EU & AGTS were adjusted in this web story in May, to accurately reflect the actual number of graduates. — PKL