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Baccalaureate and Commencement exercises held May 3

Over 200 students participated in William Penn University’s Baccalaureate and Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 3. This marked the first graduation in the new Penn Activity Center on Campus.

      William Penn University held Baccalaureate and Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 3, for over 200 students. This marked the first graduation in the new Penn Activity Center on campus.
      Margaret Stoltzfus, a devoted Quaker and special friend to William Penn for many years, offered the Baccalaureate address in which she encouraged graduates to be prepared for the surprises life has to offer and relate them to God’s plan for their lives.
      Commencement speaker was Congressman Leonard Boswell who encouraged the graduates to set their goals high and serve the world with great leadership.
      Also addressing the graduates and guests were senior Crystal Lu Wang, of New Sharon, the recipient of the President’s Leadership Award; Timothy James Baldrige, of Ames, the recipient of the President’s Leadership Award for William Penn’s College for Working Adults; and Professor Kathryn A. Roe, the recipient of the President’s Excellence in Instruction Award. Wang and Baldridge offered congratulations to their fellow graduates and spoke of their experience and growth during their years at William Penn. Roe reminded the graduates to not focus on life’s bad experiences but determine what good is coming from each experience.
Musical selections were provided by the William Penn University/Community Concert Band under the direction of Penn’s Instructor of Instrumental Music, Scott Cressley; Penn Director of Vocal and Keyboard Music Anita Meinert served as accompanist on the piano. Senior Deborah Fessler of Pella sang “My Life is in Your Hands,” during the Baccalaureate service and senior Jason Van Wyk and sophomore Laura Meinert, both of Oskaloosa, sang “The Prayer” during graduation.
      Pastor David Barner of Evangelical Church in Oskaloosa offered the invocation during Baccalaureate.
      Following the conferring of degrees, graduates participated in the Blue and Gold ceremony on the lawn of Penn Hall. This annual tradition inducts each member of the graduating class into the Alumni Association. Each graduate holds a knot of blue and gold ribbon as the entire class stands in a circle. Following a brief ceremony, each graduate leaves with a piece of the ribbon to serve as a remembrance of their lifelong tie to William Penn University.
      William Penn President Richard E. Sours was excited to hold graduation in the new Penn Activity Center and recognized Board of Trustees Chairman Joe Crookham as the driving force for making the new building transition from a dream to a reality.
      “Commencement was outstanding. It was a truly memorable ceremony and I have received numerous emails and personal compliments about the entire event,” Sours said. “The speakers were excellent, the music was excellent, and the new facility was impressive.”

Written By: admin
Date Posted: 5/5/2008
Number of Views: 137

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