Spring Graduation 2016
Schedule, speaker bios, honorary doctorates and more
Andrews University’s spring graduation will take place April 29–May 1. In order to provide more seating for graduates’ families, Commencement is split into three separate services by school/college. Please take note of when your graduate will be marching to ensure you attend the appropriate service.
8:30 a.m. Commencement
11 a.m. Commencement
2 p.m. Commencement
- Department of Aviation
- School of Architecture & Interior Design
- School of Business Administration
- School of Distance Education & International Partnerships
- School of Education
Graduation weekend events begin Friday evening, April 29, with Consecration in Pioneer Memorial Church, and continue through the weekend, finishing with commencement services on Sunday, May 1. For details on the various weekend events and each program’s time and location, see below or visit andrews.edu/graduation.
Michael Polite, associate chaplain, will offer the Consecration address titled, “Almost” on Friday, April 29, at 8 p.m. in Pioneer Memorial Church.
Polite holds degrees from Union College (Lincoln, Nebraska), La Universidad de Sagunto (Sagunto, Spain) and Oakwood University (Huntsville, Alabama). He is currently enrolled at Andrews University where he is pursuing a PhD in higher education administration. As founder and former director of ENERGY Ministries, a youth ministry program for the community of Riverside in Nashville, Tennessee, Polite has received recognition from media outlets such as USA Today, The Huffington Post, The Sydney Morning Herald in Australia, and the China Times.
On Saturday, April 30, John McVay, president of Walla Walla University in College Place, Washington, will present the Baccalaureate address for both the 9 a.m. (graduate) and 11:45 a.m. (undergraduate) services in PMC. His presentation is titled “How to Harmonize with a Lamb.” Overflow seating for the 9 a.m. service is in PMC’s Youth Chapel. For the 11:45 a.m. service overflow will be both in the Youth Chapel and the Howard Performing Arts Center.
Born in the Northwest, McVay has served as a faculty member at Pacific Union College (Angwin, California) and as dean of the Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. He holds a PhD in New Testament studies from the University of Sheffield and writes regularly on the Epistle to the Ephesians and the theme of the church in the New Testament.
Additional departmental services are planned for Friday and Saturday. They are as follows:
Friday, April 29
School of Business Administration’s Ethics Oath Ceremony
11 a.m., Garber Auditorium, Chan Shun Hall
Teacher Dedication Service
5 p.m., Andrews Academy Chapel
Saturday, April 30
Seminary Dedication Service
4 p.m., Seminary Chapel
Department of Religion & Biblical Languages Senior Dedication
4 p.m., Newbold Auditorium, Buller Hall
Department of Nursing Pinning Ceremony
4 p.m., Pioneer Memorial Church
Department of Public Health & Wellness Dedication Service and Reception
6 p.m. Howard Performing Arts Center Lobby
Department of Social Work Recognition Service
5:30 p.m. University Towers Auditorium
Open House for Architecture Graduates
6 p.m., Architecture Resource Center
Also on Saturday, April 30, a Vespers tribute to parents, faculty and students will take place at 8:30 p.m. in Pioneer Memorial Church. Immediately following Vespers, there will be a President’s Reception for graduates and their families in the Great Lakes Room of the Campus Center.
On Sunday, May 1, Maurice R. Valentine II, executive secretary of the Lake Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, will be the speaker for the first Commencement service at 8:30 a.m. in Pioneer Memorial Church, for graduates from the School of Health Professions and the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. His address is titled “In Medias Res.”
Trained at Andrews University in conflict management, Valentine has conducted many retreats teaching on the subject, and has coached several church growth cohorts, leading over 500 church leaders in strategic leadership and planning for growth. He has presented at evangelistic series, retreats, conventions, commencements, camp meetings and pastors’ meetings across the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and England. Valentine has served as ministerial director and vice president for administration of the Mid-America Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and as president of the Central States Conference. During his time in the latter role, he spearheaded numerous initiatives, most recently completing the development and execution of an evaluative process for conference workers and a year of evangelism initiative. Valentine holds degrees from Oakwood University and Andrews University.
Alejandro Bullón, retired evangelist, will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity during the first Commencement service at 8:30 a.m. Bullón’s passion for evangelism fueled his 46-year ministry as a world-renowned evangelist known as the Billy Graham of Adventist Hispanics, conducting large-scale meetings in churches, stadiums and arenas on all five continents, reaching millions of people with impressive results. Having received his bachelor’s degree in theology from Peruvian Union University in 1969, Bullón ministered as a pastor in Peru and then as youth director in the Central Peru, Central Minas, East Brazil Union and Central Brazil Union Conferences. While serving as ministerial director and evangelist for the South American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, he also was the Portuguese speaker and host for the TV program, “It Is Written.” As a member of the Brazilian Writers Association Bullón has authored 27 books, some of which have been translated into multiple languages. In 2002 his achievements were recognized by Peruvian Union University in Lima with the conferral of an honorary doctoral degree.
Elissa Kido, professor of education at La Sierra University in La Sierra, California, will be the featured speaker for both the 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Commencement services on Sunday, May 1. Her address for the 11 a.m. service, for graduates from the College of Arts & Sciences, is titled, “Predicting Your Future.” Her address for the 2 p.m. service is “Are You a Multiplier?” Kido will also receive an honorary Doctor of Pedagogy during the 2 p.m. Commencement service. This service is for students graduating from the Department of Aviation, School of Architecture & Interior Design, School of Business Administration, School of Distance Education & International Partnerships and School of Education.
Kido is the founding director of the Center for Research on Adventist K–12 Education and the project director for CognitiveGenesis. In this role she has made an enormous contribution to the advancement of Adventist education in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. The promotion of academic excellence has served as a driving force throughout her 40-year teaching career that spans elementary to graduate education. Kido holds degrees from Pacific Union College, California State University (Long Beach) and Boston University. Recently PUC presented Kido with an honored alumni award, and within the last two years she has received the Award for Excellence and the Charles Weniger Award for Excellence from the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. While serving as dean of the School of Education at La Sierra University, Kido launched CognitiveGenesis, the groundbreaking research project that assessed the academic performance of students in all Adventist schools throughout the North American Division.
During the 11 a.m. Commencement Service Daniel Cole, professor of clinical anesthesiology and vice chair for professional and business development in the Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine at David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science. Cole is president-elect of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Executive Committee, and serves as executive director for professional affairs and treasurer for the Board of Directors for the American Board of Anesthesiology. Previously Cole served at Mayo Clinic Arizona as chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and vice dean for continuous professional development. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Andrews University, Cole went on to receive his medical degree at Loma Linda University School of Medicine (Loma Linda, California). Cole has given more than 300 invited presentations at various universities and hospitals, received 48 research grants, written 90 manuscripts and more than 200 abstracts. He is also reviewer for 25 medical journals and has published three books, contributing 29 chapters to other volumes. Cole is listed in “Best Doctors of America” and “Super Doctors” and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.
Contact:
Dalry Payne
dalry@andrews.edu
269-471-3100
