April 29, 2013
For Immediate Release

By Samantha Stevenson, student news writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Campbellsville University will complete graduation ceremonies for her largest class of students May 3 and 4. Including the December graduates, the 2012-2013 class total is a record 647 students.

Graduate students will receive their diplomas at 7 p.m. Friday, May 3 in Ransdell Chapel with 170 students receiving degrees. A total of 262 will receive undergraduate diplomas at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 4 at Powell Athletic Center. This includes 234 bachelor's degrees and 28 associate degrees. December commencement had 215 graduates.

The students will receive their degrees upon completion of the requirements for graduation.

Dr. Joseph Early Sr., vice president for academic affairs emeritus at the University of the Cumberlands, will speak at the graduate commencement. He is serving as special assistant to the president and special assistant to the senior vice president of academic affairs at Campbellsville University.

Dr. Joseph Owens, chair of the CU Board of Trustees, will speak at the undergraduate commencement. He is pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky.

Early graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1957. He later graduated from Cumberland College in 1963 with a bachelor's in mathematics. He received a master's in mathematics from the University of Kentucky. In 1969, Early received his doctorate of education for mathematic education from the University of Tennessee.

He and his wife Phyllis; have one son, Joseph Early Jr., who is assistant professor of theology at Campbellsville University.

Dr. Joseph Owens

Owens graduated from Campbellsville College in 1977 with a bachelor of arts in Christian studies. He later graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1980 with a master of divinity and a master of religious education. In 2000, he graduated from United Theological Seminary with a doctor of ministry.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, also a 1977 graduate of CU, have two children, Charisa Jené and John Mark.

The following graduate degrees will be received on Friday: master of business administration, 17; master of arts in organizational leadership, 16; master of theology, 14; teacher leader master of arts, five; master of arts in special education, 21; teacher leader master of arts in special education, 45; master of arts in teaching English as a second language (TESOL), four; master of science in counseling, 19; master of social work, 22; master of arts in music, one; master of music conducting, one; master of music in performance, three, and master of music for music education, one.

The following will receive undergraduate degrees on Saturday: Areas — art, one; business administration, 33, with accounting emphasis, seven; administration technology, one; business administration, four; economics, one; computer information systems, one; healthcare management, three; management, five; and marketing, 11; Christian social ministry, two; church music area, one; criminal justice administration, 14; early childhood education, 10; educational ministries, six; English, one; exercise science/sports medicine, five; interdisciplinary early childhood education, 11; mass communication, two; music, three, music education, two; organizational management, six; pastoral ministries, six; social studies, five; social work, 17; sport management, 12; and worship arts, one, for a total of 138 students with areas.

Also on Saturday, majors — art, two; biology, 14; business administration, one; Christian missions, three; criminal justice administration, seven; economics, two; educational ministries, four; elementary education, 17; English, four; health education/physical education, four; history, four; mathematics, five; mass communication — digital media, one; and public relations, five; middle grades education, six — teaching with English emphasis, two; social studies, three; and mathematics, two; pastoral ministries, two; physical education, two; political science, nine; psychology, 15; sociology, two; Spanish, two; and theater, one, for a total of 112 majors.

Associate degrees include: business administration, one; Christian studies, two; computer science, one; criminal justice, two; early childhood education, three; general studies, four; and nursing, 15. There are 77 students with minors.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.