Dec. 13, 2013
For Immediate Release
By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. —Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, told 196 undergraduate and graduate students in two commencement ceremonies Friday, Dec. 13 in Ransdell Chapel that they are “called to be the peacemakers.”
During the ceremony, John Chowning, CU vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president, received an honorary doctorate of public service. Chowning is also pastor of Saloma Baptist Church in Taylor County.
The Rev. Joel Carwile of Valley View Church in Louisville, received an honorary doctorate of divinity degree. Carwile is a member of the CU Board of Trustees.
In his charge to the graduates, Carter reminded the graduates God made everyone, no matter their ethnic heritage, culture and language.
“Make a difference in the world,” he told the graduates. “Whatever you become, do it with the heart of God.”
He urged the students to thank those who helped them along their journey. “My prayer is that December 13, 2013 be a day that you will look back on, as a day of achievement, and one where you felt a ‘blessed sense of appreciation' for all those who have worked to help make this day possible for you,” Carter said.
He told the students to be people who can bring forth solutions and solve problems.
He recalled the words in CU's seal: fellowship, leadership and scholarship. He urged the graduates to live in harmony with all; to take people further than they ever thought possible in leadership, and to have a relentless commitment to learning in scholarship.
“Go forth and change this world,” he said.
In the 2 p.m. ceremony, Cameron Michael Campbell, co-valedictorian of Columbia, Ky., in response to Carter's charge, said willpower, looped with relationships, is what we should strive for in life.
Kristin Ann King of Tompkinsville, Ky., who graduated summa cum laude, said her experience at CU taught her several life lessons, including being a servant leader. She urged her fellow graduates, in her charge at 4 p.m., to “Use your God-given talents and abilities to serve those who are less fortunate and who come from all walks of life.”
Nine people graduated with an associate in science degree, 13 with an associate of nursing degree, nine with a bachelor of arts degree, and people with a bachelor of music degree.
There were 70 people graduating with a bachelor of science degree, 16 with a bachelor of social work degree, 13 with a bachelor of science in business administration degree and five with a bachelor of science in nursing degree.
Ten people graduated with a master's of arts in organizational leadership degree, 11 graduated with a master's of business administration degree, one graduated with a master's of music in church music and four graduated with a master's of music in performance.
Eight people graduated with a master's of social work degree, five with a master's of science degree in counseling, 12 with a master's of theology degree, three with a master of arts in special education degree, two with a teacher leader master of arts in special education degree and two with a master of arts in school improvement.
Co-valedictorians were Cameron Michael Campbell of Columbia, Ky.; Lutitia Brooke Ferguson of Lebanon Junction, Ky. and Jessica Leigh Ralph of Owensboro, Ky. Co-salutatorians were Anna Elizabeth Price of Campbellsville and Andrew Duncan Simmons of Utica, Ky.
Degrees are conferred upon completion of all academic requirements.
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.