68th Annual Commencement Exercises

On Saturday, May 7, 2016, The King’s College held its 68th annual Commencement exercises to honor the graduation of the class of 2016. Students reflected on their four years at King’s, received their diplomas, and were accepted into The King’s College Alumni Association. The event was held at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. Ms. Linda Bean delivered the keynote address.

A total of 114 graduates comprise the class of 2016. Twenty-seven received the Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics; forty-four received the Bachelor of Arts in Media, Culture, and the Arts; twenty-seven received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management; and one received a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Twenty-eight graduates received academic honors: 3 summa cum laude, 8 magna cum laude, and 17 cum laude.

President Gregory Alan Thornbury welcomed the graduates, faculty, board members, family, friends, and honored guests to the ceremony, and Brigadier General Tim Gibson, member of the Parents Association Advisory Council and father of Jessica Gibson ’16, gave the invocation. “Thank you for provision to these graduates, the King’s community, and for your matchless grace to each of us,” Gibson prayed.

Following the invocation, the congregation then participated in singing, for the first time, “The King’s College Alma Mater,” led by Ms. Virginia Pike, Lecturer in Musical Theater at King’s. Verses 1 and 3 were written by Marjorie Absalom Linter ’42, while verse 2 was written by Dr. Mark Hijleh, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at King’s. Hijleh also composed the musical setting.

Reese Evans ’17, President of the Student Body, read from Scripture, after which Thornbury introduced Ms. Linda Bean, who gave the keynote address. Bean, a successful entrepreneur and conservative political activist from Maine, is the granddaughter of L.L. Bean, who founded his company over a century ago. Drawing on lessons learned from her grandfather and father, Bean exhorted the graduates to seek a healthy rhythm of work and recreation, to pursue God’s approval instead of fame, to be grateful for opportunities, and to persevere. She quoted Jude 17: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

After Bean’s speech, awards were conferred upon graduates with exceptional promise. Professor Brian Brenberg, Program Chair for Business and Finance, presented the Joe T. Ford Award to Audrey Walczak. The award goes to a student who has demonstrated excellence in the business disciplines taught at The King’s College and has modeled intelligence, integrity, humility, truth, and grace under pressure. The recipient has exhibited leadership and courage while showing a willingness to effect change in the global business world, as well as being a role model and demonstrating a history of investing in others.

Dean of Students David Leedy awarded the William R. Bright Award, presented in honor of the co-founder and former president of Campus Crusade for Christ, to Isaiah Contu-Owen. This award goes to a graduate who embodies Dr. Bright’s entrepreneurial spirit and vision for furthering the gospel through missions, evangelism, and discipleship, and who exemplifies Dr. Bright’s commitment to excellence and his dedication to challenging those around him.

Leedy also presented the Wilberforce Award, which was received by Taylor Campbell. It bears the name of English statesman William Wilberforce, who served in Parliament during the 18th and 19th centuries and spent over forty years fighting against slavery as a tireless voice for freedom, engaging those who did not think as he did and motivated by his Christian faith. Wilberforce personifies the goals of a King’s education, and the Wilberforce collection currently resides in the lobby of the College. The Award is given to the graduate who best represents the College’s mission to train students to vigorously engage the public square with truth and civility. The recipient must demonstrate that, like Wilberforce, he is a person of character, a true statesman who lives by his convictions, and dedicated to excellence and principled leadership.

Fisher Derderian ‘16, selected by his peers to give the senior address, recounted the challenges the class of 2016 had faced over their four years at King’s during a time of transition—three college presidents, two campuses, several housing transitions, and Superstorm Sandy. Quoting C.S. Lewis, he said, “Christ says to us, ‘You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another.’” Encouraging the class to reflect on the choices that led to graduation, Derderian noted, “There is much to be grateful for in all of our own oddities and coincidences that have brought us here and, to me, this is enough reason to have hope as we face the unknown of life ahead.”

The degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science were then conferred upon the students by Thornbury and Dr. Mark Hijleh, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty.

Following the awarding of degrees, Davis Campbell ‘16 gave the valedictory address.

“Fellow graduates, by all means, as we have opportunity to do so, let us do cool things and have cool experiences,” he said. “Let us complete impressive graduate programs and land impressive jobs. Let us be impressive people who influence the institutions of this world for the better. But more importantly, let us love God, love our neighbors, love the world and make it our home. Because that is our true calling—to be citizens of the eternal Kingdom of God.”

Thornbury then conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters upon two individuals: Bean, and Mrs. Allie Hanley, a long-time member of the Board of Trustees, honored friend, and generous supporter of the College.

The Commencement concluded with a benediction offered by Ms. Leslie Bustard, parent of Carey Bustard ’16 and member of the Parents Advisory Council. “As these men and women have been made in your image, so help them to image you to the world,” Bustard prayed. The ceremony concluded with the Doxology.

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