Virginia Wesleyan's 47th Commencement Ceremonies to honor graduating seniors May 13-14
News Release | May 11, 2016
Virginia Wesleyan College will hold its 47th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 14, at 11 a.m. Approximately 325 graduates will march into the Jane P. Batten Student Center, where Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Social Work degrees will be conferred by Virginia Wesleyan President Scott D. Miller and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Kenneth R. Perry Dean of the College Timothy O’Rourke.
Delivering the Commencement address to the VWC Class of 2016 is Director of the Peace Corps and global public health leader Carrie Hessler-Radelet. She will be introduced by the first VWC student to graduate as part of Virginia Wesleyan's Peace Corps Prep Program, Mindy Bertram ’16, who begins her own Peace Corps service in Cameroon on May 24.
The College will recognize Hessler-Radelet and Virginia Wesleyan College Trustee Emeritus George Y. Birdsong with honorary degrees, and four awards will be presented to distinguished VWC faculty—the Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award, the Frank and Jane P. Batten Distinguished Scholar Award, the Service and Community Engagement Award, and the UMC General Board of Higher Education and Ministry 2016 Exemplary Teacher Award.
An Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony will take place at Boyd Dining Center Plaza at 1 p.m. following Commencement. In the event of inclement weather, the Commissioning Ceremony will take place in Monumental Chapel.
Commencement will be preceded by a Baccalaureate Service on Friday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Heritage United Methodist Church (815 Baker Rd., Virginia Beach). Rev. F.H. "Hank" Teague, Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, will serve as guest speaker, and a pre-service concert will be performed by VWC’s SOAR Worship Team and Gospel Choir at 7:10 p.m.
Tickets are required for all adult guests planning to attend Virginia Wesleyan's 2016 Commencement Ceremony. The event will be live streamed at portal.stretchinternet.com/vwc/ and simulcast in Boyd Dining Center during the ceremony.
For more information, visit www.vwu.edu/commencement.
Media Inquiries:
Leona Baker
Director of Marketing & Communications
757.455.3366
lbaker1@vwu.edu