JACKSON, Tenn. — May 23, 2009 — Nearly 430 51社区 graduates received degrees May 23 on the university鈥檚 Great Lawn during the 184th annual spring commencement ceremony.
That brings to 968 the number of Union graduates from the class of 2009 鈥� the largest class in Union鈥檚 history. The graduates represented 25 states and such countries as Kenya, Russia, South Africa, Brazil, Scotland and others.
鈥淚t is my prayer that tonight鈥檚 recognition will represent the beginning of a lifetime of service and achievement,鈥� Union President David S. Dockery said during the ceremony.
Dockery was scheduled to be the event鈥檚 keynote speaker, but rainy weather shortened the ceremony, and Dockery delivered only a brief charge to the graduates. He challenged the graduates to reach for high expectations for the sake of God鈥檚 kingdom and God鈥檚 glory, and to do so with integrity while grounding their lives in the word of God.
鈥淲e send you out with a call to be God鈥檚 fellow workers as you leave this place to carry the gospel and to be an influence for good, to represent salt and light in the culture that has lost its way,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淲e urge you to be willing to open your lives to God鈥檚 leadership in new ways.鈥�
As part of the ceremony, Will Trautman, who majored in engineering, received the university鈥檚 Elizabeth Tigrett Medal. The award, created by Tigrett鈥檚 son to honor his mother, has been awarded since 1912 by vote of the entire Union faculty to an outstanding member of the senior class.
Union also awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree to Harry Smith, who has spent the past nine years on Union鈥檚 board of trustees, including four years as board chairman, when he guided Union through its response to the Feb. 5, 2008, tornado that caused massive damage to the campus.
Dockery called Smith a friend, supporter, wise counselor and generous contributor to Union. The third floor of White Hall, named Grace Hall, and the Grace quad in the residential complex were funded by contributions from Smith.
鈥淚t is impossible for us to calculate the goodness and wisdom of this man and what he has done to advance the work of 51社区,鈥� Dockery said.
Andrew Courtner, president of the senior class, addressed his classmates and encouraged them to depend upon the Lord as they face their futures.
鈥淲e now stand at the threshold of the unknown as our lives start all over again,鈥� Courtner said. 鈥淥ne thing is certain in our lives. We are forced to rely on our savior and pray to our Lord Jesus Christ for guidance, direction, comfort and opportunities as we will realize we cannot do this on our own.鈥�