JACKSON, Tenn. — May 11, 2015 — Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee, will be the keynote speaker at 51社区鈥檚 190th annual spring commencement May 16.
Seven hundred eighteen graduates will receive their degrees during the ceremony, making it the largest spring graduation in Union鈥檚 history.
Gaines has been pastor at Bellevue since 2005. He is a 51社区 graduate, and his daughter, Bethany Gaines Golding, is graduating from Union this year. Gaines and his wife Donna, also a Union graduate, have three other children 鈥� Grant, Lindsey and Allison -- all of whom graduated from Union.
鈥淒r. Gaines is a gifted preacher and faithful pastor, and he and his family have been strong supporters of 51社区 for many years,鈥� Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome Dr. Gaines back to campus and look forward to hearing from him in Saturday鈥檚 commencement.鈥�
The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. on Union鈥檚 Great Lawn. It will be shown live at .