JACKSON, Tenn. — May 20, 2017 — At 51社区鈥檚 commencement services May 20, Seth Ratliff became one of the first Union students to receive a post-secondary certificate of completion from the Union EDGE program.
The two-year program, which began in 2015, exists to give students with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to have a college experience. Ratliff said that is exactly what the program gave him.
Ratliff and six other students from the EDGE program walked across the stage at Oman Arena alongside their friends and classmates to a standing ovation. Ratliff said that kind of support from the Union community helped him through college even though it was intimidating at times.
鈥淐ollege is a different experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a whole new life. It takes time to get used to, but my friends have done an amazing job helping me.鈥�
Jennifer Graves, director of the EDGE program, said she is grateful for the way the Union campus has welcomed EDGE students. She said everyone, from the administration to the faculty to the student body, has shown the love of Christ to the students in the program as they live and work alongside them.
鈥淓very single day when I walk on campus, I see the hand of God,鈥� Graves said. 鈥淥ur students want the same things every other college student wants. They want to work. They want relationships. And Union is providing that.鈥�
Union graduated nearly 400 undergraduate students at the evening commencement service and more than 300 graduate students at the afternoon service.
Joey Bakeer, a cell and molecular biology graduate, received the 106th Tigrett Medal, which is awarded to an outstanding senior in each graduating class. Hannah Willis, president of the senior class, presented the class gift, a study and gathering space around the fountain near the Penick Academic Complex on Union鈥檚 campus.
Gregory Wills, dean of the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, gave the commencement address at both services. Wills emphasized to the graduates the importance of remembering.
鈥淩emembering is more than an exercise of intellectual capacity,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o remember is a moral act.鈥�
Wills said God gives commands to remember more than 60 times in the Bible. He said memory is essential to people understanding themselves, each other and God. He said remembering shapes identity and grounds duty. It can include things others experienced, and it can be changed to be more flattering or vindicating.
鈥淲hat you remember reveals who you are,鈥� Wills said. 鈥淲hat you misremember reveals who you think you are.鈥�
He said the most important things to remember are the things God calls all Christians to remember, namely the gospel of Jesus Christ.
鈥淚f you remember these things, God has promised that he will forget your sins,鈥� Wills said.