JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 12, 2020 — About 285 graduates received their degrees during 51社区鈥檚 fall commencement services Dec. 12 at Oman Arena in Jackson, Tennessee.
Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention鈥檚 Executive Committee, delivered the commencement address. Floyd was pastor of five churches over a span of 43 years, the last 32 of which were as senior pastor of Cross Church in Springdale, Arkansas. He was elected to lead the SBC鈥檚 Executive Committee in 2019.
Floyd鈥檚 commencement address to the graduates was about the decision points of one鈥檚 life. He said a person鈥檚 number one fear and concern in life is usually related to the future 鈥� what one does not know, he or she fears. Floyd pointed to Proverbs 3:5-6, where God counsels people, 鈥渄o not rely on your own understanding.鈥�
鈥淲e should never resort to our own knowledge and feelings,鈥� Floyd said. 鈥淧roverbs does tell us to trust in the Lord fully 鈥� take hold of what God is bringing your way daily.鈥�
Floyd gave the graduates five guiding principles to help them navigate the decision points in their lives. They should follow what God says, find God鈥檚 purpose in their life, fasten themselves to a local church, focus on a world that needs Jesus Christ and finish for God faithfully.
鈥淵ou have one shot with your life,鈥� Floyd said. 鈥淢ake it count for God.鈥�
Charissa Kinchen is one of the graduates who received her degree Saturday. Kinchen studied political science with an emphasis in American politics and transferred to Union two and a half years ago from a large school.
鈥淥ne of the things I valued here was that one-on-one time with my professors and getting to really know them and have the help that I might need, and being able to grow and really become proficient in what was I was learning,鈥� she said.
Kinchen said coming to Union and experiencing its rigorous academics helped her grow and develop as a person, as well as handle stress better. The skills she gained have helped prepare her for her next step after graduation, which is a four-month paid internship with the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C.
鈥淭o have patience, to have diligence and determination 鈥� and to not be scared off when the big things come and even when things get hard 鈥� having that character development as a person was huge,鈥� she said.
Brianna McKinney received her Master of Business Administration degree and is also a Doctor of Pharmacy candidate set to graduate with that degree in May. McKinney began in Union鈥檚 College of Pharmacy in the fall of 2017 and at the same time began interning at Phipps Pharmacy.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I learned, especially independent pharmacy, it largely relies on business knowledge in addition to clinical knowledge,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o I decided to enroll in the dual [PharmD/MBA] program that Union offers, which has been probably one of the biggest blessings ever.鈥�
McKinney said she enjoys the small class sizes in her pharmacy program and the fact that her professors know her personally and care about her. In the MBA program, she appreciates that the professors have understood that she does not come from a business background.
鈥淭hese professors in the MBA program have really taken that background into consideration and helped me grow on the pharmacy side, what I鈥檓 interested in, and just let me fly with that,鈥� she said.
Gaining an MBA in addition to her Doctor of Pharmacy has given her a broader understanding of how to care for patients, she said.