Buies Creek, N.C.—Campbell University conferred 1,029 degrees in five commencement ceremonies over the May 13-14 weekend: a total of 579 undergraduate and 450 graduate and professional degrees.
Nearly 500 main campus undergraduate candidates from the College of Arts and Sciences, Divinity School, Lundy-Fetterman School of Business and School of Education and graduate students from the School of Business and School of Education participated in Saturday morning’s ceremonies. An additional 100 undergraduate students from the University’s extended campuses at Fort Liberty/Pope, Camp Lejeune and Research Triangle Park took part in a ceremony on Saturday afternoon.
The Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law held its ceremony on Friday, May 13 at the Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh. The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences held a ceremony for both undergraduate and graduate students on Friday afternoon in the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center, followed by a ceremony that evening for graduate students of the Divinity School.
Distinguished osteopathic physician Dr. Barbara E. Walker delivered the general commencement address at the ceremony held on Saturday at 9 a.m. Walker is the director of Osteopathic Medical Education at New Hanover Regional Medical Center and a pioneer in osteopathic medicine in North Carolina. A U.S. Army veteran, Walker retired after 26 years with the rank of Colonel in 2006. Recalling her non-traditional path into a career in medicine, she challenged students to embrace all of life’s opportunities.
“Regardless of your plans for your future, real life may turn out to be very different,” said Walker. “Embrace opportunities and be open to the miracles that open doors and may direct your future.”
President Jerry M. Wallace and Dr. Dwaine Greene, provost, presented honorary degrees to Dr. Walker, for extending her experience and expertise to Campbell on the dean search committee for the proposed School of Osteopathic Medicine and to Irwin “Ike” Belk, a benefactor whose generosity brought the Irwin Belk Track and Camel Mascot to Campbell University. The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, given annually in memory of the New York philanthropist and humanitarian, was presented this year to a graduating student, Cynthia Boulton, and to long-time Campbell friends Luby and Catherine Wood. In the afternoon ceremony, the James Archibald Campbell Meritorious Service Award was presented to Dr. Wallace in celebration of four decades of exemplary service to Campbell University.
On Friday, during the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences ceremony, an honorary degree was also presented to Dr. Beth Steinbeck Williams, the Clinical Director of Pharmacy at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, who served as speaker for the event.
Acting Solicitor General of the United States Neal K. Katyal served as speaker for the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law’s ceremony, while Dr. Roy Smith, retired Executive Director-Treasurer for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina was the speaker for the Divinity School’s service.
The grand total of degrees conferred during the 2010-2011 academic year is 1895. A total of 1029 students (579 undergraduate and 450 graduate and professional) received degrees this graduation season. The candidates for undergraduate degrees include 51 Associate in Arts, 52 Bachelor of Applied Science, 3 Bachelor of Health Science, 152 Bachelor of Business Administration, 226 Bachelor of Science, 91 Bachelor of Arts and 4 Bachelor of Social Work. Of the graduate and professional candidates, there are 58 Master of Business Administration, 19 Master of Education, 4 Master of School Administration, 5 Master of Arts, 2 Master of Arts in Christian Education, 49 Master of Divinity, 5 Doctor of Ministry, 71 Master of Science, 104 Doctor of Pharmacy, and 133 Juris Doctor.
Of the total 1895 graduates, 154 students completed their degrees in August 2010, and another 316 students completed their degrees in December 2010. In addition to the 1029 students participating in this weekend’s graduation exercises, 396 students have earned bachelor degrees through the University’s program in Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Photo Copy: Campbell University held its spring commencement ceremonies in the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center. Photo by Bennett Scarborough.