Buies Creek, N.C.-A capacity crowd filled the Gilbert Craig Gore Arena of the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center on Saturday, May 9, for Campbell University’s 123rd spring commencement ceremony. This marked the first spring commencement to be held in the Convocation Center since its construction.
Over 600 undergraduate students and graduate students from the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business and the School of Education filed onto the arena floor to receive their degrees. Separate hooding and graduation ceremonies for the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, School of Pharmacy and the Divinity School were held on Friday, May 8, conferring an additional 228 graduate and professional degrees.
U.S. Representative and Campbell alumnus Bob Etheridge (`65) delivered the general commencement address. Etheridge encouraged students to remain confident in their educational preparation during these tough economic times.
“Don’t despair. We will come out of this downturn. The very forces you have studied will generate tremendous innovation,” said Etheridge. “Your education received here at Campbell University will help make that success possible.”
Rep. Etheridge also received the J. A. Campbell Meritorious Service Award during today’s commencement ceremony. Other awards including the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree presented to Edgar J. Boone, a pioneer in adult and Community College education. Students James T. Purvis and Patricia H. Greene, as well as Campbell alumna Melba L. Williams, received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for excellence.
Hooding and graduation ceremonies were held May 8 for the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, School of Pharmacy and the Divinity School. Featured speakers included North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Robert H. Edmunds, Jr. for the School of Law, Dr. Terry Hamrick of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in Atlanta for the Divinity School Mitchell Watts of the Pharmacy Network National Corporation. Watts received the Honorary Doctor of Science degree and Janice Anne Haywood, the creator and program director of the Children’s Ministry Certification program at the Campbell Divinity School received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.
A total of 1473 degrees have been conferred during the 2008-2009 academic year, including 531 undergraduate and 328 graduate and professional degrees for the spring commencement exercises.
The candidates for undergraduate degrees include 29 Associate of Arts, 49 Bachelor of Applied Science, 3 Bachelor of Health Science, 161 Bachelor of Business Administration, 184 Bachelor of Science, 88 Bachelor of Arts and 17 Bachelor of Social Work. Of the graduate and professional candidates, there are 66 Master of Business Administration, 1 Master of Trust and Wealth Management, 13 Master of Education, 6 Master of School Administration, 5 Master of Arts in Christian Education, 26 Master of Divinity, 5 Doctor of Ministry, 1 and 17 Bachelor of Social Work.
Of the graduate and professional candidates, there are 66 Master of Business Administration, 1 Master of Trust and Wealth Management, 13 Master of Education, 6 Master of School Administration, 5 Master of Arts in Christian Education, 26 Master of Divinity, 5 Doctor of Ministry, 14 Master of Science 95 Doctor of Pharmacy and 97 Juris Doctor.
A total of 372 students completed their degrees in December 2008 and another 242 in August 2008. In addition to today’s 859 graduates, 303 students have earned bachelor degrees through the University’s program at Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Photo Copy: Representative Bob Etheridge delivered the commencement speech for the 123rd spring graduation ceremony at Campbell University. Photo by Freddie Watson.