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»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË will celebrate Fall Commencement on Saturday, December 16, with one ceremony that will honor both undergraduate and graduate students. In all, 207 students are anticipated to earn their degrees, including undergraduates, master’s, and doctoral students.

The combined ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Branscomb Auditorium. Visit »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË’s website or to watch it live.

The graduation ceremony will begin with the national anthem and »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Alma Mater, to be performed by senior Kaitlynn Rogers, a Music: Performance major, who will graduate in the spring.

The keynote address for the ceremony will be given by »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Trustee and Bishop of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church Tom Berlin. A native of Winchester, Va., Bishop Berlin attended Virginia Tech and received a Bachelor of Science in Business with a major in public administration. He received his Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and was ordained in 1987. Before being elected bishop, he served as lead pastor of Floris United Methodist Church in suburban Washington, D.C. Bishop Berlin has authored numerous books, including Reckless Love, Courage, Restored, Defying Gravity, and The Generous Church, and coauthored (with Lovett Weems) Bearing Fruit, Overflow, and High Yield.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates will be Mr. Travis Sinsabaugh, from Deltona, Fla., who will earn his Bachelor of Music Education.

Dr. Tracey Tedder, Provost and Vice of President of Academic Affairs at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË, is immensely proud of the students of the Class of 2023. “Amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic, these resilient individuals embarked on their academic journey with determination and perseverance. Their unwavering commitment to learning is a testament to their strength and adaptability. I am excited to witness their continued success as they enter the world ready to make a positive and consequential impact.”

»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË will also present the President’s Scholar Medal for superb academic achievement, awarded in recognition of a student’s academic record and demonstrating great promise for future success. This prestigious award is not named ahead of time, and will be announced during the ceremony.