University graduates celebrate - Apr. 27, 2010
John Gardner/Courier
Some of the recent graduates of St. Stephen University, papers in hand, leap to celebrate the end of their university career.
From left: Shannon-May Pringle, Samuel Wollenberg, David McCullum, Samuel Shantz, Raymond Funk, Karis Taylor, Anne Nordstrom,Cora Lee Bailey.
BY JOHN GARDNER
john@stcroixcourier.ca
ST. STEPHEN – Pomp and Ceremony mixed with hugs and tears over the weekend.
The St. Stephen University (SSU) held the school's 32nd annual convocation on Saturday morning at Kirk McColl United Church.
The university awarded eight Bachelor of Arts degrees, a diploma of Ministry in Worship Studies and Spiritual Formation and eight Master of Ministry degrees.
The weekend kicked off with “Ovation”, at the Fairmont Algonquin Hotel. The dining room was packed as the graduates and 300 of the faculty, family, friends and supporters filled the room.
The evening was made possible through the English and Olmstead families, and many of the attendees arrived on “Billy's Bus” — a reference to Billy English’s role in organizing the transportation.
It was a chance for the graduates to speak from the heart of the time they spent at SSU.
For many students coming to St. Stephen meant being far from home and what that meant to them.
Michael Safford brought his family across the continent to study at the university. The Anaheim, California resident spoke of his experiences in St. Stephen, as he struggled with his young son's illness. The community rallied around the family, and helped them through it.
“It truly is belonging.”
Safford's sense of belonging was echoed by each student as they took the podium.
Whether it was the support they received from the professors, the loyalty of their fellow students, or the warmth of the community in general, they all felt as if they belonged.
Saturday morning the events moved to the Kirk McColl for a ceremony recognizing the significance of the milestone each graduate had achieved,while still displaying the undertones of personal touches that only a small university like SSU can achieve.
The personal touches were evident as university president Robert Cheatley referred to Lt-Gov. Graydon Nicholas on a first name basis, and the Lieutenant Governor referred to the president as “Bob”.
Nicholas referred to the number of children that were present in the service, and stopped to speak to a mother holding an infant as he left the sanctuary at the conclusion of the convocation.
In addition to the graduates, Elizabeth Kilbourne will be leaving her post as librarian after nearly 20 years of service. In her honour, the library will be renamed after her, and she was given the title Librarian Emerita. The speaker was Dr. Michael Higgins, past president of St. Thomas University.
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