CHICAGO (May 16, 2016) 鈥� 萝莉社 culminated the 2015鈥�2016 academic year last weekend by awarding degrees to 467 students, including 318 bachelor鈥檚 degrees.
Three commencement ceremonies were held Saturday, May 14, for students from all 听补苍诲听聽programs, including聽. Combined with the聽聽held last December, degrees were presented to 682 萝莉社 graduates this academic year.
The weekend began with a baccalaureate service for all graduates, their families, and friends Friday, May 13, at , Chicago. 鈥淭onight, take with you two lessons taught by 萝莉社鈥檚 first president, David Nyvall, in the very earliest days of our university鈥檚 history,鈥� said President in remarks to graduating students. 鈥淔irst, our knowledge of truth is imperfect. Second, our response to this imperfect grasp of truth should be to welcome others in, to insist on hospitality.鈥�
鈥淚f you have learned these two lessons in the course of your days at North Park, you are ready to graduate,鈥� Parkyn continued. 鈥淓verywhere you go, and with everyone you meet, remember that you know only in part, and then in humility and grace, open your arms to all others鈥攁lways for God鈥檚 glory and neighbor鈥檚 good.鈥�
鈥楥ommit yourself to work that really matters鈥�
At its undergraduate commencement ceremony Saturday morning, the University presented its David Nyvall Medallion to Paul Hansen, William Ketcham, Douglas Hoerr, and Carl Balsam, four individuals who have served the school in exceptional ways over the past 20 years. Named for the University鈥檚 first president, the medallion is presented for distinguished service to the people of Chicago.
Hansen, Ketcham, and Hoerr, the University鈥檚 three architects over the last two decades, have worked closely throughout that time with Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer , whose leadership has been instrumental in this work. 鈥淭hree architects and an administrator. Which one of these is not like the other?鈥� Balsam joked in his remarks as he accepted the award.
Balsam worked with Hansen on designing and building Brandel Library, beginning in 1999. At the time, Hansen recommended closing the partial city street that the previous library faced, opening up a space to create a center for the campus. 鈥淭hat appeared wise then, but today, it seems brilliant,鈥� Balsam said. Hoerr then created landscape design for that central campus area, which Balsam called 鈥渓andscaping of striking beauty.鈥� Next, the University worked with Ketcham on the design and construction of the . 鈥淭he Johnson Center stands as a testimony to William鈥檚 vision,鈥� Balsam said. 鈥淭heir work has created a great treasure on the North Side of our city of Chicago.鈥�
Balsam told graduating students the satisfaction he鈥檚 found in his work has come as he discovered his calling and worked collaboratively on that calling. 鈥淏ecause of your study at North Park, you have begun to discover your unique gifts, and hopefully you鈥檝e begun to gain an understanding of the world鈥檚 needs in a way that stirs your passion,鈥� he said. 鈥淐lass of 2016, my hope for you is that you will find your special calling, and that you will realize great success as you work in community with others. Commit yourself to work that really matters, and to work that serves others.鈥�
The Ahnfeldt Medallion, given to the senior with the highest grade point average, was presented to Alanna Dwight, Turlock, Calif., bachelor of science in . North Park’s winners Katherine Bast, Holland, Mich., bachelor of arts in and ; Elizabeth Wallace, Oak Lawn, Ill., bachelor of arts in聽 飞颈迟丑听 and an聽聽teaching endorsement; and Bethany Joseph, Grand Rapids, Mich., a 2015 recipient of a bachelor of arts in聽 and ,聽were also recognized.
Eighteen students from the North Park College (now University), Academy, and Seminary classes of 1966 marched in gold caps and gowns and were recognized for celebrating the 50th anniversary of their graduation. When these alumni graduated in 1966, North Park College was celebrating its 75th anniversary.
鈥楤ecause you don鈥檛 know you can鈥檛鈥�
Four graduates addressed the afternoon commencement ceremony for , the , and the , sharing the ways their North Park education shaped their lives and careers. Heidi Bush, Chicago, a School of Business and Nonprofit Management graduate with a , spoke about taking on difficult tasks, not because you will always know how, but 鈥渂ecause you don鈥檛 know you can鈥檛,鈥� she said. Bush challenged her peers to take on the impossible with that attitude, just as they had done in their studies at North Park.
Laura Clarizio, Chicago, a School of Nursing and Health Services graduate with a , shared thoughts on a philosophy of nursing and a life of service. 鈥淧eople will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,鈥� she said, quoting Maya Angelou.
Dean of North Park Theological Seminary 
聽presided at the Seminary commencement, which honored 29 graduates. The Ahnfeldt Medallion was presented to the graduate with the highest grade point average, Michael Hertenstein, Chicago, . In addition, academic awards were presented to several students.
An honorary doctor of divinity was conferred to Rev. Edward Delgado, president of the Hispanic Center for Theological Studies (CHET), a 萝莉社 and Theological Seminary subsidiary. Prior to his current position, Delgado served as the director of evangelism and prayer for the . 鈥淭hank you for this honor. May God continue to bless and guide you in your ministries ahead,鈥� Delgado told the group of graduates. 鈥淭hat they would include challenges, and they would include adventure.鈥�
Rev. Dr. Catherine Gilliard, senior pastor of New Life Covenant Church, Atlanta, delivered the commencement address, in which she called graduating students to become 鈥渄isturbers of the city,鈥� as Paul and Silas are described in the book of Acts. 鈥淭his has been a season of preparation. But tomorrow, the work begins,鈥� said Gilliard. 鈥淵ou are being sent out to lead God鈥檚 people in a new way of being. You are ambassadors of hope.鈥�
Gilliard, who received a and a from the Seminary, emphasized the lessons found in the service鈥檚 New Testament reading, Acts 16:16鈥�34. 鈥溌芾蛏� midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them,鈥� Gilliard said, quoting the passage. 鈥淢y resolve today is to encourage each one of you to remember that in the days ahead you will face in your ministries, you will have to write your own midnight words. Midnight gives way to a new day where God鈥檚 hope is evident.鈥�
鈥淚 pray God鈥檚 blessings on each of you as lead,鈥� said Gilliard. 鈥淚 pray God鈥檚 power on each of you as you become disturbers of your city. And I pray God鈥檚 anointing as you leave this place to make a difference in the world.鈥�
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