Over 440 Receive Degrees During Lee University Spring Commencement
A record number of graduates received diplomas during Lee University’s spring commencement exercises last weekend, May 4 and 5.
It was the 155th time Lee University, the Church of God’s premier educational institution, held a graduation ceremony on the campus of the school which began in 1918 as Bible Training School. The two-day event included a Friday evening, May 4 Commissioning Service where both undergraduate and graduate students were presented a Bible personally signed by Lee President Dr. Paul Conn. Also during commissioning, six students shared about their Lee University experience with the audience of approximately 2,000. In addition, three graduates were recognized as having received the top three student awards: Jamie Achten, F.J. Lee Award; Laura Sherwood, Zeno C. Tharp Award; and Megan Schertzer, Charles Paul Conn Award. Commissioning took place on the university’s soccer field to allow as many friends and relatives to view the event in person.
On Saturday morning at 9:30, the threat of inclement weather moved the commencement ceremonies indoors to the Paul Dana Walker Arena. While thousands were able to pack the fieldhouse, an overflow crowd of hundreds more watched the ceremony via live feed in the Dixon and Conn Centers across campus. The event was also available through streaming on the Lee University website.
Delivering the commencement address this year was Dr. Donald N. Bowdle, Distinguished Professor of History and Religion at Lee, who had previously announced his retirement from the Lee faculty after a record 50 years. First coming to Lee in 1962, Bowdle has taught thousands of students over the last five decades as they prepared for a life of ministry. Bowdle has established himself as, “the quintessential classroom teacher.” He served as Chair of the Department of Bible and Theology and Dean of the Division of Religion, and was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award and the Excellence in Scholarship Award from Lee as well as the Distinguished Educator Faculty Award from the Church of God. In 2003, Bowdle had the honor of having a dormitory named for him, and the next year he was given the highest faculty rank, Distinguished Professor.
Following the awarding of degrees to the Class of 2012, President Conn introduced the three highest awards given to faculty at Lee. Recipients included Dr. Lisa Stephenson, Excellence in Scholarship and Dr. Kevin Brown, Excellence in Teaching. Recognized previously was Dr. Skip Jenkins, Excellence in Advising.
