Colleges hold commencements

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from FPU/TC news releases

When Fresno Pacific University and Tabor College, the two Mennonite Brethren institutions, held commencement ceremonies last month, both events were marked by the institution's shared relationship with the Mennonite Brethren seminary. 

A new group of graduates was part of the Fresno Pacific University commencement May 7. Those earning master’s degrees through Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary, formerly MB Biblical Seminary, joined graduates of the traditional undergraduate and master’s programs. The seminary became a school of the university in February 2010, and May marked the completion of the first full academic year since the merger. These were the first joint ceremonies.

Of the 426 graduates, 218 were from bachelor’s degree completion programs and 208 were from traditional undergraduate and graduate programs, including the 21 seminary graduates, who earned master’s degrees. Degree completion graduates studied at FPU regional centers in Bakersfield, Visalia and North Fresno. The main campus is located in Fresno, Calif.

Gary Wall, district minister of the Pacific District MB Conference, gave the commencement address, “What Does This Mean?” Wall earned his bachelor’s degree from FPU and his Master of Divinity from MB Biblical Seminary.

Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary faculty member and Tabor College alumna Valerie Rempel of Fresno, Calif., provided the May 21 commencement address for Tabor College, the Mennonite Brethren school in Hillsboro, Kan., with a second campus in Wichita, Kan. Rempel is associate dean and associate professor of history and theology at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary.

Tabor President Jules Glanzer says the selection of a former student to speak is intentional. “I am committed to inviting distinguished Tabor alumni to return to campus to speak at our commencement,” he says. “I want our graduates to experience Tabor alumni who have a record of significant accomplishments and are involved in a life of service. Dr. Rempel is such an alumna.”

There were 113 candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree from the Hillsboro campus, and six candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree, 29 candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and nine Master of Business Administration candidates from Tabor College Wichita.

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