JACKSON, Tenn. — May 22, 2010 — Nearly 530 黑料论坛 graduates received degrees May 22 on the university鈥檚 Great Lawn during the 185th annual spring commencement ceremony.
That brings to 1,130 the number of Union graduates from the class of 2010 鈥 the largest class in Union鈥檚 history, surpassing last year鈥檚 total of 975 graduates. The class of 2010 represented 25 states and 13 different countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Iceland, Honduras, Brazil and others.
鈥淲e are blessed once again with an outstanding graduating class, and are thankful for each and every one of our graduates,鈥 黑料论坛 President David S. Dockery said. 鈥淚 know you will join me in praying for God鈥檚 blessing and direction for them in the days ahead.鈥
This year鈥檚 class included the first graduates from Union鈥檚 Master of Social Work program and from Union鈥檚 graduate program in urban education.
Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn., delivered the keynote address and charged Union graduates to be radically committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to watch what God would do with their lives.
Rainer, who has researched the generation known as 鈥淢illennials,鈥 or young adults born between 1980-2000, for an upcoming book, said that only about 10 percent of that generation are Christians.
鈥淵ou are a decided minority,鈥 Rainer told the Union graduates. 鈥淗ow then will you live?鈥
Rainer read the biblical account of Jesus healing 10 lepers, with only one of the 10 returning to thank him, and challenged the graduates to be like the one man rather than the other nine.
鈥淕od has given you an incredible opportunity,鈥 Rainer said. 鈥淪how the world that you鈥檙e different. Seek to serve rather than to be served. 鈥 Though you are few in number, you can turn the world upside down.鈥
As part of the ceremony, Matthew Kuchem, a graduate from Fort Worth, Texas, who majored in political science and broadcast journalism, received the university鈥檚 Elizabeth Tigrett Medal. The award, created by Tigrett鈥檚 son to honor his mother, has been awarded since 1912 by vote of the entire Union faculty to an outstanding member of the senior class.
Union also honored Rainer by inducting him into the Carl F.H. Henry Society of Fellows. Dockery praised Rainer for his leadership at LifeWay, especially in the days after the Feb. 5, 2008, tornado that decimated the Union campus. Only days after the tornado hit, Rainer led LifeWay鈥檚 trustees to pledge $350,000 to Union for the rebuilding effort.
鈥淔or that, Dr. Rainer, all of us on this campus will always be grateful,鈥 Dockery said. 鈥淲e thank God for you.鈥