Trinity Christian College

2012 December Commencement—Photogallery

Trinity Christian College celebrated the graduation of traditional and Adult Studies students during the Commencement ceremony on Saturday, December 15, 2012.

Families and friends of the graduates gathered in the Ozinga Chapel Auditorium to witness the presentation of the diplomas by Provost Liz Rudenga. The Commencement address was delivered by Dr. Bob Rice, professor of history who posed the question “What about Individuality?”

Rice was the recipient of the inaugural Professor of the Year Award in 2012 and will retire from Trinity in May.

Rice began with encouraging graduates to consider the Commencement event as a connection to “a long-enduring faith in American individuality.”

“What does this mean? In our culture, we rest in the certainty that society is comprised of capable individuals like you who act, achieve, react, and seek loftier goals. To ensure the continued vitality of this American culture, we struggle to liberate individuals from real or imagined restraints that obstruct the paths before us. …

“Through the curriculum and through every aspect of broader student development, we commit ourselves to make individuals whole. In colleges and universities across America, educators promise to guide in this transition so that their graduates will be fully prepared to participate in and to represent American culture.”

The invocation was delivered by Dr. Mary Webster Moore, associate professor of education; the song of response and the song of prayer were sung by the Trinity Gospel Choir; and the Commencement litany was led by Robin Clevenger ’12. Alumni greetings were offered by Travis Bandstra ’06 director of alumni relations, and the benediction was given by Chaplain Willis Van Groningen, Ph. D.