CONTACT: Beth L. Lorow
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Office: (717) 691-6027
E-mail: blorow@messiah.edu

More than 600 students graduate from Messiah College

	Messiah College President Kim S. Phipps awards a 2005 graduate his diploma. Click on image to download print-quality version

GRANTHAM, Pa. ( May 19, 2005) — The sun shone despite rainy weather warnings on May 14 as Messiah College celebrated its 96 th annual commencement ceremony. The 630 graduating students were the first to receive their diplomas from the college’s new president, Kim S. Phipps, who began her role in December. More than 7,000 parents and friends gathered at Shoemaker Field at the Starry Athletic Complex, located on the college’s Grantham campus, to listen to keynote speaker and former writer for “The Washington Post,” Juan Williams.

Senior correspondent for National Public Radio and political analyst for FOX Television, Williams urged students to live up to their Messiah education and inspired them to continue in their high standards of excellence, ethics and service.

“You now are armed, prepared and ready to offer this world your talent and energy, and a sense of vision for what is right,” Williams said. “You’re about to use your education, your spiritual powers, your power as committed, thoughtful people, to shape your world.”

Earlier in his career, Williams served as a White House reporter and won several journalism awards for his writing and investigative reporting. He has also written three books, including his most recent, “My Soul Looks Back in Wonder.”

President Phipps encouraged graduates to “think, create, imagine, dream, play, and pray, but go forth with confidence that you are prepared and that God’s Spirit will be with you as you seek to live as people of honor, hospitality and hope.”

Timothy J. Van Dyke, assistant professor of engineering, and Linda K. Parkyn, professor of Spanish, were chosen by students to receive the Dr. Robert and Marilyn Smith Awards for Outstanding Teaching. Faculty selected Jamie Davies, a 2004 Truman Scholar, to receive the Alumni Merit Award for her outstanding representation of the college’s ideals of intellect, character and Christian faith.

Messiah College, a private Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences, enrolls more than 2,900 undergraduate students in 60 majors. Established in 1909, the primary campus is located in Grantham, Pa., near the state capital of Harrisburg. A satellite campus affiliated with Temple University is located in Philadelphia.

# # #

ARTICLE DATE: THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2005
ARTICLE NUMBER: MC-073-05