Grace College and Seminary will hold its 2018 commencement ceremony on May 12 at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.

WINONA LAKE — Grace College and Seminary’s annual commencement ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 12, in the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center, 610 Wooster Road, Winona Lake.

Commencement will honor 546 graduates earning associate, bachelor, master and doctoral degrees.

Each year, Grace’s residential graduates select a faculty member to deliver the commencement address. Dr. Laurinda Owen, professor and dean of the School of Education, was chosen to address the graduates this year.

“It is no surprise that the graduates chose Dr. Owen to be their commencement speaker. She is an exciting teacher and innovative dean who is greatly loved and respected by students as well as her faculty colleagues,” said Dr. John Lillis, Grace College provost.

Two graduates will also address the 2018 Grace College and Seminary commencement. Student body president and candidate for a bachelor’s of science in political science Kirsten Mead will give the undergraduate student greeting, while Justin Guest, candidate for a master’s of science in nonprofit management, will deliver the seminary and graduate speech.

A special presentation will take place to honor Dr. Donald DeYoung, Grace College professor of physics, who is retiring after 46 years of teaching and serving at Grace. Dr. DeYoung has written 21 books on Bible science topics, including several with object lessons for children. He is the current president of Creation Research Society and is well-known and loved for his passion to make known the details in nature that testify to the Creator’s care for mankind.

Grace College President Dr. Bill Katip has chosen Professor of Biological Science Dr. Marcia Lee to carry the ceremonial mace. Dr. Lee has served at Grace since 1977, teaching a variety of courses including microbiology, anatomy and physiology. Lee will be greatly missed when she retires this year.

The commencement invocation will be given by Rev. Timothy Van Loh, evangelism and outreach pastor of South Church in Lansing, Mich., and the benediction by Rev. David Herbster, senior pastor of Faith Christian Chapel in Lakeville. Eric Criss and Walter Brath will lead the musical selections, and Dr. Bill Katip will confer the degrees.

“The 2017-2018 school year has been one of growth and accomplishment at Grace,” said Dr. Katip. “We started new bachelor’s degree programs in agribusiness and chemistry, as well as nursing in partnership with Bethel College. We launched Deploy—the first competency-based seminary program in the country accredited by HLC—and expanded our blended, traditional seminary degree program.”

The ASPIRE Campaign, which kicked off in March 2017, has achieved more than 88 percent of its $37 million fundraising goal.

“We thank God for the progress of the ASPIRE Campaign and are thrilled to see one of the biggest campaign projects nearly complete,” Katip continued. “it will be a joy to welcome students to the new Dr. Dane A. Miller Science Complex this fall.”

Tickets for the 2018 Grace College and Seminary commencement may only be requested through a graduate. At this time, all tickets have been distributed. However, an overflow room will be available for guests who wish to participate in commencement and do not have a ticket.

For questions or more information about commencement, please call the Grace College Registrar’s Office at (574) 372-5100, ext. 6414, or e-mail [email protected].