LRU holds joint commencement ceremony in Columbia
May 23, 2016
COLUMBIA, SC – Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Center for Graduate Studies of Columbia and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary held a joint commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 21 at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Columbia, S.C. A reception sponsored by the Seminary Auxiliary immediately followed the service.
A Baccalaureate Service was also held the Friday before commencement, May 20 at 7 p.m., with a reception following.
This was the inaugural commencement ceremony for LRU’s graduate center in Columbia, which opened its doors to students and faculty in the fall of 2014. The Center’s opening on the seminary campus brought LRU’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program to a third location and added an additional fully online Human Services program to the list of graduate degree options. Both programs are service oriented and consistent with the University’s mission of providing a Christ-centered, caring community. The Center is housed on the garden level of Beam Hall, which received a major renovation prior to opening.
The ceremony’s keynote speaker was The Rev. Dr. Marcus Joel Miller, who served as President Emeritus of LTSS for six years between 2006 and 2012. Honorary degrees were bestowed upon U.S. Congressman, James E. Clyburn, who received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree and Dr. Carl F. Schalk, who received a Doctor of Divinity degree.
Clay Schmit (Provost, School of Theology), James Clyburn, Carl Schalk, Marcus Miller, Wayne Powell (President, Lenoir-Rhyne University).
