Southwest Baptist University confers 631 degrees in Dr. Taylor’s final ceremonies as SBU president
BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University conferred 220 undergraduate and 280 graduate degrees during two ceremonies Saturday, May 19, on the Bolivar campus. Another 131 degrees were conferred Thursday, May 17, in Springfield, to graduates of the Mercy College of Nursing and Health Sciences of SBU.
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We are pleased that we can honor our graduates and worship God during this time of
celebration,” said Dr. C. Pat Taylor, president of SBU. “Commencement is the most
important academic event for any university. It is a time when we celebrate the success
of our graduates and their accomplishments. It is a time when we, as a university,
recognize that we have completed our primary objective; and our primary objective
is graduating students.”
Life Beautiful Awards
The 2018 recipients of the Life Beautiful Award are Tiana Brownen of Seneca and Jacob Immel of Wooldridge.
Brownen graduated summa cum laude with bachelor of arts degrees in communication and in English. She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Pi Kappa Delta, and has served as an SBU Ambassador for three years. She also was a member of SBU’s forensics team and was debate team captain. Brownen was a state champion for three consecutive years in persuasive speaking and public forum debate, an Interstate Oratorical Association qualifier from Missouri for three straight years, as well as the top speaker in public forum debate at the Pi Kappa Delta national tournament in 2016 and named a PKD All-American in 2017.
Brownen is the recipient of a Fulbright U.S. Student Award and will teach English
and coach speech and debate in Bulgaria for one year.
“The best word to describe Tiana is exceptional: she is an exceptional example of the Christian faith in action. She is an exceptional student, speaker and human being,” SBU President Dr. C. Pat Taylor read from a nomination letter. “Tiana possesses a love for people and life that is unmatched by any student I’ve had the privilege to teach. She uses her talents and the platform they give her to be the hands and feet of Jesus to everyone with whom she interacts.”
She is a member of Berean Baptist Church in Bolivar, where she volunteers in the nursery. She currently is an intern and volunteer at the Polk County House of Hope, served as a student tutor in the SBU Writing Center, was a broadcaster for SBU Infuse student media, and was a member of “One in Four,” a sexual assault awareness group on campus.
She is the daughter of Terry and Nancy Brownen of Seneca.
Immel graduated with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a minor in mathematics, and was member of the Gordon and Judy Dutile Honors Program. He received the freshman and senior chemistry award, and was awarded the Stevens Research Fellowship as a sophomore, when most recipients are juniors and seniors. He was awarded the Fellowship again in 2017 as a junior. Immel was named CoSIDA third-team academic All-American in soccer in 2017, as well as CoSIDA all-district soccer in 2017. He received the MIAA academic excellence award in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Immel serves at Southern Hills Baptist Church as the monthly children’s church leader and a small group leader for AWANA. He has participated in SBU missions and a soccer outreach in Columbia, Mo., and was a chemistry lab assistant and chemistry tutor since 2014.
“Jacob Immel is a beautiful example of Christ’s love,” states a nomination letter. “Jake has a servant’s heart for children and that shines through with his work with Southern Hills children’s department and SBU missions. His kindness and compassion can be especially seen when he tutors college students in chemistry.”
He is the son of Heath and Angelique Immel of Wooldridge.
The Life Beautiful Award was established in 1937 by Rosalee Mills Appleby, a career missionary to Brazil. This award is given annually to an outstanding man and woman in the Southwest Baptist University spring graduating class. These individuals have demonstrated by their scholarship and character that they are living a “life beautiful.” The faculty selects the recipients, whose identities remain confidential until commencement.
Orien B. Hendrex Award
Dr. Chris Dinwiddie, associate professor of psychology on the Bolivar campus, received the Orien B. Hendrex Distinguished Teacher Award.
The award is presented annually to a faculty member who has been judged by the previous three years’ graduating classes to be outstanding in both teaching ability and personal guidance. The SBU Board of Trustees designated this award in memory of Hendrex, a former academic dean.
Bob R. Derryberry Senior Address
Senior Reece Tabor, who graduated with a degree in communication, encouraged his classmates to reflect on what their story tells.
“We all have unique stories on how we got here to who we have become,” he said while delivering the Bob R. Derryberry Senior Address. “Woven in the fiber of that cloth must be the incredible people that make SBU what it is.”
Tabor recalled those incredible people from Miss Kay, who knew the name of everyone who came through the cafeteria, to the staff, to the professors to Dr. Taylor, “leading this wild ship of college students,” as well as the impact Taylor has made as the leader of SBU.
“As Dr. Taylor hands out his 17,000th diploma, the effects of his tireless efforts to lead this university and guide the student body can be felt around the world by tens of thousands,” Tabor said. “Dr. Taylor, you will always be relevant to me and to countless others. You will be dearly missed and always loved. That’s the story of SBU – ‘a Christ-centered, caring academic community preparing students to be leaders in a global society.’ Graduating from a university with SBU’s distinguished heritage is most certainly a great honor and a monumentous chapter in each of our lives.
Tabor then asked the graduates what would their stories reflect.
“Our story is written in moments, with many strikes of the hammer,” Tabor said. “From late-night study sessions… to bonding over meals at Mellers… to tears, as we bear our souls to a friend… to cultivating friendships that are the likeliest to last a lifetime.
“But the greatest and most important story I could ever tell began 2,000 years ago, and is still continuing to this day. This story is one of sacrifice, redemption and love – Jesus. … He died the death that we deserved. As the great pastor Adrian Rogers once said, ‘Death is just a comma to a Christian, not a period.’ That’s my story – is it yours?
“Let us not forget the impact of SBU on our story. As we go out into this world, how will we tell our story? I pray that our stories will be filled with joy, with hope and with love.”
Retirement recognitions
Faculty members Sherrie Bayer ’92, Dr. Rodger Minatra ’08, along with staff members John Credille ’76, ’92, Theresa Daniels and Dr. C. Pat Taylor were recognized for their retirements from SBU.
- Bayer, instructor of university studies, coordinator of interdisciplinary studies and supervisor of study sessions in the Clark University Success Center, has taught full-time at SBU since 2002.
- Minatra, associate professor of business administration, started at SBU in 2004, and has served as an advisor for students at the Bolivar, Mountain View, Salem and Springfield campuses.
- Credille has served as registrar at SBU since 2001, but began his long tenure in 1979 as assistant director of financial assistance before becoming credit and collections manager in 1986.
- Daniels, most recently served as the director of donor relations in the University Relations department, and held positions of campaign data coordinator, administrative assistant to the vice president, director of annual fund and director of alumni relations. Daniels began at SBU in 1987 in the athletics department.
- Taylor, who has served as SBU president since coming to Bolivar in October 1996, was greeted with a chant of “C. Pat! C. Pat! C.Pat!” from the 2018 graduates.
“I always enjoy the chant of ‘C.Pat!’” Taylor said. “It’s been a great 22 years and I cannot think of a better group to graduate with, so I’m happy to be graduating with the 2018 class.”
Commencement speakers
During the Bolivar undergraduate ceremony, Chaplain (Colonel) Gary Gilmore ’79, Joint Force Headquarters Senior Army Chaplain of the Missouri National Guard, recognized the veterans and shared with the graduates that earning their degrees is a “significant milestone of achievement that you will cherish and remember all your life.”
Chaplain Gilmore also reminded the graduates that they have transitioned from student to a graduate, joining society with new ambitions and new skills, and that he is in the sunset of his career. “The Army has told me that I have become all that I can be, and they’re going to send me home,” Gilmore said.
He also noted that the 2018 graduation marks a turning point in the “battle plan of SBU itself. As the C. Pat Era of leadership is drawing to a wonderful, proud, God-honoring conclusion, new doors are opening for the university, as well.”
Gilmore provided an “After-Action Review” for the graduates – three things to sustain into the future and things to improve upon.
“First, sustain a connection with your SBU family,” Gilmore said. “At Southwest Baptist, you were adopted into a family, and you will always remain a beloved and significant person on this campus. What you have done here at SBU matters a lot, but what you do tomorrow when you leave SBU, matters even more.
“Secondly, sustain your character in times of change. Many things have changed and that is never going to stop, but character always counts. That inner structure of your values and your discipline shows in your everyday choices, large and small. Things like honesty, loyalty, courage, selfless service and faithfulness – they’re not downloadable apps. They are the spiritual business of your daily life and they are the daily business of your spiritual life.
“Finally, sustain your vision in times of challenge. Vision is that ideal future, what we intuitively see in the realm of possibility. It becomes our calling, it becomes why we’ve done what we’ve done and why we are going to go do the things that we’re going to do.”
Gilmore recalled the mouse, Reepicheep from “Chronicles of Narnia,” who had a vision to find Aslan’s land in the East regardless of the fortunes or misfortunes he might encounter. “If you sustain that kind of vision, that kind of vision will sustain you.
“It is a sacred moment when you cross this stage. When you take that diploma in your hand and hold it up, it’s more than a victory dance; it’s a commissioning; it is a calling. It is you telling everybody in this room and all the world about how you’re going to live… ‘This is how I will serve God. This is how I have trained and been a steward of the gifts that God has given me. This is how I am going to love the world and the people that God loves within the world.’ Receive it as an accomplishment and a tasking. Accept it with great joy.
“We need you and we need you now.”
During the graduate programs ceremony, and his final as SBU president, Dr. C. Pat Taylor reiterated that commencement is his favorite time of the year, and shared his final commencement thoughts for the graduates from the heart.
Taylor reminded the graduates of a few important areas of life: choices, integrity and responsibility.
“We make choices every day,” Taylor said. “One of the choices we make every day is how do we spend our time. God gives you a gift of 24 hours in a day. I challenge you to use your time wisely; it is a gift. Every day is a gift from God.
“Integrity is so important, and you can lose it in a heartbeat. Always be trustworthy. Always tell the truth. Always do what you say you are going to do; maintain integrity.
“Proverbs 10:9 says, ‘He who walks with integrity, walks securely. But he who perverts his ways will be found out.’ Let me assure you, if you don’t walk with integrity, you will be found out.”
In looking back to when he was hired 22 years ago, Taylor recalled his interview with the Board of Trustees. He told them that he may not be the smartest, but no one would outwork him. He said a good work ethic and a positive attitude are the keys to success.
“Work hard every day,” Taylor said, “and show up with a positive attitude. Those two things will help carry you a long way. And, accept responsibility. If you expect to have any kind of leadership role anywhere, you have to accept responsibility. When things go wrong, don’t gripe or complain about it. Seek solutions. Be a problem-solver.”
Taylor also challenged the graduates to take risks and not be afraid to fail, and to remember that “the essence of big things is the little things – the details. As a student, the faculty has made you study a lot of details; you’ve had to understand a lot of facts and figures. Why? Because the faculty knows the little things are important – the details. You cannot accomplish great things, big things, if you don’t take care of the details.”
Taylor told the graduates to be kind every day, to choose humility and to have a thankful heart. He closed with one of his favorite verses, Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Photo 1: Tiana Brownen of Seneca, Mo., was the female recipient of the Life Beautiful Award.
Photo 2: Jacob Immel of Wooldridge, Mo., was the male recipient of the Life Beautiful Award.
Photo 3: Dr. Chris Dinwiddie, associate professor of psychology, was the recipient of the Orien B. Hendrex Distinguished Teacher award.
Photo 4: Dr. C. Pat Taylor, retiring president of Southwest Baptist University (right), is recognized by Don Fahrni, chairman of the Board of Trustees.
*Published: 5-21-18