Greetings fellow Pioneers:
This past week was especially exciting at Wayland as 108 students are received undergraduate or graduate degrees at Commencement in Hutcherson Center on Saturday, May 9.
Jon-Lucas Poe, a Religion-Missions major from Midland, gave the student response at the Graduation Luncheon before Dr. Paul Armes, president, gave his challenging remarks.
The day began with the Ring Ceremony which we started in 2009. It is a meaningful event that featured Director of Annual Fund Teresa Young, BA'94, giving the Alumni Challenge to Loyalty and Ashley Rivera, who received her degree in molecular biology and chemistry, telling "What the Ring Means to Me."
To conclude the ceremony, Dr. Armes presented rings to students who had purchased one and participants, led by an alumnus, joined hands for the Alma Mater.
Dr. Gary Belshaw, retiring Professor of Music Composition and University Organist, played some of his original compositions for the University's Centennial and accompanied Eddie Turner, BA'72, our University Store manager, who beautifully sang Dr. Belshaw's "No Small Dreams."
That song was inspired by the words of Dr. A Hope Owen, Wayland president from 1953-63, who said, "Dream no small dreams. Pursue no trivial visions. For they have no power to inspire the souls of men."
Another great tradition on Graduation Day is "Torch and Mantle" in which a graduate symbolically passes the mantle of example and leadership to an underclassman with a favorite faculty or staff member assisting.
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The Association of Former Student was proud to present the Faculty and Staff Awards at an annual luncheon. Honorees must have served Wayland for at least 10 years. This year's recipients were Dr. Otto Schacht, former Dean of the School of Business in which he has taught for 13 years; Bertha Sistrunk, now in her 10th year as General Accounts Manager after 10 years as a cashier and five as Accounts Coordinator. and James Tudman, Office Manager, Graduate Academic Advisor, and Interim Undergraduate Academic Advisor at the Amarillo campus.
The Association also presented Freshmen of the Year Awards to Carley Hardage and Levi Brown. They were nominated by faculty and staff and received the most votes after 35 women and 35 men were nominated. Carley's parents, Tim and Stacie Hardage, and Levi's parents, Greg and Jill Brown, are all Wayland graduates. Carley's sister, Ashley Edlin, also received Freshman of the Year honors in 2009.
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Mark your calendar for Oct. 2-3 for Homecoming 2015. The latest edition of Footprints has details and information designed to help you nominate someone for our various Distinguished awards presented at chapel.
The Spring issue of Footprints can be accessed at wbu.edu and click on Alumni. Past issues of Footprints also are archived.
