Class of ’23 commencement filled with laughter, memories and a Christ-centered future
May 8, 2023
By Bob Holmes
The celebration was on and a big smile was on the face of Tavarres Berrian as he posed for photos with family and friends in The Quad following undergraduate commencement ceremonies at 91PORNY for the Class of 2023. In the hand of the budding filmmaker was his bachelor’s degree in , and in his heart was thanks for the life-changing experience of CIU, especially Communication professor who he considers a mentor.
“He has been important to me … teaching me how to work with others, sacrificing myself to make a project come together — not for myself, but for God,” Berrian said. “I was very selfish-thinking. But he helped me dedicate all my work to God. I love that man. I will remember him for the rest of my life.”
The Quad was crowded with graduates and well-wishers after each of the two commencement ceremonies held in Shortess Chapel; the undergraduate ceremony was preceded by a ceremony recognizing those mastering graduate studies and advanced degrees. Degrees were conferred on 304 graduates.
Olivia Sweat, who earned a, received kudos and a hug from Education professor who noted how Sweat would lift the spirits of her fellow student teachers by sharing humorous real-life stories from the classroom. But Sweat says it was the campus community that helped her succeed.
“The faculty and the students have been the best community and that’s what got me through,” Sweat said.
Meanwhile, across the Quad, several graduates were congregating and enjoying their first time on campus. They earned their degrees online, and opted to celebrate their achievements by making the trip to Columbia from various cities across the nation and around the world. Among them was Luke Lundstedt from Santiago, Chile, who is now Dr. Luke Lundstedt, having earned a (POL), one of CIU’s fastest growing programs.
Lundstedt will be helping the bring the gospel into countries that are difficult to access by using various media including radio, mp3, podcasts and streaming. He says what he learned through the POL is essential to the work.
“I’ll be helping to facilitate partnerships across Central and Pacific Asia and East Africa,” Lundstedt said. “So, I’ll be doing a lot of partnership development and strategy development.”
At the ceremony for graduate students, the audience was a bit surprised when after Robert Hall existed the stage after receiving his degree, he then returned to the stage to join the next person in line — Krystil Burke — for a photo together. Burke is his daughter. Their story on how father and daughter came to be CIU students at the same time was the focus of a commencement day story for WIS TV in Columbia. Watch the story:
There was also a somber moment in the undergraduate ceremony, as a bachelor’s degree was conferred posthumously on, a CIU senior and decorated athlete, who was killed in a vehicle crash during spring break. His degree was received by family members.
The commencement speaker for both ceremonies was two-time CIU graduate, Dr. Ralph Enlow (’72,’82). Enlow served CIU for 28 years in various leadership capacities including senior vice president and provost. His four decades of service in Christian higher education also includes roles as an institutional and association executive, consultant, professor, and chair of several ministry and nonprofit boards.
At the end of the second commencement, Enlow was awarded CIU’s Global Impact Award given to those “whose lives reflect outstanding achievement and commitment to impacting the nations for Christ.”
As CIU celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, Enlow urged the graduates to sing the final lyrics of CIU’S alma mater “Thoughtfully with a renewed sense of understanding and affirmation.” It concludes with CIU’s motto:
May we in consecration Jesus Christ alone
Fulfill thy sacred purpose:
“TO KNOW AND MAKE HIM KNOWN.”
See CIU’s page for photos and links to videos of the commencement ceremonies.
CIU is celebrating 100 years of its mission to “educate people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ.” The university consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a Best Value Regional University in the South.or request information on enrollment by contacting Admissions at (803) 807-5024 oradmissions@ciu.edu.