Anderson University

131 Anderson University students received diplomas during tonight’s winter commencement exercises in the Henderson Auditorium of AU’s Rainey Fine Arts Center. The evening ceremony marked the largest number of students to graduate from Anderson during winter commencement.

Faculty Chair Jackie Walker, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at AU, delivered the commencement address, in accordance with Anderson’s tradition of having the Faculty Chair deliver the address at winter commencement. In her speech entitled, “Google or God?” Walker encouraged the students whose generation is fully immersed in technology to use it to the fullest extent in their professions, but also to remember to regularly disconnect to reflect and tend to the more important relationships in life such as those with family and with God. She also extolled the virtues of hard work as the primary road to success, but reminded students to place equal emphasis on their faith.

Additionally, the ceremony honored the first graduating class of AU’s Master of Ministry program of the David T. Clamp Graduate School of Christian Ministry. AU’s Master of Ministry (M.Min.) degree received the largest gift in school history in the spring of 2009 from the estate of the late David T. Clamp. Mr. Clamp’s wife, Mrs. Jane Ferguson Clamp, presented the $8 million gift to the institution at the 2009 spring commencement ceremony. It was the lifelong dream of Mr. Clamp to see a graduate school of ministry at Anderson University. Mrs. Clamp traveled with family from Virginia to take part in this year’s Anderson winter commencement to help recognize the six M.Min. graduates.

Also at tonight’s ceremony, Ms. Linda M. Morris, a ‘67 graduate of Anderson,  received AU’s Alumni Achievement Award. The award is presented to an alumnus in recognition of his/her significant achievement in his/her profession or career. Ms. Morris is the President and CEO of the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Robert S. Kolb, who completed his bachelor’s at AU in 2009 and his MBA in 2011, received this year’s Anderson University ACCEL Alumni Achievement Award. This award is presented to an ACCEL alumnus in recognition of his/her significant achievement in his/her profession or career. Mr. Kolb is the Executive Vice President of The Radiology Group, a national teleradiology group based in Atlanta.

 Anderson University is a selective comprehensive university offering bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees on campus and online.  Anderson is ranked in the Top Tier of US News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges and is on that publication’s list of the 46 “Up & Coming” universities in America (#1 in The South).  It is also ranked as one of America’s “100 Best College Buys.”

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