COMMENCEMENT SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020 President’s Message For Graduates Today marks one of the biggest events in the lives of our graduates. It is a milestone to complete a university degree. We welcome all our special guests to this graduation ceremony this morning. Unfortunately, this year we are not able to be together because of the Coronavirus. You have persevered through so much to graduate, and this pandemic will not stop you from what God has for you in the next chapter of your life. To the family and friends, you have been a part of the journey of these graduates. We thank you for your part in helping them achieve this milestone. Graduation would not be possible without your sacrifice and commitment. To the graduates, congratulations on completing your academic journey at Warner University. We are proud of your accomplishments. It has been a privilege to have you as a student at Warner University. Now you become one of our 10,000 alumni who are making a difference around the world. Warner University is committed to guiding individuals toward Christ-like character and intellectual maturity while equipping them to serve. To that end, everything we do at Warner University is geared toward making that mission a reality. Today is the beginning of a new chapter as you leave this place to lead and to serve. May God continue to guide you on your journey in life. Again, congratulations. We are proud of you! David A. Hoag, Ph.D. President, Warner University Sheriff Grady Judd Polk County Sheriff’s Department After beginning his career with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office as a dispatcher, Grady Judd quickly progressed through every rank – from Corporal to Colonel. As a small child growing up in Polk County, Grady had dreamed of being Sheriff. In 2004, Polk County overwhelmingly elected him to serve as their Sheriff, fulfilling that childhood dream. Sheriff Judd has earned higher education degrees through the Masters level and has graduated from the FBI National Academy, as well as several other prestigious law enforcement academies, and has taught 23 years at both the University of South Florida and Florida Southern College. He is currently the Immediate Past President of the Major County Sheriffs of America, a national organization serving counties with a population of 500,000 or more. Grady realizes that having proper priorities in place is important to success. Faith, family, and the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office along with the citizens of Polk County are the priorities that direct his life. Grady has been married to his wife Marisa for 47 years, and has two grown sons, and thirteen grandchildren. Commencement Program April 25, 2020 9:00 A.M. Welcome ............................................................................................David A. Hoag, Ph.D. President, Warner University Invocation ................................................................................................Laura Motis, B.A. Board of Trustees, Chair Introduction of Commencement Speaker .........................................David A. Hoag, Ph.D. Commencement Address .......................................................Grady Judd, M.S., B.S., A.S. Polk County Sheriff Presentation of Honorary Doctorate .................................................David A. Hoag, Ph.D. Conferring of Degrees ................................................................Gentry Sutton, D.Ed.Min. Vice President of Academic Affairs / Chief Academic Officer Special Recognitions ..................................................................Gentry Sutton, D.Ed.Min. Kelly Mills, Ph.D. Director of General Studies and Associate Professor of English Prayer of Commissioning & Benediction ..............................Michael D. Sanders, D. Min. Professor of Christian Formation, Associate Academic Dean Academic Customs and Dress Modern academic regalia evolved from the kinds of apparel worn by monks and students in the 11th and 12th centuries to keep warm in the medieval castles and halls in which they studied. Academic life as we know it today began in the Middle Ages—first in the church, then in the guilds. The teaching guild was the Guild of the Master of Arts, and the Bachelor was the apprentice of the Master. Their dress was the outward sign of stature and responsibility. Academic regalia was a visible manifestation—in color, pattern, and design—that unified those of common discipline and like purpose. The four most common academic degrees are the associate, baccalaureate, master, and doctorate. The name of each degree comes from medieval university custom. American colleges and universities use a common system of regalia including the gown, the cap, and the hood. The Gown The flowing gown has become symbolic of the democracy of scholarship, for it covers any dress rank or social standing. It is usually black for all degrees except the associate. For the associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degrees, the gown has no trimmings. For the doctoral degree, it is faced on the front with velvet and has three bars of velvet on the sleeves. The Hood The hood creates a shield of the institution and discipline. The color of the velvet facing of the hood indicates the discipline and the satin lining colors designate the college or university granting the degree. Discipline colors commonly seen on hoods include: Art & Humanities—white, Science—yellow, Education—light blue, Medicine—green, Music—pink, Business—brown, Law—purple, and Theology—scarlet. The Cap The freed slave in ancient Rome won the privilege of wearing a cap, and so the academic cap is a sign of the freedom of scholarship and the responsibility and dignity with which scholarship endows the wearer. The color of the tassel is often black but can also represent the institution or the discipline. A gold tassel is reserved for those who hold a doctoral degree. Latin Honors Warner University bachelor graduates may wear gold honor cords if qualified for Latin honors: Cum Laude (3.5–3.69), Magna Cum Laude (3.7–3.89), or Summa Cum Laude (3.9–4.0). Warner University master candidates may wear gold honor cords if qualified for distinction: 4.0 GPA. Academic Customs and Dress Alpha Chi: (Medallion, Blue & Green) 3.5 GPA or higher, in the upper 10% of their class, attended WU for more than one year Alpha Lambda Delta: (Red & White) Freshman honor society, earned and maintained a 3.5 GPA Alpha Zeta (Mode & Sky Blue) Agricultural Studies graduates in the upper 40% of their class with qualities of character and leadership Kappa Delta Pi: (Purple & Green) Teacher Education graduates with a 3.25 GPA or higher Phi Alpha: (Royal & Light Gold) Social Work major of sophomore statues; 3.0 GPA overall (3.25 GPA in required social work courses) Phi Epsilon Kappa: (Black & Gold) Junior and senior Exercise & Sport Studies students with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher Pi Gamma Mu: (Blue & White) Social Science graduates with a 3.0 GPA or higher Sigma Beta Delta: (Green & Gold) Business Administration graduates in the upper 20% of their class Alpha Sigma Lambda: (Burgundy and Gold) Non-Traditional Students: At least 24 hours at Warner, a cumulative GPA of 3.2 and must be in the upper 20% of the class Sigma Zeta: (Blue & Silver) Natural Sciences, Computer Science, or Mathematics majors. At least 25 hours, including 15 hours in Natural Sciences, Computer Science, or Mathematics. Attain at least a 3.00 GPA in Science and Mathematics and at least a 3.00 overall GPA. Alumni Philanthropy Cord: (Navy & Gold) Worn by graduates who have demonstrated support of their alma mater by becoming a financial donor Student-Athlete Stole: (White & Gold) Varsity student-athletes graduating with a bachelors degree and have at least a 3.00 overall GPA Academic Honors The University recognizes the academic achievement of graduating bachelor students through awards of Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude. Academic Honor Grade-Point Average Summa Cum Laude 3.90 or higher Magna Cum Laude 3.70–3.89 Cum Laude 3.50–3.69 Master Grade-Point Average Distinction 4.00 Board of Trustees Laura Motis, Chair ............................................................... Babson Park, Florida Bob Beckler ................................................................................. Wichita, Kansas James Brown ...............................................................................Decatur, Georgia Dean Burnetti ......................................................................... Auburndale, Florida Joe DeHart ............................................................................. Lake Placid, Florida John Durham ....................................................................... Corpus Christi, Texas Denise Grimsley ................................................................ Zolfo Springs, Florida Karl Hall ..................................................................... Colorado Springs, Colorado Steve Maxwell ......................................................................... Frostproof, Florida Rob Oakman ....................................................................... Tijeras, New Mexico Erica O’Neill ...........................................................................Lake Wales, Florida Bryan Scott ................................................................................. Titusville, Florida Mark Shaner ...........................................................................Vero Beach, Florida Heather Snively ..................................................................