Baccalaureate Commencement 2021
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VANGUARD UNIVERSITY BACCALAUREATE COMMENCEMENT 2021 FRIDAY, MAY 7 | 10AM & 2PM MARINERS CHURCH, IRVINE CA BACCALAUREATE COMMENCEMENT COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS DR. MICHAEL J. BEALS Dr. Michael J. Beals began his time at Vanguard University, then Southern California College, as an undergraduate student more than 40 years ago. After receiving a BA in Christian Education and Psychology in 1981, he returned to Vanguard to earn an MA in Leadership Studies in 1989, and then went on to earn an MA and PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Beals is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God who served in local church ministry for 31 years. Dr. Beals is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God who served in local church ministry for 31 years; 23 of which were as senior pastor of Mission Hills Community Church. Dr. Beals taught philosophy, ethics and theology at both Vanguard and Fuller Seminary. In 2012, he accepted the role of Dean of Spiritual Formation at Vanguard. Dr. Beals assumed the role of Vanguard’s tenth president in 2013. President Beals and his wife Faith were married in 1979, they have two children and four grandchildren. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SPEAKER ANGELES HERNANDEZ A first-generation Vanguard Lion from Montclair, California, Angeles enrolled at Vanguard University to fulfill her educational goals and advance her parents’ American Dream. While at Vanguard, Angeles was inspired by her community to push herself and aspire to leadership positions. She worked with Vanguard’s Live2Free student mobilization group to fight against human trafficking and juvenile delinquency, and to create an environment of inclusivity, justice, and Godly love. In high schools in Santa Ana, she mentored and advanced student-led programs in opposition to human trafficking. On the Vanguard campus, Angeles served as a Resident Assistant in the Catalina dorm and served as the lead for creating an environment of compassion, creativity, and familiarity for Vanguard's intercultural student clubs. Her work included organizing programs to help students better understand their cultural identity, to be empowered spiritually, and to pursue justice and intercultural reconciliation on campus. After just three years, Angeles is graduating with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice. As she graduates as a proud Lion filled with God’s unwavering strength, Angeles is confident that Vanguard has given her the knowledge and wisdom needed to pursue a graduate degree and eventually begin a career of advocacy for young people and the prevention of youth victimization. BACCALAUREATE COMMENCEMENT PROFESSIONAL STUDIES STUDENT SPEAKER CONNOR STEPHENSON Born into a churchgoing family, Connor came to faith in Jesus Christ after a week at Forest Home summer camp when he was twelve years old. When he came home from camp, he told his mom knew that he wanted to grow up to study theology. Throughout his rebellious teenage years and early adulthood, Connor ignored his calling of studying God’s word to focus on things he, at the time, felt were more important. During a particularly challenging time in his life, he found himself in a center specializing in treating substance abuse and mental health problems. While there, he met a man who guided him back to a faith that empowered him to follow his childhood calling. Connor is now graduating with a BA in Theology from the School for Professional Studies at Vanguard. He is employed managing a program that matches adults experiencing homelessness with housing resources for the County of Orange at an agency called Friendship Shelter, and he calls Emmaus Church in Santa Ana his home church. He has been accepted to Fuller Theological Seminary, studying towards an MA in Theology and a PhD in Clinical Psychology. With his degrees, he hopes to pursue two of his greatest passions: studying the Bible and performing research on the helping professions. If his work can help people who, like him, have lost their way, that will be the greatest gift he can imagine. He dreams that one day we may all live in a world where God’s Kingdom is offensive not for who it turns away, but for who it calls in. GRADUATE STUDENT SPEAKER KEVIN PAPPAS Kevin Pappas is the Training and Development Manager for OneOC, a Management Services Organization that helps Orange County nonprofits become as effective and efficient as they are passionate about their missions. For the past five years, Kevin has enjoyed serving the nonprofit sector working for the YMCA as the Youth and Teen Programs Director, as well as supporting human resources operations for an international ministry that helped launch three church plants globally. He holds a BA in Psychology and Religious Studies from Westmont College and is now earning an MS in Organizational Psychology from Vanguard University. Kevin is passionate about developing healthy and effective leaders that are equipped to transform their organizations to live out their full potential. BACCALAUREATE COMMENCEMENT PRESIDING: MICHAEL J. BEALS, PHD, PRESIDENT GRAND MARSHAL: MARY WICKMAN, PHD, RN PROFESSOR OF NURSING & ASSOCIATE DEAN OF NURSING *THOSE WHO ARE ABLE, PLEASE STAND PROCESSIONAL* POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE SIR EDWARD ELGAR WELCOME MICHAEL J. BEALS, PHD ’81, MA ’89 PRESIDENT, VANGUARD UNIVERSITY SCRIPTURE READING & INVOCATION* PSALM 23 (NIV) THE REVEREND DR. JOHN C. MARTIN, DMIN LEAD PASTOR, VICTORVILLE FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHAIR, VANGUARD UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES COMMUNION* THE REVEREND MICHAEL WHITFORD ’99, MA ’17 UNIVERSITY PASTOR AND ASSOCIATE DEAN OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION COMMISSIONING THE REVEREND RICHARD M. GUERRA, ’78, MA ’89 SUPERINTENDENT, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NETWORK OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS MICHAEL J. BEALS, PHD PRESIDENT, VANGUARD UNIVERSITY BACCALAUREATE COMMENCEMENT MESSAGE TO GRADUATES & PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES PETE C. MENJARES, PHD ’87 PROVOST AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS THE CONFERRAL OF DEGREES MICHAEL J. BEALS, PHD PRESIDENT, VANGUARD UNIVERSITY SONG OF PRAISE & ADORATION THE BLESSING KARI JOBE, CODY CARNES, CHRIS BROWN, STEVEN FURTICK ARR. CHRISTOPHER PHILLIPS, PHIL NITZ, AND JENN CRIDER VANGUARD UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS CLOSING REMARKS MICHAEL J. BEALS, PHD PRESIDENT, VANGUARD UNIVERSITY BENEDICTION & PRAYER FOR THE GRADUATES* 10 AM | JONI Y. PRADO, DMA PROFESSOR OF MUSIC 2 PM | SIAUMIN FUNG, PHD ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MOLECULAR GENETICS ALMA MATER OF VANGUARD UNIVERSITY & RECESSIONAL* ALMA MATER (HAIL TO THE GOLD AND BLUE) E.M. BALLIET/J. MELTON CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2021 NOTE: PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR SEATS UNTIL THE RECESSIONAL HAS LEFT THE LAWN. WE ENCOURAGE ALL PARTICIPANTS AND GUESTS TO REFRAIN FROM ENGAGING IN ANY BEHAVIOR THAT DISRUPTS THE CEREMONY OR PREVENTS ANYONE IN ATTENDANCE FROM HEARING EACH GRADUATE’S NAME OR SEEING EACH GRADUATE WALK ACROSS THE STAGE. LIVE COVERAGE OF THE COMMENCEMENT IS AVAILABLE AT VANGUARD.EDU/LIVE BACCALAUREATE COMMENCEMENT HONORS Provisional honors are noted in this program for graduating seniors who have completed at least 36 credits at Vanguard University and have met one of the grade point average requirements listed below: *cum laude (with honor) 3.50-3.69 **magna cum laude (with high honor) 3.70-3.89 ***summa cum laude (with highest honor, signified by gold cords) 3.90-4.00 †active military service and veterans PLATINUM CORDS are worn by members of the Psi Chi, International Honor Society of Psychology. TEAL CORDS are worn by members of Alpha Kappa Delta, International Honor Society of Sociology. RED CORDS with white medallions are worn by members of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. RED & BLUE CORDS are worn by members of Phi Alpha Theta, International Honor Society of History. GOLD CORDS are worn by members of Pi Lambda Theta, a division of Phi Delta Kappa International Honors Society of Education. RED & BLACK CORDS are worn by members of Sigma Tau Delta, National Honor Society of English. GREEN & GOLD CORDS are worn by members of Sigma Beta Delta, International Honor Society of Business. RED & WHITE CORDS are worn by members of Lambda Pi Eta, National Communication Honor Society. BLACK & GOLD CORDS are worn by members of Phi Epsilon Kappa Honors Fraternity of Kinesiology. PURPLE & WHITE CORDS are worn by members of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honors Society of Nursing. CLOISONNÉ PINS are worn by members of Lambda Alpha, National Honor Society of Anthropology. RED, WHITE & BLUE CORDS are worn by graduates in the United States military, all branches. This is a service recognition and we are grateful for their service to our country. BACCALAUREATE COMMENCEMENT DIVISION OF THEOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF IN THEOLOGY THEOLOGY MASTER OF ARTS BACHELOR OF ARTS Francisco Luis Aceves Elizer Rivera Alejo Lee Eric Baca Caitlyn R Ashurst Kolby A Bird Yvonne Krystal Baca Melanie Sarah Button Genesis Monique Beltran Gail Lynne Campanale Desiree Jean Bradbury Justin Taylor Capener Nathan Joseph Butler*** Connor R Chase Enrique Cervantes Hadley Michelle Crow Arthur Gabriel Gaeta Timothy Michael Cheney William Eric Kiehnle Evan Emmanuel Decock*** Jacqui T Larsson Marc T Freire Aubrey Lynne Querry Bradley J Griswold*** Bryan Ernesto Sanchez Yaseer A Handall Blake E Schwendimann Whitney Nicole Harris Brett A Shields Eliana R Johnson** Steven DuWayne Slater Madison E Johnson** Samuel Stephens Casey M MacIntosh Brooke Wilsman Robert D McCracken MASTER OF THEOLOGICAL Bradley J McDermott STUDIES Caleb Frank Meadows Nelson Heidi