School of Education Commissioning Ceremony

Location: Shaw Chapel
Date & Time: Friday, May 3, from 4:00–6:30 p.m. ET
Participants: School of Education Master’s and Doctoral graduates, guests, and faculty.

Congratulations! You have made it to graduation! We are excited that you have decided to join us for our Commissioning Service and look forward to meeting your families and friends.

This event will prayerfully commission you to serve the world as a Christian leader in your chosen field. The schedule includes:

• Dean’s welcome
• Greetings from Academic Affairs
• Special Music
• Presentation of Outstanding Student Awards
• Formal reading of graduate names
• Formal hooding of graduates
• Faculty prayer & anointing of graduates
• Professional headshots by Grad Images
• Reception at the Communications Building Plaza from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

To commission someone is “to entrust or give authority” or “to appoint or assign to a task or function.” Commissioning is a sacred and holy time of worship, consecration, reflection, prayer, and anointing within the context of our graduation.

Children are welcome, but please consider that this is a religious/sacred service that will last about two hours. Strollers and similar equipment are not permitted in the aisles and walkways.

The service will be streamed live on this page at 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 3.

Commencement (also known as graduation) will be held Saturday, May 4, beginning at 9:15 a.m. ET at the Library Plaza. This ceremony includes all graduates & faculty. Please view https://www.regent.edu/commencement for more information regarding the event.

Area hotels: https://www.regent.edu/student-life/student-housing/area-hotels/

Processional	“Pomp and Circumstance” Ms. Sylvia Chapa
Welcome	Dean Kurt Kreassig
Invocation	Dr. Jiuhan Huang
Special Music	“African Spirit Song” Congolese Folk Song/arr. Victor C. Johnson “My Tribute” by Andrae Crouch/arr. Ed. Lojeski
Greetings from Academic Affairs	Dr. William Hathaway Provost
Recognition of Family and Friends	Dean Kurt Kreassig
Introduction of Guest Speaker	Dean Kurt Kreassig
Guest Speaker	Reverend Tom Mercer

– Presentation of Awards –

Outstanding Graduate Award (M.Ed.)	Dr. Jiuhan Huang
Outstanding Graduate Award (Ed.S.)	Dr. Darwin Mills
Outstanding Graduate Award (Ed.D.)	Dr. Jeff Pittman
Outstanding Graduate Award (Ph.D.)	Dr. Amy Davies
Outstanding Research Award	Dr. Glenn Koonce
Outstanding Staff Award	Associate Dean Katie Goldman
Outstanding Faculty Award	Dean Kurt Kreassig

– Commissioning & Hooding –

Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy Candidates for the Doctor of Education Candidates for the Educational Specialist Candidates for the Master of Education	Dean Kurt Kreassig and Education Faculty
Charge to Graduates	Dean Kurt Kreassig
Alumni Induction	Alora Tejada Director of Alumni Engagement
Announcements	Associate Dean Katie Goldman
School Song	Dr. Darwin Mills
Benediction	Dr. Donald Finn

Arrival

Graduates should plan to arrive by 3:00 p.m. and check in at the table inside the Divinity building (#7 on the campus map). You can follow the signs to the Welcome Center. Graduates should plan to wear gowns and carry their hoods. No caps or tams are needed.

Parking

Graduates and guests should enter Regent University through the Centerville Turnpike entrance and park in Lot L (see campus map). Seating will open for guests at 3:30 p.m. 

Your family and friends are invited to support you during this event, either virtually or in person. You will be required to reserve a spot for your guests. Your guests will check in at the Shaw Chapel.

Commissioning Ceremony Procedure

Graduates should be prepared to arrive at the Divinity Building by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2024. You should follow the signs to the Welcome Center. Once you are checked in, you will be directed to the room where you will be lined up. Graduates should wear your regalia and bring your hood. Since the School of Education’s Commissioning Ceremony is inside, you will not need your cap or tam. It is important that you do not bring any extra items with you (like your purse). There will not be any place to leave valuables and you will not be able to leave anything at your seat when you are on stage.

You will receive a program for the service when you arrive for the lineup and there will be programs available after the ceremony for you to take home.

The procedure is as follows:

• Staff will direct you to the check-in table, where you will be given a card that will already have your name printed on it. Please write on the card how you want your name to be read.
• You will then be directed to a room where you will be lined up with other graduates.
• The processional, led by faculty, will begin promptly at 4:00 p.m. An usher will guide you to your seat.
• You will have designated seats on the front right section.
• An usher will lead you out of your row to process onto the stage for hooding.
• When you approach the podium, give your name card to the reader.
• When your name is called, proceed toward the center stage, where you will be hooded. You will be directed how to hold your hood. A professor will place the hood around your neck.
• An usher will guide you to the Grad Images area where your individual headshot will be taken.
• After your photo is taken, you will be guided to a prayer station where faculty will pray over and anoint you.
• Once the prayer is over, you will return to the nearest empty seat. You may or may not go back to where you were initially seated. That is OK! Please be sure not to bring anything with you.
• At the end of the ceremony, your guests will be excused, and you will remain in the chapel for a formal group photo of the graduating class of 2024!

PROPER ATTIRE (UNDER REGALIA)

As this is a special occasion and you will be standing on stage, men should wear dress pants. Women should wear dress pants, a skirt or a dress. All graduates should wear dress shoes (heels or flats). Please do not wear jeans, tennis shoes or flip-flops. Females are not to bring handbags. *Do not bring a purse or drink as you cannot take on stage, and you will not return to your original seat*.

This event is not ticketed but when you RSVP, we ask that you indicate the number of guests that will be attending. Seating is first come, first served. Overflow seating will be available in the Dede Robertson Theatre.

Contact Brenda Vaughan at bvaughan@regent.edu for questions about the School of Education Commissioning Ceremony.