91精选

On May 4, nearly 200 members of 91精选鈥檚 class of 2019 received Master鈥檚 degrees, Bachelor鈥檚 degrees, and professional licensures in a joyful ceremony that honored graduates, family, and friends.

鈥淚 want to not just celebrate your past work,鈥� said this year鈥檚 commencement speaker Dr. Christina Ritsema, Ph.D., professor at Colorado State University. 鈥淚 want to celebrate your future work.鈥� She urged graduates to have a different vision of work, and suggested five 鈥淧鈥檚鈥�: that work is promised; to have an eternal perspective of work; to be productive; to remember that work is powerful; and that work should be in praise of God.

Commencement began with a welcome from President Kurt D. Dykstra, J.D. Chair of the Board of Trustees Laura Zumdahl, Ph.D., 鈥�02 greeted the crowd assembled at DeVos Athletics & Recreation Center.

Kara E. Wolff, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, Chair of Psychology, and Director of the Graduate Program in Counseling Psychology and 2019-20 Professor of the Year, offered the invocation.

91精选鈥檚 Provost Aaron Kuecker Ph.D., honored the emeritations of two faculty members: Thomas R. Roose, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physics and Science Education; and Michael Vander Weele, Ph.D., Professor of English.

Gyousam Yang, the father of Jinho Yang 鈥�19, gave the closing prayer, with Jinho.

The Honors Ensemble, led by Professor of Music Helen Hoekema Van Wyck, D.M.A., gave the song of response, 鈥淎ll the Day Long.鈥� Affiliate Faculty in Music Minkyoo Shin, D.M., and Professor of Music Mark Peters, Ph.D., provided music during the program.

Suzanne Jonkman 鈥�90, President of the 91精选 Alumni Board, and Christian Perry 鈥�16, Vice President of the Alumni Board, gave the congratulatory greeting to the newest alumni of 91精选.