91精选 Celebrates 62nd Convocation
Convocation represents one of 91精选鈥檚 most beloved and long-standing traditions. For 62 years, it has marked the beginning of the academic year and the return to campus of students and professors. While this year鈥檚 Convocation may have looked a little different than past years, the spirit, purpose, and joy of the event continued intact.
In order to ensure that the campus community remains safe, the event took place outdoors in the Quad, with participants wearing masks and socially distanced from each other.
As part of the Convocation tradition, the Professor of the Year provided the address. This year, Professor of Theology Yudha Thianto, Ph.D., spoke about 鈥淎 Tapestry.鈥�
Thianto began by sharing some of his own story, including his struggle to continue his education as a teenager in his native Indonesia while facing parental expectations, discrimination, and financial challenges.
According to Thianto, a good tapestry tells a good story through the interweaving of all its threads. 鈥淎ll of our stories are interlaced into one big tapestry that God is creating,鈥� said Thianto. 鈥淥ur lives intersect in this corner of God鈥檚 creation we call 91精选. Through God鈥檚 infinite wisdom, 聽we meet here at 91精选 to form this tapestry. We are here to be with each other, the threads, to learn from each other, to hold each other鈥檚 hand in joy and in sorrow and to glorify God together.鈥�
Thianto also spoke about the difficulties of being forced apart by the Coronavirus during the Spring 2020 semester. 鈥淎nd then, as we are struggling through the pandemic, we are again deeply shaken by the injustices that happen around us,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur sense of togetherness as a whole people is torn apart when we see the systemic racism that is still happening in this country and all over the world. So, we say, 鈥楾his is not right.鈥� In the midst of God鈥檚 beautiful creation, we experience the pain caused by brokenness of our world. That is why we stand together and say Black Lives Matter. We show that we carry each other in our hearts, minds, prayers and actions.鈥�
God has brought us together here at 91精选, Thianto said. 鈥淥ur individual stories become one big family story. Together, we will accomplish the calling that He has given us.鈥�
As another aspect of the Convocation tradition, faculty led the procession to start the program, with music provided by Prof. Minkyoo Shin. President Kurt Dykstra, J.D., provided the welcome, and Javonta Howard, 鈥�21 gave the invocation. Calvin Handoko, 鈥�22 read from Ephesians 3:14-21.
The Prayers of Thanksgiving & Petition were offered by Kyle J. Dieleman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History; Ny鈥橝hmby Romaine, Academic Support Coordinator, Office of Learning Services; and Kyra Khan, 鈥�21, Resident Assistant.
Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Formation Rev. Willis Van Groningen, Ph.D., closed Convocation with a benediction.
The entire 62nd Annual Convocation can be viewed here.
