The University of Findlay - More Than 730 Graduate at Commencement

More than 730 students graduated from The University of Findlay during spring commencement ceremonies at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2, in the Koehler Complex on campus.

Click here to visit the University’s Picasa Web album. Anyone can view, download and print photos from the site. Click on the album cover to view all of the photos in the album.

Click here to read a list of students who were expected to receive degrees.

Dr. Houdeshell advises the graduates during commencement
ceremonies.

Dr. James D. Houdeshell, professor emeritus, gave the commencement

address, “Some Simple Thoughts,” sharing wisdom gleaned his 54 years of coaching and educational administration.

Houdeshell said a small book by Abe Christianson, “The Verdict of the Scoreboard,” guided him as a coach and beyond, noting that not only in sports, but in family and professional life, verdicts are rendered daily.

Click here to read Houdeshell’s full address.

Dr. Kathleen Crates receives the doctoral hood from
Dr. Daniel May, left, vice president of academic affairs,
and Dr. C. Richard Beckett, chair of the Board of Trustees.

Following the address, Dr. Kathleen Crates, an alumna of then-Findlay College as well as Bowling Green State University, from which she received a master’s and doctorate, received an honorary doctor of education degree. President Freed praised Crates, who is director of student services for Findlay City School System, as “an excellent teacher and a fine educational administrator. She served 27 years as a trustee for The University of Findlay prior to being named a trustee emeritus in 2008, the longest continuous term of service for any trustee.

More than 300 graduate degrees were awarded, and more than 380 undergraduate degrees were awarded, including approximately 60 bachelor of arts degrees and approximately 320 bachelor of science degrees.

More than 40 associate of arts degrees were conferred.

University president Dr. DeBow Freed shares a smile
with soon-to-be graduates.

Among the UF graduates are more than 100 international students who received master’s degrees and eight international students who received bachelor’s degrees. Those students represent the countries of India, China, Taiwan, Nepal, Japan, Burma, Ghana, Thailand and Korea.

Earlier in the day, Pastor Jim Davison gave the address during the baccalaureate service, congratulating the graduates on being “champions” who have overcome obstacles to come to this moment, but encouraging them to be grateful to God in accepting adversity as well as blessings.

Pointing out the state of the economy and the fearfulness of illnesses such as swine flu, Davison preached on Job 1:1-22, noting Job’s faithfulness despite his devastation at the loss of his family and all that he owned. “What about us?," he asked. "When hardship comes, when the walls fall, can we still believe?"