Howard Payne University’s December Commencement will be held this Saturday, December 13, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Brownwood Coliseum.
Dr. Bill Ellis, university president, and other university representatives will confer 93 undergraduate and graduate degrees. Dr. Mary E. Carpenter ’75, HPU faculty member in the School of Christian Studies from 2005 to 2012, will deliver the charge to the graduates.
Additional program participants include Corey Ash ’92, associate professor of music and director of bands; Dr. Donnie Auvenshine ’75, dean of the School of Christian Studies and professor of Christian studies; Rev. Mary D’Alessio, pastor of Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church in Liberty Hill, S.C.; Dr. Gary Gramling ’81, director of the graduate program in youth ministry and professor of Christian studies; Rev. Philip D. May ’79, minister of music at Crestview Baptist Church in Georgetown; Dr. Justin D. Murphy, dean of the School of Humanities, professor of history and director of the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy; Dr. Lois Patton, director of the graduate program in business administration and professor of business administration; Dr. Leslie Plagens, dean of the School of Business and professor of business administration; Debbie Prude ’78, president of HPU’s Alumni Association; Dr. Joe Robinson, director of the instructional leadership graduate program and associate professor of education; Dr. Michael Rosato, dean of the School of Education and professor of education; Carter Sharpe, first vice chairman of the HPU Board of Trustees; Dr. W. Mark Tew, provost; Mary Elizabeth Vasquez, graduating senior from Blanket; Lana Wagner ’97, registrar; Dr. Julie Welker ’94, faculty president, professor of communication and chair of the Department of Communication Studies; and the HPU Instrumental Ensemble.The Commencement ceremony will be preceded on Friday, December 12, by Chime Out, an HPU tradition in which graduating seniors pass a chain of ivy to underclassmen, symbolizing the passing of authority, responsibility and privileges to those students who remain on campus to carry on the traditions of the university. Chime Out begins at 6 p.m. at the university’s Mims Auditorium.
