Trevecca Nazarene University Celebrates 123rd Commencement Convocation

Over the course of two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 4, more than 5,000 family members, friends and guests joined school administrators and faculty to celebrate the class of 2024 graduates at Trevecca Nazarene University.

“We look into these beautiful faces today and have great hope for what the Lord will do through each of them,” Trevecca Provost Dr. Tom Middendorf said. “In this final moment as mentors and counselors, we have great confidence for all they will achieve in their careers and all they will do in service to others.”

The day’s events included morning and afternoon ceremonies–a 9 a.m. convocation for the conferral of all undergraduate degrees and a 2 p.m. convocation for graduates receiving advanced degrees. More than 980 degrees were conferred in total.

The morning ceremony included the presentation of honorary doctorate degrees for humane letters. Those recipients were Helen King Cummings, who with her husband Harvey established Trevecca’s Agape Scholarship endowment, and Katharine Steele, who alongside her husband established the Richard Steele Scholarship endowment in his name. 

Dr. Jon Burch, an associate professor of management and leadership, offered the challenge to new graduates during both services. A response from traditional undergraduates was given by graduating senior Claudia Nunez Oviedo.

“At Trevecca, our education has been more than just academic,”

“At Trevecca, our education has been more than just academic,” Oviedo said in her address. “It has been an immersion in a community driven by faith and service.”

Other special honorees included retiring faculty member Dr. Michael Korounos, who was recognized for 20 years of service at Trevecca, and graduate Naomi Akinbade, who was presented with the Trevecca Citizenship Award.