By Holly Magnani, Web and Media Relations Director, Concordia College

May 24, 2017:  Concordia College celebrated a bright and uplifting 136th commencement on a rainy Saturday, May 13. To accommodate its record growth and graduating classes, Concordia held separate graduate and undergraduate commencement exercises for the first time in the college's history. 

Wenona Clark Belton, associate judge of the Juvenile Court of Fulton County in Georgia, delivered the graduate commencement address. She empowered students with a message about the importance of vision and perspective, stating, "Talent hits a target that no one else can hit, but genius hits a target that no one else can see."

CNN writer Brenda Bush Weeks delivered the undergraduate commencement address. Her inspirational message reminded graduates to follow their heart, never stop trying, and to make a difference. She added, "Nothing is a failure if you try something and it doesn't work out. You will only fail if you stop trying." 

The college conferred an honorary doctor of humane letters to Kurt Buchholz, president and CEO of Lutheran Hour Ministries. Buchholz has served in numerous leadership positions in Lutheran organizations helping to fight malaria, fundraising to expand the church's missionary efforts, and directing school start-ups in Taiwan, where Kurt and his wife, Jenny, served as missionaries themselves for nearly a decade.

Concordia conferred Distinguished Alumni awards to Colleen Oakes, a rising literary star, and Edward Mahn, a cherished Concordia supporter and board of regents member. The Servant of Christ Award was given to Scott Wittman. To learn more about Concordia’s honorees, click here. 

Commencement also marked the end of President John A. Nunes's first year at the college. He encouraged students to "dare to do the deed that cries out to be done. Stand out with excellence. Serve others in such a way that people will say, 'There goes that graduate from that small school with a global impact.'"

Pictured here:  Concordia College's 136th commencement on Sunday, May 13.

Photo courtesy Holly Magnani, Web and Media Relations Director, Concordia College