Abilene Christian University awarded 1,206 degrees May 7-8 in three ceremonies in Wildcat Stadium. The Friday, May 7, ceremony at 8 p.m. included 360 master’s and 102 doctoral degrees. On Saturday, May 8, 744 bachelor’s degrees were presented in two ceremonies – 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Because the university did not conduct a December 2020 commencement, activities included both December 2020 and May 2021 graduates. The Friday ceremony included all doctoral and master’s degree candidates. On Saturday, undergraduate degree candidates from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Biblical Studies participated in the 11 a.m ceremony, and undergraduate degree candidates from the College of Education and Human Services, College of Graduate and Professional Studies, and School of Nursing participated in in the 8 p.m. ceremony.

Dr. Ben Ries, college assistant professor, associate dean for vocational formation and executive director of the Center for Vocational Formation at ACU Dallas, addressed the graduates Friday. At both Saturday ceremonies, Brad Cheves, a 1984 graduate of ACU and vice president for development and external affairs at Southern Methodist University, was the featured speaker.

A number of student awards were presented at the various ceremonies, and at both Saturday ceremonies, Drs. Wayne (’66) and Janice (Munn ’68) Massey were honored with the Outlive Your Life award. Wayne and Janice both teach neurology at Duke University School of Medicine.

Watch the videos of the three ceremonies here.

— Wendy Kilmer

May 4, 2021