Academic News
When Liberty University en Español was launched in the fall of 2011, the bilingual program was hoping to make inroads with the Hispanic community. Now it is celebrating its first graduate and has tripled enrollment in one year. Javier Pimentel, a lay minister at Woodlands Church in The Woodlands, Texas, received his Associate of Arts Degree in Religion in May. He is the first graduate of Liberty
University en Español. He attended Liberty’s Commencement in May. Pimentel has led the way for more than 300 students who are enrolled in the program for the fall, a 200 percent increase from 99 students enrolled in 2011. “Our Liberty University en Español faculty and staff are very proud of seeing students like Mr. Pimentel achieve their academic dreams,” said Orlando Lobaina,
executive director of Liberty en Español. “We know every student in our bilingual program has other responsibilities, and achieving a degree in an online format gives them the flexibility to accomplish their goals. We look forward to a larger group of Latino students graduating from our online bilingual programs next year.” Pimentel is one of five graduates who received their degrees through Liberty en Español this past academic year; he was the first to apply for graduation. Liberty en Español offers accredited bilingual programs from the associate to master’s level, all within a Christian worldview taught by fully bilingual professors and staff. With 12 unique programs of study, students can explore degrees in the fields of business, religion, ministry, psychology, counseling, criminal justice, education, and paralegal studies. It recently debuted a new certificate program in biblical studies entirely in Spanish. Pimentel currently works for Kerry Shook Ministries, a worldwide television ministry with his church, and is certainly not finished with his education through Liberty. He immediately began work on his bachelor’s degree in psychology and life coaching with a minor in church ministries, which he will complete this fall. He hopes to begin his Master of Divinity through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary next spring and earn his Ph.D. in counseling soon after.
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY HOSTS 2012 CIVIL WAR SEMINAR
country, and an online simulation of the Battle of Antietam by teams of high school and college students. Special tours are planned of the National Civil War Chaplains Museum on Liberty’s campus in the afternoons. Numerous exhibits of Civil War artifacts and memorabilia will be displayed for the public and vendors will have various Civil
War items for sale. The seminar concludes with a special period church service at Liberty’s prayer chapel, led by the Rev. Alan Farley of Re-enactor’s Missions for Jesus Christ. The event is free to all middle, high school, college, and home-schooled students. For more information, including times, go to www.liberty.edu/civilwar.
Javier Pimentel of The Woodlands, Texas, is the first graduate of Liberty University en Español. He received his diploma from Dr. Elmer Towns, dean of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and School of Religion, at Commencement in May.
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY EN ESPAÑOL CELEBRATES FIRST GRADUATE, BOOST IN ENROLLMENT
Liberty University will present its 16th annual Civil War Seminar, “1862—The Rise of Lee and Grant,” Friday, Sept. 28-Sunday, Sept. 30, at Liberty University School of Law. The event will spotlight several lectures from nationally renowned authors, presentations of papers by scholars from around the
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