Baccalaureate
Friday, April 25, 2025 6:00 p.m.
Baccalaureate Ceremony
Prelude
Processional
Welcome
*Invocation
Special Music
Graduating seniors from the Division of Music & Theatre
Grace Helms, Trumpet
Gabi Adcock , Piano
“Someone to Watch Over Me”
George Gershwin, arr. Joseph Turrin
Anastasia Hiatt , Voice
Ms. Debbie Myers, Piano
“No One is Alone” from Into the Woods
Stephen Sondheim
Karena Collier, Flute
Ms. Debbie Myers, Piano
“Dragonfly”
Gary Schocker
Honors Brass Quintet
Led by Briana Blankenship
Dr. Jon S. Kulaga
President
Dr. Mike Tapper
Professor of Theology
School of Theology and Ministry
IWU Chorale
“The Word Was God”
Words: John 1:1-3
Music by Rosephanye Powell
Corporate Worship Led by students from the Division of Music and Theatre
Address
Dr. Mark DeMichael
Vice President of Student Development and Athletics
*Audience standing
**Audience remains seated until the recessional is complete
*Commissioning of Dr. Andrea Summers
Graduates Dean of Spiritual Formation, Campus Pastor
Prayer of Blessing
*Benediction
**Recessional Honors Brass Quintet
Led by Briana Blankenship
Mace Bearer
Dr. Stephen Horst
Professor of Religion and Philosophy, School of Theology and Ministry
*Audience standing
**Audience remains seated until the recessional is complete
Commissioning of Graduates
Leader: Graduates, dearly beloved children of God, it is hard for us to watch you prepare to leave this place. Yet we know there is a time for every purpose under heaven. And we know that currently the world that you enter needs what you carry with you: the Joy of Salvation, the Spirit of Truth as revealed in Scripture and the Motions of Grace.
Graduating Seniors: We carry with us the Cross of Christ.
Leader: And do you understand what it means to carry His Cross?
Graduating Seniors: It means that all we do, filled with His grace and enlightened by the Truth of God’s Word, we do as grateful servants of Jesus.
Leader: It means that without complaining or tiring, you must pursue your vocations with energy and discipline, practice your professions with purpose and integrity, serve your families, your churches, your colleagues, your friends and your enemies with the humility, in accordance with the light of God’s Word, and the love of God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus.
Graduating Seniors: We understand what it means and pledge to carry the Cross of Christ.
Leader: It means that you must dedicate yourselves to accomplishing all that is good in your communities, with God’s Word as the standard and guide, you must promote peace and justice, you must fight against cruelty and greed, you must advance healing and hope wherever you move in the world.
Graduating seniors: It means that all we do, we do as grateful servants of Jesus.
Leader: We will thank our God for you and always remember you with joy, confident that the God who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. Carry His Cross. Hold out the Word of Life. Carry His Light into the World.
All: Thanks be to God.
Prayer of Blessing
Leader: Dear Father,
On behalf of these who will be graduating, I thank You for the blessings that You have showered upon them during their years at Indiana Wesleyan University. I thank You Lord for the support and prayers of parents and friends, for the patience and devotion of professors who have often gone beyond the call of duty to serve their students, and for the lifelong friendships that have been formed with fellow classmates and roommates.
Help these whom You love so dearly and deeply to: Walk in step with Your Word; As they live life - In Christ; Through the power of the Holy Spirit; To the praise and honor of God the Father;
As they leave the familiarity of this campus, remind them again that worship does not only take place in a special building, on a special day, but any place and every day as they offer themselves as a living sacrifice, wholly devoted to You.
Graduating Seniors: Dear Father,
Help us who are graduating to recognize that You have called believers to help others to find their way into Your kingdom. Use our hurts and struggles to better understand the hurts and pains of others. Help us to love all people unconditionally. Help us to communicate the Truth of Scripture winsomely. Help us to touch the lives of others for their good, and Your honor.
Leader: O, Lord, use these, who are graduating tomorrow, to build their families, communities and cultures, to expand Your Kingdom, on earth, as it is in heaven - and bring You alone, all the glory.
2025 Baccalaureate Speaker
Dr. Mark DeMichael served as head baseball coach at IWU for 11 years, before being named director of athletics in 2008. During his tenure, DeMichael collaborated with numerous campus departments on new administrative initiatives to support student-athletes and led the addition of new athletic teams, growing the Wildcat Athletics family with hundreds of new students.
IWU Athletics flourished under his leadership, collecting 11 Crossroads League All-Sports trophies during his 12 years as athletic director. DeMichael was also instrumental in the development of the IWU Athletics mission and created the Student-Athlete Servant-Leadership Summit to identify and develop emerging leaders within each team.
Since 2020, DeMichael has provided exceptional leadership in Student Development and Athletics, advancing student engagement, spiritual formation, and overall campus satisfaction. DeMichael’s dedication to Christ-like campus culture has played a key role in establishing the Center for Academic Thriving, developing discipleship programs, enhancing student support services, and introducing leadership initiatives for students and staff.
About IWU
Indiana Wesleyan University is an evangelical Christian comprehensive university of The Wesleyan Church. Founded in 1920, the University is committed to liberal arts and professional education.
With a current enrollment of more than 14,000 students, IWU is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a leading regional university in the Midwest. IWU is one of the largest institutions in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the second largest private university in the state of Indiana.
IWU has three principal academic units:
The College of Adult and Professional Studies: Providing educational
opportunities for working adults through instruction at locations in Indiana and Ohio, and globally, via online instruction. The College of Adult and Professional Studies serves students with cutting-edge majors relevant to today’s workplace.
The College of Arts and Sciences: Founded on a traditional, residential educational model enriched by innovative instructional programs, the College of Arts and Sciences serves undergraduate and graduate students in over 80 liberal arts, pre-professional, and professional major fields.
Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University: The first seminary of The Wesleyan Church is impacting congregations throughout the country with essential undergraduate and graduate ministry degrees. The Master of Divinity program provides on-the-job ministry training in an onsite and online innovative format. The accredited Spanish Master of Divinity program offers courses primarily online.
Division Receptions
Health and Human Performance Senior Reception
Immediately following Baccalaureate Recreation and Wellness Center Lobby
DeVoe Division of Business Reception
Immediately following Baccalaureate Jones/Leedy/Bedford Banquet Rooms, Barnes Student Center
Behavioral Sciences Graduate Reception
Immediately following Baccalaureate Henry West Banquet Room, Barnes Student Center
School of STEM Senior Reception
Preceding Baccalaureate 4:30-5:30pm Ott Hall 1st floor Atrium
Division of Social Sciences Senior Reception
Preceding Baccalaureate 4:00-5:00pm Maxwell 201, Social Sciences Office Suite
Pre-Licensure Nursing Pinning Ceremony
Preceding Baccalaureate 2:00-3:00pm Phillippe Performing Arts Center
Pre-Licensure Nursing Pinning Ceremony Reception
Preceding Baccalaureate 3:00-4:00pm Piazza, Barnes Student Center
JWHC Prayer and Commissioning Service
Saturday, April 26 at 8:00am
Williams Prayer Chapel
Modern Language, Literature & Communication Graduate Reception
Immediately following 10:00 a.m. Commencement 12:00-1:00pm Elder Hall Lobby
School of Theology and Ministry Consecration Service
Preceding Baccalaureate 3:30pm College Wesleyan Church
School of Teacher Education Commissioning Ceremony
Preceding Baccalaureate 1:00pm Baker Recital Hall, Phillippee Performing Arts Center
Indiana Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered academic community committed to changing the world by developing students in character, scholarship and leadership.