More Than Conquerors
YOUR GENEROSITY IS CHANGING LIVES
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Those who have supported Regent over the years are having kingdom impacts far beyond what they will ever know this side of heaven. Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed.
David Cortman (LAW ’96)
MORE THAN CONQUERORS
How you helped shape 2,316 new servant-leaders for God’s glory
On May 9, 2026, under blue Virginia Beach skies, Regent’s newest graduates boldly stepped into their callings. Thanks to friends like you, they go out prepared to change the world for God's glory.
For the Regent community, it was a day of celebration, gratitude, and unshakeable hope — expressed perfectly in the Class of 2026’s signature verse, Romans 8:37 (NKJV): “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
The Class Your Generosity Made Possible
Chancellor Gordon Robertson opened the ceremony by congratulating Regent’s new graduates and offering a prayer that captured the spirit of the day.
“You called us, back in 1977, to build a university for Your glory. So Lord, may Your glory be here on this campus,” Robertson prayed. “May it rest on every student. And may the fire of Your glory go with every graduate today. May they become Christian leaders to change the world.”
Robertson then put the impact of your generosity into numbers: 2,316 graduates from all 50 states and 20 nations — one of the largest and most diverse classes in Regent’s history. Behind every one of those numbers is a life forever changed.
The Fruit of Your Investment
The ceremony continued with the keynote address from Regent’s 2026 Alumnus of the Year, Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas (LAW ’13). Kamoutsas is Commissioner of Education for the state of Florida and former Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Ron DeSantis. Shaped by purpose, conviction, and service, he is the living fruit of a Regent education — made possible by friends like you.
“Today is more than a milestone,” Kamoutsas insisted. “Today is step one in God’s plan for your career, which I am confident is a plan to prosper you and not to harm you, a plan to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Now, that does not mean you will enter a career free of trials and tribulations, but it does mean that in all things, ‘God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose,’ (Romans 8:28).”
Kamoutsas ended his address by encouraging the Class of 2026 to stand firm, persevere in faith, and always
rejoice in hope: “Be patient in tribulations. Be constant in prayer. May God bless you and guide you and use you mightily in the days ahead. … Stay hopeful, stay purposedriven, stay prayerful, and stay focused.”
Equipped to Lead, Called to Serve
Jesse Winston Jr., a doctoral graduate from the School of Education, delivered the Graduate Reflection with the weight of someone who came to Regent with a purpose and is leaving with a mission refined.
Winston spoke to the heart of what a Regent education produces. “Today we celebrate our journey toward purposeful, value-driven leadership, built on dedication, perseverance, and faith,” he said. “Regent reaffirmed Philippians 4:13, ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ Throughout this journey, I’ve come to see that leadership is not about titles but about influence, accountability, and service demonstrated through humility.”
2026 Alumus of the Year Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas (LAW ’13)
“Live for liberty and carry the gospel into all the world”
Chancellor Gordon Robertson
In closing, Winston said, “Thank you, Regent University, for preparing us to lead with purpose and make a lasting difference. Let’s go forth resolving to serve the Lord and others wherever we go. Lead with passion, actively work to strengthen your communities, and take concrete steps to create lasting impact. Congratulations, Class of 2026!”
Chairman of Regent’s board of trustees, Phil Walker, then brought a message of congratulations and blessing to graduates from Regent’s executive leadership.
“You may actually see many challenges in your walk with the Lord as you go out and into the marketplace. But I want you to know there’s assurance,” Walker explained. “David wrote in Psalm 121:1-2, ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.’”
He continued, “Know that Jesus Himself said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you,’ (Hebrews 13:5). When you go out into the marketplace, be bold. Know that God is with you, that God is for you… He will raise you up, and He will put you before the calling and fulfill that calling that He knows He has in store for you."
Live for Liberty
Chancellor Robertson returned to the podium to deliver his Commencement charge — a message rooted in a prayer first offered by English settlers more than 400 years ago at Cape Henry, just 17 miles from Regent’s campus.
His charge to the Class of 2026 was simple: “live for liberty” and carry the gospel into all the world. (See page 11.)
After the reading of each graduate’s name and the conferring of degrees, the highly anticipated moment of “turning their tassels” was met by the celebratory release of blue and green confetti that covered the entire Library Plaza.
Those assembled then sang the Regent Anthem in unison, and the Chancellor ended Commencement 2026 with the Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6:24-26: “May the God of heaven, the maker of heaven and earth, may He bless you and keep you. May He cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May He lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.”
Because of You
Every name called, every tassel turned, every life changed — your partnership makes it possible. When you support Regent with your prayers and your gifts, you help change the world for God’s glory.
The Class of 2026 is a testament to what can be achieved when a community unites in purpose and vision. Faithful friends like you paved the way for these graduates to step into their callings equipped with knowledge, faith, and a commitment to serve. Your sacrificial giving empowers them to fulfill the Great Commission and to bring the love, hope, and light of Jesus Christ to the world.
Thank you for your friendship and your commitment to advancing God’s work by supporting Regent University.
RETURNING THE BLESSING
One graduate’s story of why giving back is part of the degree
Commencement Weekend 2026 marked two milestones for James Armstrong: receiving his Master of Divinity degree and giving back to the school that shaped him.
Armstrong chose to give back in a meaningful way. His generous donation funded a new faculty lounge for the School of Divinity that opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, just one day before his commissioning on Saturday.
“The School of Divinity has been a huge blessing to me,” he says. “I thought a faculty lounge would give them a nice gathering place for fellowship and to share ideas.”
“I cannot overemphasize how much of a blessing every course was during the degree process,” Armstrong insists. “The reading and writing in each course always brought me closer to the Lord.”
Armstrong wants to see fellow alumni extend their faith far beyond the walls of their church — and through his studies at the School of Divinity he learned how.
“Regent graduates of all majors need to be ‘salt and light’ wherever they work and have influence (Matthew 5:13-14).”
James Armstrong (DIV ’26)
Armstrong, a successful wealth-management professional and business owner, began his Regent journey after years of sensing God’s leading toward seminary training.
“My goal at Regent was always to deepen my relationship with the Lord through expanding my knowledge of his Word and Christian thought,” he explains.
What began as academic study quickly became something more.
“My Regent education has not only deepened my faith, but it has helped me better accept that my business is my ministry,” he shares. “Regent graduates of all majors need to be ‘salt and light’ wherever they work and have influence (Matthew 5:13-14).”
That conviction also fuels his passion for supporting the university financially and encouraging others to do the same. For Armstrong, investing in Regent is ultimately an investment in the future of Christian leadership.
“It is important for those of us that have been blessed financially to participate in growing the Kingdom in whatever way we can,” he says. “Educating our youth … with a Christian worldview is really an advanced form of discipleship. Supporting this financially is very important.”
The fruit of your generosity is captured in each of these photos. Leaders are equipped, callings are fulfilled, and lives are changed forever.
The Abundance of His Glory
Your generosity empowers Regent graduates to step boldly into their God-ordained calling.
Regent’s Commencement weekend marks two days of journeys completed, lives celebrated, and callings fulfilled. Ahead of the weekend’s final ceremony, the annual Chancellor’s Luncheon at The Founders Inn and Spa offered a more intimate moment — four graduates, face to face with the donors whose generosity helped bring them to this place, sharing testimonies of faith, perseverance, and futures forever changed.
Greta Griswold (LAW), Drew Thomas (CAS), and Rebecca Calder (SBL), along with 2026 Alumnus of the Year Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas (LAW, ’13), each took the floor to share how a Christ-centered education had transformed their paths — and what it means to know donors like you helped make it possible.
“Now, I get to return your generosity by serving people who have been harmed.”
Greta Griswold (J.D., LAW)
For Greta Griswold, the journey to Regent Law began thousands of miles away: “I was a missionary in India and was convinced I would live and die there. However, when COVID hit, everything became uncertain.”
What initially seemed like “a casual, low-stakes, backup plan” soon became God’s clear direction for her life. Griswold recalled wrestling with questions of calling and purpose while seeking the Lord’s guidance. “I realized
those questions might point to another area — racial justice,” she said. “With that, I decided to become a criminal defense attorney should I ever go to law school.”
God’s plan became unmistakable when Regent University awarded Griswold a full-tuition scholarship. “I started calling everyone and telling them how I did not know I could even ask God for that,” she said. “I came because of the Lord’s provision, and I would choose it over and over again because of God’s people.”
At Regent Law, Griswold discovered a new passion through trial advocacy and mentorship from Professor Randy Singer. “For the next year and a half, Randy taught me, coached me, hired me, and gave me the opportunity to appear in a medical malpractice jury trial as a law student,” she said.
“Because of the generous support from friends and donors, like all of you gathered here today, I had full freedom at Regent Law to become the best possible advocate I could,” she shared. “Now, I get to return your generosity by serving people who have been harmed. ... That is a gift I cannot overstate.”
“I saw how a Christian’s life is a tool God uses to impact the lives of others and to
show them the vastness and abundance of
Drew Thomas (B.S.,
“My answer to that question is a major reflection of my college experience,” he explained. “Regent University calls its students to be Christian leaders to change the world.”
Thomas spoke about how God used seemingly ordinary experiences to shape his understanding of purpose and impact. During his junior year, he accepted a job coaching youth soccer primarily to earn spending money for “the occasional and spontaneous trips to Cook-Out and Wawa.” But God had bigger plans.
On the final day of the season, his players presented him with a mug that read: “Good coaches impact the game, but great coaches impact lives.”
“This is when I realized life is about impact and the difference a single person can make in the lives of those around them,” Thomas said. “Life is a quiet, lasting imprint we leave on others.”
His glory.”
CAS)
A Biophysical Science major, student-athlete, and twoyear captain of Regent’s men’s soccer team, Drew Thomas came to the luncheon with a simple but powerful question: “What is life?”
That lesson deepened during a 2025 medical-missions trip to Guatemala, where Thomas helped provide care to more than 1,000 families in underserved communities. Although he jokingly admitted he spoke almost no Spanish beyond “Hola,” “Adios,” and “Gracias,” God still used him powerfully.
After spending time playing “rock, paper, scissors” with local children waiting for treatment, Thomas learned the interaction had eased their fears. “Our translator later explained why,” he said. “‘We’re afraid of doctors because
they usually mean death. But when we played with him, we forgot all about that fear.’”
Reflecting on both Guatemala and his soccer teams, Thomas said, “I saw how a Christian’s life is a tool God uses to impact the lives of others and to show them the vastness and abundance of His glory.”
He concluded with gratitude for those whose generosity made his Regent education possible: “I want to thank everyone in this room for your impact on my college career and the rest of the students at Regent University.”
“I’m standing here today because of your investment and belief that God has a plan for every student who comes to Regent.”
Rebecca Calder (Ph.D., SBL)
Rebecca Calder’s remarkable path to Regent University included combat deployments, military leadership, and making history as the first woman to graduate from the Navy’s elite TOPGUN training program. Yet, despite her extraordinary accomplishments, Calder described a deeper personal struggle that ultimately led her back to the classroom.
“When I began flying, there weren’t many female pilots, and even fewer women flying jets,” she recalled. “Those were pivotal years in my life. They were filled with purpose, responsibility, and at times, overwhelming pressure.”
As a fighter pilot serving after 9/11, Calder experienced firsthand the emotional and psychological weight of leadership under extreme circumstances. “I experienced times of extreme uncertainty, risk, fear, and deep self-
doubt — times when there was no checklist to follow, no perfect option, only consequences for my actions,” she said.
Following the tragic loss of a close friend to suicide, Calder began searching for answers. She shared, “My question of ‘Why did this happen?’ shifted to ‘What can I do to help?’”
That search eventually brought her to Regent University’s School of Business & Leadership. “For decades, I didn’t have the words to describe what sustained me during the war,” she explained. “With every class I took at Regent, I started to see things more clearly, that leadership is rooted in service, and I began to heal.”
Calder described Regent as transformational in both her professional and spiritual development. “What Regent has given me is more than just a degree,” she said. “It has given me the framework to understand my experience in the war — something I have never been able to articulate and have lived with for over 20 years.”
She also offered a heartfelt message directly to Regent donors. “Your generosity is not abstract, it is deeply personal,” Calder said. “I’m standing here today because of your investment and belief that God has a plan for every student who comes to Regent.”
Then came a reminder of the eternal impact of faithful giving. “You may never fully see the ripple effects of what you’ve given, but I hope you feel it today,” she said. “Your impact reaches far beyond this campus.”
“Let’s continue to be the people who lead with conviction, who serve with humility, and who leave things better than we found them.”
Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas (LAW ’13)
The luncheon concluded with remarks from 2026 Alumnus of the Year Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas, Commissioner of Education for the state of Florida and former deputy chief of staff for Governor Ron DeSantis.
“We fight for truth,” the 2013 graduate of Regent Law insisted. “We fight for making sure that we’re advancing the cause that’s truly making a difference. And it started for me here at Regent University.”
Reflecting on his time studying at the School of Law, Kamoutsas told guests, “This university didn’t just give me an education. It helped shape how I think, how I lead, and how I want to serve others.”
Raised in “inner city Miami by a single mother with three children in a 780-square-foot duplex,” Kamoutsas said his upbringing taught him the value of faith and education.
“We did not have internet. Food was scarce. Times were tough,” he recalled. “Yet from an early age, my mother emphasized the value of both faith and education.”
At Regent Law, he discovered that “law is more than a profession. It’s a calling.”
He credited Regent professors and mentors for preparing him to lead with conviction and humility in public service. “It was what I learned here at Regent that prepared me for that moment to serve,” he said.
Kamoutsas also challenged fellow alumni to live out Regent’s mission courageously: “We carry the reputation of this university into every room that we walk into. Let’s continue to be the people who lead with conviction, who serve with humility, and who leave things better than we found them.”
Your Gift. Their Calling. God’s Glory.
These four inspiring graduates represent the fruit of your generosity. Your sacrificial giving empowers each of them to stand tall, testify boldly, and walk into a God-ordained future — fully equipped to accomplish the work He has called them to do.
You make it possible for them to live with hope and purpose in service to others. Thank you for your faithful prayers and your steadfast commitment to support Regent world-changers for Jesus Christ.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU’RE MAKING!
The stories in every issue of IMPACT are your stories, too. Every life changed, every calling fulfilled, every graduate sent forth — the generosity of faithful friends like you makes it all possible. The next generation is waiting! Will you help write their stories, too?
World Changer Scholarship Fund Give today at regent.edu/worldchanger.
I had the honor of delivering a charge to the Class of 2026 at Regent’s 46th Commencement. My message to them was simple: Live for liberty. If each of us lives with the freedom to worship God as our conscience dictates, then we will be free indeed (John 8:36).
If we fall under the tyranny of a strange ideology — something imposed upon us that silences what we truly believe — then we have lost our liberty. This is a liberty worth praying for, believing for, and struggling for — beyond our own strength.
America’s early settlers did not build this great nation by their own strength. In 1607, the sailors who established the first permanent English colony in the New World didn’t plant a flag when they came ashore. Neither did they dedicate this land to the king of England.
Instead, they brought with them a wooden cross, planted it at Cape Henry (in what is now Virginia Beach), and dedicated this land to Jesus Christ. Those men also prayed for the gospel to go forth from these shores into the entire world.
The first English settlers resolved to bow their knees and pray. In 1776, minutemen and patriots resolved to do the same thing. Now, 250 years later, we need to bow our knee. We need to pray. We need to seek Almighty God.
If we do that, then He truly can heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). The Lord can restore our liberty. He can bless us and, more importantly, fulfill His purposes for our land.
I challenged our graduates to take this message far beyond America’s borders — to fulfill that prayer so, from these shores, they will carry the gospel into all the world.