May 6, 2023 - Several history students, including six Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society members, participated in Union University’s spring undergraduate commencement on May 6, 2023. This year’s graduates represented the bicentennial class of Union which was founded in 1823. Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver delivered the commencement address titled “A Message from the Past and a Message for the Future,” which was a version of the graduation address that Joseph H. Eaton, president of Union in the mid-1800s, delivered to the school’s first graduating class in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This year’s event was Union’s 198th spring commencement.
Four history majors – all Phi Alpha Theta members – received diplomas at the spring graduation. They were Tad Binkley, Breanna Edmiston, Abigail Hobson, and Jack Jenkins. Two other Phi Alpha Theta members who graduated were John Garland and Nathan Hicks, both of whom were history minors. History minors Michael Fields and Adren Pearce also received diplomas at the graduation ceremony, while history minor Arianna Blount participated as a July 2023 graduate.
Graduating Phi Alpha Theta members stand with Drs. Keith Bates (second from right) and Stephen Carls (right) prior to Union's undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 6, 2023. The students are (left to right) Tad Binkley, John Garland, Breanna Edmiston, Jack Jenkins, and Abigail Hobson.
Drs. Stephen Carls (left) and Keith Bates (right) stand with graduating Phi Alpha Theta member Nathan Hicks prior to Union's undergraduate commencement service on May 6, 2023.
Union University faculty members participate in the processional at the school's undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 6, 2023.
Union's University's Voices of Proclamation vocal ensemble provides special music at the school's undergraduate commencement service on May 6, 2023.
Union University President Samuel W. "Dub" Oliver delivers the commencement address titled "A Message from the Past and a Message for the Future" at the school's undergraduate graduation ceremony on May 6, 2023.
Provost John Netland announces the conferring of degrees and the presentation of diplomas at Union University's spring undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 6, 2023.
Phi Alpha Theta member John Garland waits his turn to receive his diploma at Union University's spring graduation on May 6, 2023, for finishing a Bachelor of Arts program.
History minor and Phi Alpha Theta member John Garland accepts his diploma for completing a Bachelor of Arts degree program from Union University President Samuel W. "Dub" Oliver at the school's spring undergraduate commencement service on May 6, 2023.
History major and Phi Alpha Theta member Abigail Hobson accepts her diploma for completing a Bachelor of Arts degree program from Union University President Samuel W. "Dub" Oliver at the institution's undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 6, 2023.
History major and Phi Alpha Theta member Tad Binkley descends from the graduation stage at Union University's spring commencement ceremony on May 6, 2023, after receiving his diploma for completing a Bachelor of Science degree.
Graduating history major and Phi Alpha Theta member Breanna Edmiston (leaning forward) waits for her moment to go on stage at Union University's spring undergraduate commencement service on May 6, 2023, to receive her diploma for completing a Bachelor of Science degree.
Breanna Edmiston receives a congratulatory hug from Union University President Samual W. "Dub" Oliver upon receiving her graduation diploma for a Bachelor of Science degree at the school's undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 6, 2023.
History major and Phi Alpha Theta member Jack Jenkins accepts his diploma for the completion of a Bachelor of Science degree from President Samuel W. "Dub" Oliver at Union University's spring graduation on May 6, 2023.
History major Tad Binkley, along with many other graduates, shows his delight at the end of Union University's commencement service on May 6, 2023, by throwing his mortar board into the air.