Issue: Summer 2012 | Posted: June 18, 2012

1050 U.U. Drive

Spring ’12 Graduation sees milestones

Skyler Vaden, sports management graduate, walks to his seat during the processional at spring graduation.

Faithfulness is a characteristic that marks the class of 2012, Union University President David S. Dockery told a group of 614 graduates during Union’s 187th annual spring commencement ceremony May 19 on the university’s Great Lawn. Class of 2012 is the largest in Union history.

Dockery referenced the 2008 tornado that caused massive destruction on the Union campus and praised the students, most of them high school seniors at the time, for demonstrating both a sense of faith and faithfulness in choosing to attend Union in the midst of uncertainty.

This year’s graduating class includes the first 41 graduates from Union’s School of Pharmacy. Sheila Mitchell, the founding dean of the school, said that the occasion, while bittersweet, was a tremendous milestone for the program.

In addition, to the pharmacy students, the class includes the first graduates from the Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership program at Union University Hendersonville.

As part of the ceremony, Union presented the Elizabeth Tigrett Medal to Katherine Pullen, an intercultural studies and journalism double major from Jacksonville, Fla.

The university also presented two honorary doctorates — a Doctor of Humanities degree to Bill Latimer, the lead donor for the new library, and a Doctor of Letters to Lloyd Hansen.

Carol Swain, professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University, delivered the commencement address.