Crowell School of Business — Commencement Spring 2021
[ MUSIC ] BIOLA UNIVERSITY IS PROUD TO CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE GRADUATING CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021! YOU DID IT! CONGRATULATIONS ON PERSEVERING, ENDURING, AND COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES. TODAY, YOU JOIN A COMMUNITY OF MORE THAN 60,000 BIOLA ALUMNI WHO HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED IN MIND AND IN CHARACTER TO MAKE AN IMPACT FOR CHRIST ALL AROUND THE WORLD. PLEASE JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THESE GRADUATES WITH A ROUND OF APPLAUSE! [APPLAUSE] AND NOW, PLEASE WELCOME BIOLA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT BARRY COREY. >> NO, PLEASE WELCOME THE CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021, YOU ARE THE STARS TODAY. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] WELCOME TO COMMENCEMENT NUMBER SIX OF NINE. TOP OF THE SIXTH INNING.
IT IS A LITTLE MORE LIKE CRICKET THAN BASEBALL BECAUSE IT IS GOING ON FOR THREE DAYS. THIS IS NOTHING TOMORROW. IF YOU ARE A MOM, MOTHER'S DAY, RAISE YOUR HANDS. WE LOVE THE MOMS AT BIOLA UNIVERSITY.
ON BEHALF OF THE BIOLA UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WELCOME TO OUR SPRING 2021 SUN IN YOUR EYES COMMENCEMENT POD STYLE. WE ARE HONORED THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US, ON CAMPUS, FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL COMMENCEMENT SERVICE. THIS HAS BEEN WITHOUT A DOUBT AN UNUSUAL, DISRUPTIVE, CHALLENGING EXHAUSTING SEASON. AND WE ARE GATHERER TODAY HERE AND YOU ARE HERE AND I'M HAPPY.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE SITTING UP IN THAT OFFICE AND PERCHED AND WATCHING BIRDS AND SQUIRRELS AND GRASS GROW AND NOW YOU ARE HERE. MY HEART IS DEEPLY WARMED. THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL MOMENT FOR ALL OF US BEING BACK TOGETHER AND THE LIGHT BECOMING BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER ON THE HORIZON. YOU MADE IT.
WELL BACK TO CAMPUS AS THOSE GRADUATING AND FRIENDS FAMILY. WE HAVE THOSE VIRTUAL JOINING US FOR THE SPRING 2021 COMMENCEMENT AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US WHERE EVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD YOU ARE WELCOME HERE AS WELL. GRADUATES, WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN AND WORKING HARD FOR YOUR DEGREES. I THANK GOD FOR BRINGING YOU TO BIOLA. AND I THANK GOD YOU ARE LEAVING! YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. IT'S TIME.
I WISH YOU GREAT JOY AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR DEGREES. GRADUATES, YOU'VE MADE US PROUD. EACH OF YOU HAS A STORY TO TELL AND A LIFETIME TO LIVE OUT THE UNIQUE WAY GOD WILL USE YOU AS A FAITHFUL PRESENCE IN THIS WORLD. YOU'VE BEEN STRENGTHENED IN MIND AND CHARACTER THROUGH YOUR EDUCATION AT BIOLA UNIVERSITY, AND WE HAVE BEEN STRENGTHENED BECAUSE OF YOU.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN BIOLA BECAUSE WE ARE A BETTER UNIVERSITY BECAUSE OF YOU AND PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL. WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE LIVES OF MEANING, EXCELLENCE AND OF INFLUENCE. THIS PAST YEAR BIOLA HAS HAD MANY REASONS TO GIVE THANKS, GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL TO US.
THERE HAVE BEEN PAINFUL LOSSES AND DURING THE DIFFICULT TIMES, PAUL WAS RIGHT WHEN HE SAID THAT SUFFERING LEADS TO -- LEADS TO PERSEVERANCE, AND PERSEVERANCE LEADS TO CHARACTER AND CHARACTER LEADS TO HOPE. ON THAT JOURNEY FROM SUFFERING TO HOPE, THERE IS A COUPLE OF REST PLACES ALONG THE WAY. DON'T DISNEY FAST PACE FROM SUFFERING TO HOPE. YOU WILL SEE HOW YOUR CHARACTER IS BEING STRENGTHED. SPEAKING OF HOPE, THIS WEEK I WALKED THE LAWN AND LAID MY HANDS ON THE CHAIR AND PRAYING OVER YOU, GRADUATES, PRAYING THAT GOD WILL WATCH OVER YOU AND GIVE YOU HOPE IN THIS SEASON, YOU PRECIOUS SOULS, BELOVED CHILDREN OF GOD━TO BE FILLED WITH LOVE, GROUNDED BY TRUTH AND EMPOWERED BY THE HSPIRIT AS FAITHFUL WITNESSES OF THE GOSPEL.
MAY GOD GIVE YOU WISDOM AND FAVOR AND JOY THROUGHOUT YOUR LIVE AS FAITHFULNESSES TO THE GOES POLL. MANY AT BIOLA HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU, AND MANY WON'T STOP! NOT HAVE WE ENCOURAGED YOU AND PRAYED FOR YOU, OTHERS HAVE AS WELL. WE HAVE SPECIAL HERE TONIGHT THAT WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE. FULLY MOMS OR DADS HERE. STAND UP, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE. [APPLAUSE] WAY TO GO PARENTS.
HOW ABOUT GRANDPARENTS, THE GRAND MOMS AND GRAND DADS. LOOK AT YOU, YOU ARE LOOKING SO YOUNG. HARD TO BELIEVE.
THANK YOU GRANDPARENTS, ANY SIBLINGS, SPOUSE OR CHILDREN? GET UP ON YOUR FEET. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE STORIES, THERE ARE A LOT OF SACRIFICES THAT MADE THIS GRADUATION DAY POSSIBLE. YOU ARE THE ONES THAT WERE SACRIFICING SO MUCH. WE MAY TODAY AND THE YEARS TO COME AFFIRM THROUGH THEIR LIVES THE TRUE WORTH OF A BIOLA EDUCATION.
WE HONOR YOU FOR CELEBRATEING WITH US TODAY AND IT IS A SPECIAL DAY. I ALSO KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU MAY BE THE FIRST IN YOUR FAMILY TO RECEIVE A COLLEGE DEGREE. WHERE ARE THE FIRST GEN BIOLA STUDENTS? STAND UP, AND WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. LOOK AT THIS. ALL OVER THE YARD. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] WHERE ARE OUR GLOBAL STUDENTS, THOSE THAT ARE HERE FROM THE NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD.
WHERE ARE THE GLOBAL STUDENTS? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE STUDENTS THAT SERVED OR WHO ARE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES, ANYONE WHO HAS OR IS, THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN. PLEASE STAND UP SO WE CAN THANK YOU AS WELL. [APPLAUSE] THOSE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE ARE THE DEDICATED FACULTY MEMBERS.
TONIGHT WE HAVE FACULTY RENTING THE PROFESSORS AT THE CROWELL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND YOU ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF THIS INSTITUTION. THE STUDENTS YOU KNOW AND THEY CARE ABOUT YOU AND GIVE YOU COUNSEL, I'M SO ENDEBTED TO THE FACULTY, TEACHERS, MENTORS, RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS AND WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF THEM HERE. STAND UP, THOSE FROM THE CROWELL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. [APPLAUSE] AS ONE OF THE ONLY COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN PERSON, YOU CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MUCH WORK GOING INTO THE DETAILS. WE HAVE AN INCREDITABLE EVENTS TEAM AND SO DETAILS ARE INVOLVED, I WANT TO THANK THE EVENTS TEAM AND THE CAMPUS SAFETY, THEY ARE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES AND LET'S EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR THEM. [APPLAUSE] YES, WE ARE ONE COMMUNITY THOUSANDS OF OUTSTANDING STUDENTS AND FACULTY AND STAFF REFLECTING THE 113 YEAR TRADITION OF BIOLA BEING BIBLYICLY CENTER AND THE CONFIDENCE THAT OUR BEST DAYS ARE STILL BEFORE US, I KNOW THAT IS TRUE AND I BELIEVE THAT FOR YOU AS WELL, AND YOU TONIGHT, GRADUATES ARE JOINING THE RANKS OF 64,000 PLUS ALUMNI OF BIOLA UNIVERSITY.
TODAY WE ARE WELCOMING YOU INTO ANOTHER COMMUNITY, THAT IS THE COMMUNITY OF BIOLA ALUMNII. WHERE EVER YOU FIND OURSELF IN THE WORLD WE WANT TO SUPPORT YOU AND BE A RESOURCE FOR YOU, WE WANT TO CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION WITH YOU AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING YOU THE QUALITY COMMUNICATION AND CONNECTION THAT YOU NEED, SO WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO KEEP YOU INFORMED AND PLEASE DO LIKE WISE. IT IS GREAT DAY, OVERWHELMED WITH JOY RIGHT NOW AND JOIN ME IN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION BY PROFESSOR THOMAS WILSON AND STAND FOR THE HYMN. PLEASE PRAY WITH ME. O GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS WE GIVE YOU GREAT THANKS FOR CELEBRATION AND LIVE REGATHERING AND THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF YOUR MIGHT RI PRESENCE TODAY.
LORD, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR THANKS AND PRAISE FOR ALL YOU ARE AND ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND THE FACT THAT YOU NEVER LEFT OR HAVE FORE SAKEN US IN THIS CHALLENGING SEASON. MAY ALL OF OUR DISTRESSES AND APPREHENSIONS BE CHRIST'S SCHOOL. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF FAITH AND THE WHOLE WORK ROF REDEMPTION IS YOURS ALONG AND EVERY GOOD WORK AND THOUGHT FOUND IS IT IN THE AFFECT OF YOUR POWER AND GRACE. THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE THIS DAY FOR BIOLA UNIVERSITY, THE SOCIAL JOYS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO SHARE THIS DAY WITH US, THE ABILITY TO SERVE OTHERS, MINDS TO CARE FOR OUR FELLOW MAN AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE YOU.
AND WE THANK YOU ESPECIALLY FOR THESE GIFTED Z TALENTED AND FULLY READY STUDENTS WHO ARE TO BE LAUNCHED INTO A NEW SEASON OF LIFE AND EARNED A DEGREE FROM BIOLA UNIVERSITY. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF IS SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. >> AMEN. LET'S STAND AND LIFT UP OUR VOICES IN SONG TONIGHT, SINGING HOLY, HOLY, LORD IS OUR GOD. [ MUSIC ] AMEN.
LET'S GIVE HIM A CLAP OFFERING TONIGHT. HE'S WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE AND HE'S OUR GREAT, GREAT GOD. [ MUSIC ] >> AMEN. THANK YOU FOR THE EXCELLENT SINGING.
YOU MAY BE SEATED. >> THE WORD OF THE LORD. PSALM 24.
>> PROFESSOR, THANK YOU. THE WORD OF THE LORD, AMEN. DON'T YOU LOVE HIM, WOW.
OUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER HAS MANY OF THE ASPIRATIONS FOR YOU, A LIFE OF CONVICTION, SERVICE, AND EXCELLENCE APPLY HIS DEEP CHRISTIAN FAITH TO HIS VOCATION IN THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP. THE NAME ANDREW CROWELL WILL SOUND FAMILIAR TO TODAY'S GRADUATES FROM THE SCHOOL THAT BEARS HIS FAMILY NAME. THE SON OF DONALD AND SUSAN CROWELL IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF WEALTH MANAGEMENT.
AN INVESTMENT FIRM HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE CROWELL FAMILY HAS DEEP ROOTS IN LOS ANGELES AND A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICE INDUSTRY. HIS GRANDFATHER FOUNDED CROWELL IN 1932, ON THE STRENGTH OF VALUES, LIKE TRUST, AND INTEGRITY. VIRTUES EMBODIED BY HIS GRANDSON. THE FIRST VALUES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TO PLACE THE INTEREST OF THE CUSTOMER FIRST. A LEGACY BEQUEATHED TO ANDREW'S FATHER, DONALD CROWELL SENIOR AND THEN TO ANDREW AND HIS BROTHER DONALD JR.
ANOTHER INTERESTING PIECE, THAT IS THE CROWELL FAMILY IS DESCEND ENTS OF THE FOUNDER OF BIOLA. SO THE CROWELL FAMILY STOOD US WITH INTO THE 21EST SEN CHURLY. SUSIE, ANDREW'S MOTHER THAT PASSED AWAY NEW YEARS EVE FOUR MONTHS AGO WAS A DEAR FIND OF BIOLA UNIVERSITY AND IN RECOGNITION OF HER SUPPORT AND SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES VOTED TO NAME OUR SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AFTER THIS VERY GENEROUS COUPLE, DONALD AND SUSAN CROWELL. 14 YEARS AGO, ANDREW YOU SPOKE AT THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE BUILDING TO MY RIGHT IN WHICH CROWELL SCHOOL STUDENTS AND FACULTY HAVE COMMITTED TO BEING AN EDUCATED COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDING THAT BUSINESS IS MINISTRY. ANDREW KNOWS THAT HIS MOTHER MEANT SO MUCH TO THIS UNIVERSITY AND SHE DID TO MY WIFE AND ME. SHE WAS AN ENCOURAGE EVEN IN TIMES OF PAIN AND ILLNESS AND EVERY TIME I CALLED YOUR MOTHER, ANDREW, SHE GAVE ME JOY AND SHE ENCOURAGING ME AND NEVER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SITUATIONS SHE WAS IN.
ALWAYS GOOD TO LOVE THIS INSTITUTION AND REMINDED US OF HER REGULAR PRAYERS. ANDREW HOLDS DEGREES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND A LEADER AND SERVES ON THE FIVE ACRES CHILDREN SOCIETY AND DEDICATED TO THE VULER IN SHL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL AS CHAIRING THE BOARD OF THE YMCA AND JOINED TODAY BY HIS WIFE, KERRY, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY AS WELL. [APPLAUSE] HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, ANDREW HAS BECOME A DEAR FRIEND OF MY AND BELOVED BROTHER AND WE GET TOGETHER FOR BREAKFAST AND TALK ON THE PHONE. WELCOME OUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER FOR 2021, MR. ANDREW CROWELL. >> WELL, WOW.
THANK YOU PRESIDENT COREY AND DEAN FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR TO ADDRESS THE 2020 AND 2021 GRADUATES AT THE CROWELL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. WITH MY APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE, IF YOU ARE EXPECTING E LAN MUSK, YOU JUST GOT ME. IF YOU FOLLOWED THE POPCORN TRAIL OF MY LIFE, YOU WOULD SEE A WINDY ROAD. WHEN I CAME TO THE LORD IN SIXTH GRADE I THOUGHT I MIGHT PURSUE A LIFE IN MINISTRY IS. THEN IN HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDING SUCCESS ON THE BASEBALL FIELD, I DECIDED THAT PERHAPS GETTING A BUSINESS DEGREE AND PLAYING BASEBALL AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL WAS MY FUTURE. THAT WAS RIGHT UP UNTIL I ENDED UP IN A BACK BRACE AND DIAGNOSED WITH ARTHRITIS.
AT THAT POINT, BASEBALL WAS CLEARLY OFF THE TABLE AND NOW GOT SHIFTED MY FOCUS OFF OF SPORTS MINISTRY CAME BACK INTO VIEW AND IT WAS THEN I BECAME A YOUTH LEADER AT MY CHURCH AND MENTORING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. IN MY JUNIOR YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY, MY FOCUS SHIFTED ONCE AGAIN. THIS TIME, IT WAS AN INTEREST IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS. I WAS STUDIED ECONOMICS IN THE LOWER VALLEY OF FRANCE WHEN BIT BY THE BUG.
PERHAPS SOME LARGE MULTINATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY WAS IN MY FUTURE. INTENT ON MAKING THAT A REALITY BUT NOT CERTAIN, I ATTENDED GRADUATE SCHOOL IN LONDON AND THAT FURTHER CEMENTED MY PLANS TO GO INTERNATIONAL. UPON GRADUATION, HOWEVER, I WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN A WORK PERMIT OVERSEAS AND RETURNED TO THE STATE AND HOPEFULLY LANDING A JOB AND QUICKLY GOING BACK OVERSEAS WITH A MULTINATIONAL COMPANY.
INSTEAD, I ENDED UP AT AN ADVERTISING AGENCY IN PASADENA. OUR CLIENTS WERE EXCLUSIVELY NONPROFITS LIKE WORLD VISION, PRISON FELLOWSHIP AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. IT WAS THERE I MET THE WOMAN WHO WOULD CHANGE MY LIFE. TWO YEARS AFTER THAT FIRST MEETING, WE ARE MARRIED AT 29 YEARS AND TWO GROWN CHILDREN LATER THAT DETOUR WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME.
I JUMPED INTO FINANCE IN WEALTH MANAGEMENT SIX MONTHS BEFORE OUR SON WAS BORN AND REMAINED IN THAT FIELD FOR THE PAST 26 YEARS. GRADUATES, THE ONLY REASON I TAKE YOU DOWN MY WINDY ROAD IS TO ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY CERTAIN OF WHAT YOU WILL DO IMMEDIATELY AFTER GRADUATION, EVEN IF YOU DO KNOW, IT IS GOING TO BE OKAY. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I WANT TO CONFESS TO YOU ALONG THE PATH I FOUND MYSELF QUESTIONING, QUESTIONING MY FAITH, QUESTIONING MY WHETHER I WAS REALLY DOING WHAT GOD HAS CALLED ME TO DO. I TOOK LITERALLY PROVERBS 3, 5, 6 TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART LEAN NOT ON OUR YOEN UNDERSTANDING IN ALL YOUR WAYS SUBMIT TO HIM AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATH STRAIGHT. SO WHY WAS MINE SO CURVY? WASN'T I TRUSTING IN HIM AND SUBMITTING HIM, WAS I FOLLOWINGLY WILL INSTEAD OF HIS.
I AM SAYING TO CONFESS TO YOU I HONESTLY HAD DOUBTS AND QUESTIONS ALONG THE JOURNEY. MY PATH WAS NOT UNFOLDING THE WAY I THOUGHT IT WOULD AND WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT AND WITNESSED THE BLESSINGS AND LEARNING ALONG THE PATH I CAN SEE GOD'S HAND IN IT. AT THAT TIME I DIDN'T SEE OR FEEL IT, BUT SIMPLY I PRAYERFULLY CONSIDERED WHAT WAS BEFORE ME AND TOOK THE INDIVIDUAL STEPS OF FAITH IF I STUMBLED OR DETOURED THE LORD WOULD BRING ME BACK. GOD WAS WORKING ON ME, DEVELOPING ME, TRANSFORMING ME AND PREPARING ME AND WHAT LOOKED LIKE DETOURS WAS GOD'S PATH FOR MY LIFE.
TDZ A PARADOX. AND I AM ONE OF THE ISRAELITES WONDERING WHY THEY ARE WONDERING IN THE DESERT FOR 40 YEARS. PROVERBS 19:21 MANY ARE THE PLANS IN THE PERSON'S HEART BUT THE LORD'S PURPOSE PREVAILS. GRADUATES, WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU. SOME OF YOU KNOW EXACTLY.
OTHERS ARE NOT QUITE SURE. SOME OF YOU MAY BE CONFUSED OR NERVOUS RIGHT NOW. IT IS GOING TO BE OKAY. JEREMIAH 29:11 FOR I KNOW OF THE PLANS THAT I HAVE FOR YOU, PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU A HOPE AND A FUTURE. GRADUATES, YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH THESE PAST FOUR YEARS, YOU HAVE LEFT HOME, GOT YOUR FIRST TAS OF INDEPENDENCE AND MET AND MADE FRIENDS FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS ETHNICITIES AND CULTURES AND BELIEFS WERE CHALLENGED OR SHAKENED AND HOPEFULLY STRENGTHENED AND LEARNED IN SKILLS THAT REQUIRED LOTS O OF KNOWLEDGE. YOU HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED AND STRETCHED FURTHER AS COVID DISRUPTED EVERYTHING, HOW WE STUDY AND LEARN AND SOCIALIZE AND YOU OVER CAME.
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU. E YOUR RESILIENCE AND PERER IS VERNS IS GIVING US HOPE AS WE LOOK OUT TO YOU, THE FUTURE LEADERS OF TOMORROW. AS I LOOK AT YOUR FACES, I SEE LEADERS. I SEE MARKETPLACE MINISTERS. AS YOU LAUNCH FROM THIS PLACE REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A MISSION FIELD WHERE EVER YOU LAND.
BIOLA DIDN'T JUST EQUIP YOU FOR THE KNOWLEDGE TO GO TO THE WORK PLACE BUT ALSO EQUIPPED TO BE MISSIONARIES. YOU WILL BECOME MARKETPLACE MINISTERS. THE MISSION OF THIS BUSINESS SCHOOL IS EQUIPPING THE STUDENTS TO EMPOWERED WITH INTEGRITY AND SKILL AN CONVICTION TO LEAD THE MODERN WORK PLACE.
YOU ARE PRO FEDERAL GOVERNMENTSES WITH A MIND FOR BUSINESS AND A HEART FOR CHRIST. GO BE A DISRUPTER. TODAY RIGHT NOW YOU ARE CROSSING A THRESHOLD AND GOING FROM THE FAMILIAR AND SAFE OF THIS COMMUNITY INTO THE UNFAMILIAR AND SOME WHAT UNKNOWN WORLD OF BUSINESS.
YOU ARE READY. YOU HAVE GOT THIS. THIS WEEK LA COUNTY ENTERED INTO A YELLOW TIER, THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE TIER OF THE PANDEMIC SINCE A YEAR AGO. TRAFFIC IS INCREASING ON THE FREEWAYS AND PEOPLE ARE DINING INDOORS AND SPORTS ARE WELCOMING BACK FANS BUT YET WE ARE REQUIRED TO MASK AND SAID TO BE SOCIAL DISTANCED AND AVOID THE CROWDS. IT IS CLEARLY TAKING MORE TIME, BUT WE BEGINNING TO SEE THE FIBBISH LINE. SO TODAY YOU LAUNCH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE WORLD ITSELF IS REOPENING.
EVEN IF THE WORLD IS OPERATING AS REDUCED CAPACITY, GO ALL IN ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AND EVEN IF THE WORLD IS MASKING, DROP YOURS, I'M SPEAKING SPIRITUALLY AND BE FULLY COMMITTED AND TRANSPARENT AND LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE. COLOSSIANS 3:23, WHATEVER YOU DO WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART AS WORKING FOR THE LORD, NOT HUMAN MASTERS. SO GRADUATES OF 2020 AND 2021, YOU ARE READY. THIS IS YOUR TIME. THE MARKETPLACE AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AWAIT AND THEY NEED WHAT YOU HAVE, THEY NEED YOUR KNOWLEDGE, CREATETY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND THEY NEED YOUR SAVIOR. JESUS WAS THE GREATEST DISRUPTER IN HUMAN HISTORY.
HE COMMISSIONED A GROUP OF 12 ORDINARY PEOPLE FROM MODEST BACKGROUNDS AND CHANGED THE WORLD. THAT SAME LORD IS NOW COMMISSIONING YOU, GRADUATES OF 2020 AND 2021, GO OUT AND BE DISRUPTERS. CHANGE THE WORLD. MY GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU GO. YOU GOT THIS. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] ANDREW, THANK YOU FOR THAT VERY TIMELY REMINDER TO THIS GRADUATING CLASS AND ACTUALLY TO ALL OF US THAT INDEED GOD MAKES CROOKED ROADS STRAIGHT. LET'S EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION ONE MORE TIME. [APPLAUSE] NOW IT IS TIME TO TRANSITION IN THIS COMMENCEMENT SERVICE MOVING FROM THE SPEECHES TO YOU. SO WE ARE NOW BEGINNING THE CONFERRAL OF THE DEGREES. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE CHAIR OF THE BIOLA UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MR. MIKE MAPLES AND FOLLOWED BY
PROVOST AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, DR. DEBORAH TAYLOR. >> THE MISSION OF BIOLA UNIVERSITY IS BIBLICALLY CENTERED EDUCATION, SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVICE, EQUIPPING MEN AND WOMEN IN MIND AND CHARACTER TO IMPACT THE WORLD FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THESE COMMITTED CHRISTIAN STUDENTS WHO HAVE COME TO BIOLA FOR THIS REASON. IT IS NOW A DISTINCT PRIVILEGE FOR US TO PRESENT THESE DIPLOMAS TO THOSE WHO HAVE FINISHED THEIR COURSE, AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED SUSTAINED INTELLECTUAL GROWTH AND CHRISTIAN COMMITMENT.
GRADUATES, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I CONGRATULATE YOU AND PRAY GOD'S BEST FOR EACH OF YOU AS YOU SEEK TO GLORIFY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE DAYS AND YEARS TO COME. WELL DONE. [APPLAUSE] >> IN THIS AFTERNOON'S CEREMONY WE HONOR STUDENTS, BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE, WHO ARE RECEIVING DEGREES FROM THE CROWELL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. YOUR DEAN WILL ASK FOR YOU TO STAND AND I WILL THEN PRESENT ALL THE CANDIDATES TO THE PRESIDENT FOR THE CONFERRAL OF THEIR DEGREES. THE GRADUATES WILL THEN PROCEED TO THE PLATFORM FOR THE RECEIVING OF YOUR DIPLOMA.
NOW, TO EACH OF YOU WHO IS GRADUATING: IT IS A GREAT JOY TO RECOGNIZE YOUR SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT IN COMPLETING THE AND YOU HAVE FINISHED AND AT THIS MOMENT. WE ARE CELEBRATING WITH YOU TODAY AND LAUNCH INTO THE WORLD AND SHINE BRIGHTLY FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. CONGRATULATIONS. >> WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR BACCALAUREATE AND/OR POST-BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE CROWELL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS PLEASE RISE.
TIME TO STAND UP. TODAY WE HONOR THE CANDIDATES FOR POST-BACCALAUREATE AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE CROWELL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. INCLUDING SCIENCE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING, SCIENCE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, AND ALSO WHICH IS OUR ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAM. ALSO, OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS AMERICANED A MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MASTER OF MANAGEMENT IN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND ALLEGES GRADUATES OF THE MASTER PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANCY. THESE STUDENTS HAVE EARNED THEIR DEGREES TO IMPACT THE BUSINESS MARKETPLACE FOR CHRIST, AND SOCIETY AT LARGE FOR CHRIST AND PRACTICING BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT AS THEIR CALLING AND THEIR MINISTRY.
THIS IS WHAT WE REFER TO AS BUSINESS AS MINISTRY. OR BUSINESS FOR THE COMMON GOOD. IT IS BRINGING OUR CHRISTIAN CIVILS. WE LOVED TEACHING YOU AND GUIDING YOU AND LEARNING WITH YOU AND FROM YOU AND AS WE SEEK TO FOLLOW CHRIST IN ALL OF LIFE. BUT NOW YOU ARE READY, READY TO CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY WITH CHRIST BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND INTO THE PLACES OF SERVICE AND INFLUENCE WHERE GOD TAKES YOU.
AS YOU GO FROM THIS PLACE EQUIPPED AS SERVANT LEADERS IN YOUR CAREERS WE COMMISSIONS WITH WHOEVER WANTS TO BECOME GREAT AMONG YOU MUST FIRST BECOME YOUR SERVANT, THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SERVE AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CROWELL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS GRADUATES AND TO THE FAMILIES. PLEASE BE SEATED. WE WILL NOW HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF THE BIOLA BELL. >> THE RINGING OF BELLS IN CHURCHES AND CATHEDRALS TRADITIONALLY CALLS THE FAITHFUL TO WORSHIP; THIS BELL ON THE STAGE WITH WITH THE BELLS OF THE TOWER ALONG WITH THE 11 BELLS FROM THE ORIGINAL BELL TOWER IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES TO CALL STUDENTS TO CHAPEL.
AND SO IT IS AS THESE GRADUATES LEAVE THIS PLACE, FOR PAUL TELLS US THAT WORSHIP IS PRESENTING OUR BODIES━IN EVERY PLACE, AT EVERY TIME━AS LIVING SACRIFICES TO GOD. ROMANS 12:1. AS WE RING THIS BELL, YOUR GRADUATION TODAY FROM BIOLA IS THE ENTRANCE TO A NEW BEGINNING OF YOUR SERVICE OF WORSHIP IN THE WORLD. GRADUATES, PLEASE TAKE OUT YOUR BELL FROM THE GIFT BAG AND WHEN I RING THE BELL, PLEASE RING YOURS AS WELL. I RING THIS BELL ON BEHALF OF THE CLASSES OF 2020 & 2021. [BELL RINGS] [APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT COREY, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY OF BIOLA UNIVERSITY, IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO PRESENT TO YOU THESE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE DEGREES.
WILL ALL OF OUR GRADUATING STUDENTS PLEASE RISE? [APPLAUSE] >> HERE WE GO. BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, I CONFER UPON YOU, GRADUATES OF BIOLA UNIVERSITY, YOUR RESPECTIVE DEGREES WITH ALL THE HONORS, RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES PERTAINING THERETO. CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU ARE AN UNDER GRADUATE YOU CAN TURN YOUR TASSELS. YOU HAVE GRADUATED FROM BIOLA UNIVERSITY. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] MAY GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU USE THIS EDUCATION TO SERVE OTHERS AND TO REFLECT IN WORD AND DEED THE GOSPEL OF JESUS. YOU CAN BE SEATED GRADUATES. THE FIRST ROW IS NOW GUIDED TO THE STAGE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE DIPLOMAS.
>> WELL THERE YOU HAVE, THE CLASS OF 2020 AND 2021. GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME. [APPLAUSE] SO GRADUATE, YOU HAVE REACHED THIS MILESTONE IN YOUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. IT'S A JOURNEY THAT HAS BEEN BOTH EXHAUSTING AND EXHILARATING.
IT'S A JOURNEY THAT HAS TAKEN YOU TO NEW HEIGHTS AND MAYBE EVEN NEW DEPTHS. IT'S A JOURNEY THAT HAS MADE YOU QUESTION AND STRUGGLE IN WAYS YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED. BUT IT'S A JOURNEY THAT IS OVER. IT IS OVER. AS YOU DEPART FROM HERE, YOU WILL BE JOINING A COMMUNITY OF BIOLA ALUMNI WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE GOOD, FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST.
I TRUST BIOLA HAS IMPRESSED UPON YOU THAT YOU MUST TAKE THE CHALLENGES OF OUR WORLD SERIOUSLY. YOU MUST BE A LIGHT WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS. WE PRAY THAT YOU ARE A VOICE OF HOPE WHERE THERE IS SO MUCH DESPAIR AND A STEWARD OF KINDNESS IN A WORLD OF HIS TILLTY. BE THE REPAIRER OF THE BREACH AND FIXING THE THINGS THAT ARE BROKEN. I CHARGE YOU GRADUATES TO BE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST, UPHOLDING THE BIBLICAL VALUES OF TRUTH, INTEGRITY, SACRIFICE, JUSTICE AND COMPASSION. I CHALLENGE YOU TO LIVE SELFLESSLY.
I CHALLENGE YOU TO DEFINE YOURSELF NOT IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU DO, WHO YOU IMPACT OR WHAT YOUR LEGACY WILL BE. I CHALLENGE YOU TO DEFINE YOURSELF IN JESUS, AND IT IS IN HIS NAME THAT I COMMISSION YOU NOW. I CHALLENGE YOU TO BEAR THE MARK OF THE GOSPEL IN YOUR LIFE, WHEN YOU CAN POINTING OTHERS TO CHRIST'S AMAZING GRACE! GO IN THE NAME OF THE ONE WHO WAS BORN IN A MANGER, DIED ON A CROSS, AND IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, AND WHO WILL ONE DAY COME AGAIN.
GRADUATING CLASS, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND. [APPLAUSE] AS I GIVE YOU THE CHARGE, LET ME HEAR YOU RESPOND BY SAYING CORPORATELY, “WE WILL.” GRADUATES OF THE BIOLA UNIVERSITY CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021, AS GOD HAS CALLED YOU, WILL YOU COMMIT TO BE A LIGHT TO THE WORLD? THERE YOU GO, YOU WILL OF COURSE.
THOSE WATCHING ONLINE AND SITTING AROUND YOU, THIS COMPANY OF WITNESSES, GUESTS CELEBRATING WITH YOU DRAWS TODAY. I WILL ASK YOU ALSO TO FOLLOW MY CHARGE BY SAYING THE WORDS WE WILL. TO THOSE OF YOU HERE, I ASK YOU TO FOLLOW MY CHARGE BY ALSO SAYING, WE WILL.
I ASK YOU, WILL YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYING FOR AND ENCOURAGING THOSE YOU KNOW IN THESE CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021 AS THEY GRADUATE FROM BIOLA UNIVERSITY TODAY? THERE IS A LOT OF WE WILLS OUT THERE. BIOLA UNIVERSITY GRADUATES, YOU ARE WELL COVERED AND NOW IT IS TIME TO GO. YEP. NOT JUST TO YOUR DINNERS, CELEBRATIONS, PARTIES, IT IS TIME TO GO IN THE SPIRIT OF THE ONE WHO CALLS YOU DISCIPLES.
TO A WORLD THAT NEEDS YOU: THE LOVE YOU EMBODY, THE GRACE YOU RADIATE, THE CONVICTIONS YOU BEAR, THE COURAGE YOU'LL MUSTER, THE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE YOU POSSESS. GO NOW TO THE NEXT LEG OF YOUR JOURNEY, WITH THE HOPE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT INDEED, TO LIVE IS CHRIST. I WILL ASK US ALL NOW TO STAND AND JOIN THE GRADUATES FOR THE BENEDICTION.
PROFESSOR. >>>>> LET'S PRAY. GRACIOUS AND LOVING GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU TO PRESENT THE GRADUATES OF THE CROWELL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AS THEY CELEBRATE THIS MEMORABLE MILESTONE, A PASSAGE, A COMPLETION. AS WE ALL REJOICE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR PROVISION AND THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT MAKE THIS MOMENT SO REAL AND SPECIAL. IN GRATITUDE WE PRAY FOR THE PARENTS, SPOUSES AND CHILDREN AND RELATIVES AND FRIENDS THAT SUPPORTED THE JOURNEY OF OUR GRADUATES. GRADUATES, WE PRAY FOR THE FACULTY AND STAFF OF THIS UNIVERSITY THAT CARED, LOVERED AND CHANNELLED OUR GRADUATES ALONG THIS JOURNEY.
WITH HOPE, WE PRAY THAT EACH ONE GRADUATING HERE TODAY WILL ALWAYS FIND THE STRENGTH AND WISDOM COMING FROM YOU TO REPRESENT YOUR SON IN EVERYTHING THAT HE STANDS FOR. LORD, PLEASE ENABLE THEM TO STAY TRUE TO THEIR DREAMS AND THEIR FAITH FOR YOUR GLORY. TO DISCERN YOUR WILL FOR THEIR LIVES. BLESS THE PROFESSION ALIVES FROM THIS DAY ON WITH GOODNESS AND SUCCESS AND PLEASE ALLOW YOUR SPIRIT TO BE WITH THEM ALWAYS.
IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. >> PLEASE REMAIN AT YOUR SEATS UNTIL AN USHER DISMISSES YOU. STAY AT LEAST SIX FEET APART FROM THOSE NOT IN YOUR FAMILY.
THANK YOU.
2021-05-11 00:31
