Date: April 20, 2011
Contact: pr@andrews.edu
Website: http://www.andrews.edu/graduation/
Phone:

John R. Nay, U.S. Ambassador, Republic of Suriname, and Pardon K. Mwansa, vice president for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, are among the featured speakers for the Andrews University Graduation Weekend, April 29–May 1, 2011.

Commencement festivities will begin Friday evening with the consecration service in the Pioneer Memorial Church and will continue with the baccalaureate church service, Sabbath afternoon certification and dedication services, Sabbath vespers, the President’s Reception and finally, the much-anticipated graduate and undergraduate commencement services on Sunday morning.
  
L. Monique Pittman, professor of English and director of the J.N. Andrews Honors Program at Andrews University, is the speaker for Consecration at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 29.
On Saturday, April 30, Angel M. Rodriguez, director of the Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, will present the Baccalaureate address. Rodriguez will speak at 8:15 a.m. for the graduate service and at 11:20 a.m. for the undergraduate service. Both services are in the Pioneer Memorial Church.

Several departmental services are planned for Friday and Saturday beginning with the Teacher Dedication service at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 29, at the Andrews Academy Chapel.
On Saturday, April 30, the Department of Nursing Pinning Ceremony will take place at the Pioneer Memorial Church at 4 p.m. The Seminary Dedication Service is also scheduled for 4 p.m. in the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Chapel. The Department of Religion Senior Dedication is at 4 p.m. in the PMC Youth Chapel. The Nutrition and Wellness Dedication Service and Reception is at 5 p.m. in the Garber Auditorium of Chan Shun Hall. The Social Work Recognition Service is at 5:30 p.m. in the Fil-Am Seventh-day Adventist Church in Berrien Springs, Mich. The School of Architecture will also hold a Come-and-Go Graduation Reception from 6-8 p.m. in the School of Architecture Resource Center.
  
At 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, a Sabbath Vespers will take place at Pioneer Memorial Church. Immediately following vespers (approximately 9:15 p.m.), the President’s Reception for graduates and their families will take place in the Great Lakes Room of Dining Services.

John R. Nay, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname, will be the Graduate Commencement speaker at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 1. Pardon K. Mwansa, vice-president for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, will be the Undergraduate Commencement speaker at 11:30 a.m. that same day. Both services are seating by ticket only and take place in Pioneer Memorial Church. Live streaming links will be provided at www.andrews.edu/graduation on the day of Commencement.
 
John R. Nay became the 13th American Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname in August 2009. Before arriving in Suriname, Nay was the Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, Canada, and has also served as the Office Director for African Regional and Security Affairs in the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs. He joined that office in April 2003 after serving as a Senior Inspector in the State Department’s Office of the Inspector General. Nay attended Andrews University and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1976 and a Master of Arts in 1983. He is the recipient of three Superior Honor Awards and three Senior Performance Awards.
 
Pardon K. Mwansa, vice-president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, was re-elected for a five-year term in 2010. He has served the Seventh-day Adventist Church for more than 30 years in many positions, including those as a literature evangelist, district pastor, departmental director at the conference and union, and associate director at General Conference levels, union and division president. He also serves as chancellor and board chair at the Adventist University of Africa, Hope TV and chairman of the General Conference Session Planning Committee. Mwansa attended Andrews University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1986, a Master of Divinity in 1992 and a Doctor of Ministry in 1993.
 
For more information and/or a full schedule of events, visit www.andrews.edu/graduation.