Greenville College Announces 2012 Commencement Schedule and Speakers
Published: April 13, 2021
Greenville College will conduct its 120th commencement exercises on May 26 and 27. Bishop Matthew Thomas will deliver the address on Saturday, May 26 during the commencement ceremony for adult, graduate and off-campus students. Dr. Victoria "Tori" Murden McClure will address students during Sunday's commencement ceremony on May 27. The Greenville College choir will perform a concert at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday prior to the traditional ivy cutting ceremony. Lisa Amundson has been chosen by students to deliver Sunday's baccalaureate address. All of the events scheduled for commencement weekend are open to the public.
Saturday, May 26
11:30 a.m. Commencement Luncheon - Armington Center
2:00 p.m. Adult, Graduate and Off-campus Students' Commencement - Crum Recreation Center
4:30 p.m. Greenville College Choir Concert - Whitlock Music Center
5:30 p.m. Ivy Cutting Ceremony - Front Lawn (ceremony will be moved to Crum Recreation Center in the event of inclement weather)
Sunday, May 27
8:00 a.m. Commencement Breakfast Reception - Tidball Alumni House, corner of Elm and College
11:00 a.m. Baccalaureate - Crum Recreation Center
12:00 p.m. Graduation Luncheon - Armington Center
3:00 p.m. Commencement - Crum Recreation Center
Please visit www.greenville.edu/commencement for more details regarding the weekend's schedule, directions and accommodations.
Dr. Victoria "Tori" Murden McClure to Speak at Sunday's Commencement Ceremony
Tori Murden McClure is the president of Spalding University, in Louisville, Kentucky. A passionate world adventurer and humanitarian, McClure is best known as the first woman and first American to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her memoir about this adventure and accomplishment is called "A Pearl in the Storm" and was published by Harper-Collins in 2009. She was also the first woman and first American to travel over land to the geographic South Pole, skiing 750 miles from the ice shelf to the pole. An avid mountaineer, McClure has climbed on several continents and was the first woman to climb Lewis Nunatuck summit in Antarctica. She is a fully certified emergency medical technician in both urban and wilderness areas, and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) where she currently serves as the chair of the board of trustees.
McClure has been recognized with numerous academic commendations as well as a lengthy list of international honors and awards throughout her journeys. Stories about McClure have appeared in more than a dozen books and thirty major magazines. She has appeared on national television shows including "Good Morning America," "Today," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Late Show with David Letterman," "CBS Evening News," "Inside Edition," Discovery Channel's "Storm Warnings," Travel Channel's "World's Most Dangerous Sporting Events" and National Geographic's "Base Camp."
McClure holds a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College, a Master of Divinity from Harvard University, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Louisville's Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. In 2005, she earned her Master of Fine Arts in writing from Spalding University. She is passionate about the transforming power of education and inspires individuals, and particularly students at Spalding, to seek greatness through learning and to use their talents and skills to contribute to their own communities.
McClure will deliver a speech, "Dare Mighty Things," at Greenville College's commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 27.
Bishop Matthew Thomas to Speak at Saturday's Commencement Ceremony
Bishop Matthew Thomas has been an active part of the Free Methodist Church since 1979, serving in a variety of roles that include pastor, church planter, missionary and superintendent. He has served the Free Methodist Church mostly in the Western U.S. and the Philippines, and on many denominational boards, committees and task forces. Thomas was consecrated as bishop of the Free Methodist Church of North America in 2007.
Thomas holds a Bachelor of Theology from Aldersgate College, a Master of Divinity from Western Evangelical Seminary, and a Doctor of Divinity from Northwest Graduate School. A passionate commitment to evangelism, discipleship and leadership development has been foundational for Thomas' life in ministry.
Thomas will deliver a speech, "Beyond Expertise," during the commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 26, for adult, graduate and off-campus students.
Lisa Amundson to Deliver Baccalaureate Address
Baccalaureate is a farewell address in the form of a sermon delivered to the graduating class. Each year, Greenville College students select a faculty member to deliver the baccalaureate address. The class of 2012 selected Lisa Amundson, instructor of special education.
"It is such an honor to be chosen by the students I serve, for the baccalaureate address. I view baccalaureate as the last chapel, the last moment that they will come together as Greenville College students to worship Christ in community," said Amundson. "It will be a joy and privilege to lead them through this sacred time, as we worship our Lord together."
Amundson holds a bachelor's in special education from Greenville College and a master's in school counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in teaching and learning in special education.
Greenville College is a four-year accredited Christian liberal arts school with more than 1,500 traditional undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree completion students. Founded in 1892 and affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, the college is located in Greenville, Illinois, 45 miles east of St. Louis.
