This spring, TWU honours over 750 graduands from the undergraduate and graduate programs—it is one of the largest graduating classes in the university’s history.
Families, friends, faculty, staff and members of the Trinity Western community from around the world joined together this past weekend to celebrate the achievements of the class of 2022.
Trinity Western’s graduation weekend included a baccalaureate service on Friday, April 29 at the Langley campus’ David E. Enarson Gymnasium, followed by a graduation ceremony on Saturday, April 30 at the Langley Events Centre.
Over 750 graduands
This spring, TWU honours over 750 graduands from the undergraduate and graduate programs—it is one of the largest graduating classes in the university’s history.
“Today marks a significant change in your life,” President Mark Husbands encouraged graduands, “Wherever you go, you will carry our respect, prayers, and hope with you. The world needs your commitment, gifts, leadership, strength, and faith.”
Chief Andrew Victor of Cheam First Nation provided the territorial acknowledgements during the weekend's ceremonies. At the graduation ceremony, Rachel Sousa, alumna and Trinity Fellow, led the opening prayer, while Ukrainian student Marko Zolotarov read aloud in Ukrainian and English the Scripture verses of 2 Timothy 3:16-17, from which TWU’s theme for the year “equipped for every good work” is taken.
Provost W. Robert Wood addressed the graduands, saying, “At TWU it is our prayer that the cumulative effect of all your experiences over the past number of years, have inspired you to become the persons that God has called you to be, and have equipped you to think truthfully, act justly and live faithfully for the good of the world and the glory of God.”
Honorary doctoral recipient and commencement speaker
Trinity Western conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree upon Craig A. Evans, John Bisagno Distinguished Professor of Christian Origins from Houston Theological Seminary and this year’s commencement speaker. Dr. Evans was for many years on the faculties of Trinity Western in British Columbia and Acadia University in Nova Scotia. He has also taught at McMaster University, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary. While at Trinity Western, Dr. Evans founded the Dead Sea Scrolls Institute.
Faculty teaching awards
Graduation is also a time of recognizing teaching excellence. This year, Andrea Orr, Sessional Assistant Professor of Nursing, was named winner of the 2022 Davis Distinguished Teaching Award, an award honouring “a faculty member who demonstrates a consistent level of excellent teaching, who contributes to the pedagogical lift of the university, and who models Christian living and integration with their students.”
Dr. Heather Strong, Sessional Assistant Professor of Leadership, won the Provost's Innovative Teaching Award, an award “to acknowledge a faculty member who is creating or embracing new methods to invigorate students’ learning” and recognizing unique and engaging teaching methods.
Class of 2022 valedictorians
The 2022 valedictorians are Benjamin Birkenstock (MA in Interdisciplinary Humanities) for graduate studies, and Grace Konrad (BSc in Nursing) for undergraduate studies.
A top academic performer, Benjamin completed his graduate thesis on the virtue of humility in Daoist philosophy and contemporary psychology. Students, peers and professors describe Benjamin as “humble, other-focused and empowering in their relationships and demeanour with others.” Benjamin is known on campus for his Christ-like character and for being a humble leader.
Grace has demonstrated academic excellence and servant leadership, having served in local ministry teams and international outreach projects. As a nursing student, she recently completed her preceptorship at a pediatric unit, where her kindness and empathy shone through. As a Trinity Western Spartans athlete on the women’s track and field team, Grace has won back-to-back Canada West gold medals in the 300m races in 2019 and 2020. In addition to being undergraduate class valedictorian, this year Grace also won a Complete Champion Award, which recognizes student-athletes who "advance to the edge of their abilities both academically and personally, and who also demonstrate leadership and a desire to grow spiritually."
Congratulations to the class of 2022!
See this story in the Langley Advance Times.
See also — Gratitude for the 2021/22 academic year: a message from President Mark Husbands
TWU News
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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Photo credit: Wendy Lees