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.
