Commencement- May 2024
On Saturday, May 11, 2024, Southern Nazarene University will celebrate its 121st Commencement ceremonies, during which 335 graduates will be conferred Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees. The 10:00 a.m. ceremony will honor traditional undergraduate students, and the 2:00 p.m. ceremony will feature Professional and Graduate Studies graduates.
The Commencement speakers for both ceremonies are Rod and Susan Riley, SNU graduates of the Class of 1997. After graduating from SNU, they entered the music business, launching a new label, Fervent Records, and three publishing companies. Serving in various administrative roles in Word Entertainment and Warner Music, they have chosen lives of honoring God through the world of business. In their most recent entrepreneurial adventure, Susan partnered with Chick-fil-A to become the Owner/Operator of the first-ever Drive-thru-focused location in Tennessee.
During the morning ceremony, SNU will bestow Honorary Doctorates upon Rev. Mark Lancaster and Mrs. Judy Mills, recognizing their profound impact on their communities and churches. Currently serving as the District Superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene South Arkansas District, Rev. Lancaster has had a lifetime of faithful service and leadership. Through her advocacy for families with incarcerated parents through the Angel Tree organization, Judy has shown compassion, dedication, and the gift of recruiting and organizing countless individuals to serve children.
SNU will also honor Mike and Sheila Ingram as Honorary Alumni, recognizing their many years of faithful support of the university’s mission to make Christlike disciples through higher education.
On Friday, May 10, traditional undergraduates will participate in a Baccalaureate service at 7:00 pm at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene. Dr. Blair Spindle, Associate VP for Christian Community, will share a final message with graduates and the President’s Award recipients will be announced. Immediately following Baccalaureate, graduates and families will move to the campus mall and participate in the long-standing tradition of the Ivy Ring Ceremony.
More detailed information about these events can be found at snu.edu/commencement