Hastings College’s 125th Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies will be held Friday and Saturday, May 20 and 21. Baccalaureate will take place at 6 p.m., Friday, May 20, at First Presbyterian Church in Hastings. Commencement will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 21, in the Lynn Farrell Arena at Hastings College.

Hastings College will have 221 undergraduates crossing the stage on Saturday with 16 Master of Arts in Teaching graduates. Commencement will be broadcast locally on Charter Cable TV channel 6. 

The Reverend Adam P. White, D.Min., the Campus Pastor of Nebraska Lutheran Campus Ministry-Lincoln on the University of Nebraska Campus, will deliver the Baccalaureate sermon on Friday. He is a 2000 graduate of Hastings College. Prior to his current position, White served as Associate Pastor and Director of Youth and Family Ministry at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings, Nebraska, from 2004-2011. He was also an Adjunct Instructor of Religion at Hastings College, where he coordinated the Chapel Band and taught Christian Education and Youth Ministry. He is the founding pastor of Nebraska Lutheran Campus Ministry-Hastings.

Retiring Hastings College President Dr. Phillip Dudley, Jr., will be the Commencement speaker on Saturday. He will also be receiving an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree from the College.

Dr. Kathleen Haverly, retiring Learning Center Director, will receive an honorary Doctor of Education degree; and Dr. James Wiest, retiring Vice President for Academic Affairs, will be receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Hastings College, founded in 1882, is a private, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A total of 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs are offered to more than 1,190 students. Hastings College was named among “America’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review, and a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s. Visit www.hastings.edu for more information.

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