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Commencement 2006

You can take the person out of ORU, but you can't take ORU out of the whole person...

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Click Photo to Enlarge Student Response speaker Emmanuel Earls told his fellow graduates: "We are now credentialed, degree-carrying ambassadors of the gospel."

On May 6, 746 new graduates sallied forth from the ORU Mabee Center into every person's world, many with honors and all with dreams.

John Hagee, ORU regent and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Tex., gave the Commencement address. His message in a nutshell: Get a job and don't expect a handout. He implored the new grads to not forget who they are in Christ, and to choose to make wise decisions.

Four guests received special awards. Honorary doctor of divinity degrees were given to Son Broadcasting's founder and president, Belarmino "Blackie" R. Gonzales, and businessman and pastor Weldon L. Tisdale, Sr. Dr. Glenda Payas, ORU regent, alumna, and dentist, received an honorary doctor of laws degree, as did Oklahoma philanthropist Henry Primeaux, Sr.

Honors fellow and New Testament theology major Emmanuel Earls gave the student response: "Tonight the campus will be tranquil and silent," he said, "but our hearts will be alive with the sound of greatness...we may leave ORU, but ORU will never leave us."

Bibles were distributed to graduates (gifts from the Alumni Association), flowers were sold to proud family members, countless pictures were taken, and the alumni population grew stronger by 746.