Lee University Holds Summer Commencement
Cleveland, TN–Lee University conferred 178 degrees during its summer commencement ceremony on Saturday, July 31. Attendees heard speaker Phil Cook challenge the graduates in Lee’s traditional ceremony conducted in the Conn Center.
The annual ceremony was preceded by a Commissioning Service on Friday night, July 30, which featured five student speakers sharing their experiences at Lee. The student speakers were Micah Davis, Christopher Gill, Lauren Goss, Corrine Perez, and Hope Sheppard. Graduates received Bibles signed by Lee University President Dr. Mark Walker and Chancellor Dr. Paul Conn.
“Today is about you,” Cook told the graduates in his address. “The robes, the music, the honors, and the applause are meant for you. But what about the rest of your life? When you leave today, the rest of your life shouldn’t be about you, it should be about serving God and serving others.”
Cook also urged graduates to consider the words his father told him, that “leaders eat last.” Cook warned that society advocates for always coming in first, but that it is important for a leader to put others first.
Cook has been a part of the Lee University family for more than 30 years, starting as a resident director. He served at the university from 1993–2021, most recently serving as vice president for enrollment. Earlier this year Cook accepted the position of executive director and CEO of the North American Coalition of Christian Admissions Professionals (NACCAP), in Fort Wayne, Indiana, an organization that supports and coordinates the student enrollment efforts of 300 faith-based institutions across the country.
Of the 178 degrees conferred on Saturday, 117 were bachelor’s degrees and 61 were graduate degrees. The summer event is one of three graduation weekends at Lee each year, the others held in May and December.
The commencement and commissioning ceremonies can be viewed at https://livestream.com/leeu.
(Source: Lee University)
