Cheers echoed throughout Crown Coliseum complex Saturday morning as families, friends, faculty, and staff gathered to honor Methodist University’s graduating Class of 2025. The occasion marked a milestone for more than 500 students earning associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Cheers echoed throughout Crown Coliseum complex Saturday morning as families, friends, faculty, and staff gathered to honor Methodist University’s graduating Class of 2025. The occasion marked a milestone for more than 500 students earning associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
“Congratulations, graduates!” said MU President Dr. Stanley T. Wearden, opening the ceremony. “We are honored to know you and proud of what you’ve achieved.”
The commencement ceremony included the traditional presentation of international flags, a gesture that celebrates the diversity and global reach of the MU student body. MU currently has more than 100 international students and has been ranked the most diverse University in North Carolina two of the past three years by Niche College Rankings. This year, five new flags were added to Berns Student Center’s display, bringing the total to an impressive 131
Delivering this year’s keynote address was Scott Hamilton, president and CEO of the Golden LEAF Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1999 that works to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural communities. In addition to his address, Hamilton received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters for his “vision, leadership, and devotion to the well-being of his fellow citizens.”
“You don’t have to change the whole world,” Hamilton told the graduates. “But you can absolutely change someone’s world. That’s where the work begins.”
Among honors were two standout graduates. Rebekah Haigler received the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award, which recognizes a student whose life exemplifies service to others. One faculty member praised her as “the type of student every professor hopes to teach.” The prestigious Lucius Stacy Weaver Award, presented annually by University faculty vote, was awarded to Jakob Fick, a triple major in Mathematics, Engineering, and Computer Science.
The morning concluded as each graduate crossed the stage to receive their diploma and share the moment with loved ones and their sponsors who had supported their journey. A unique activity during MU’s commencement is the hooding of each undergraduate student by their sponsor (typically someone in their family, or a faculty/staff member that helped them along the way.)
Kylie Hicks, who was the reader for the “Moment of Gratitude and Blessing” portion of the ceremony and a graduate of from the College of Health Sciences & Human Services, reflected on her journey.
“I’m really excited − there’s a lot of emotion,” said Hicks. “As a first-generation college student on my dad’s side, it took a lot to get here. I’m proud of myself and my peers − everyone had their own journey, and this is a great moment for all of us.
“I’ve had blessings and opportunities here at MU that I don’t think I would’ve had anywhere else. It’s truly prepared me for what’s next − and I’m incredibly grateful.”
When degrees were conferred and tassels turned in celebration, the words from Wearden were left for these life-long Monarchs: “We want you to have rewarding careers, but we want more,” he said. “Go out into the world and make it better. We’re counting on you.”
To watch a recording of the ceremony, please visit methodist.edu/commencement.
MU held a separate commencement ceremony for its men’s and women’s lacrosse team graduates on Sunday, as they missed the event at the Crown Coliseum on Saturday in order to compete in USA South Conference championship matches. Family, friends, faculty and staff were on hand to celebrate the graduates at the Matthews Ministry Center on the MU campus.“It was really cool that we got the opportunity to play for the championship, to get to a place we’ve been striving and working so hard for,” said men’s lacrosse captain Ryan Kavounis. “To then also have MU put together this special ceremony for us is really special.”