Commencement | May 8, 2026

Preliminaries

Music professor Ruth Brown’s grand piano prelude greeted family and friends as they gathered for Maranatha Baptist University’s 57th Convocation on Friday, May 8.

As the processional began, the crowd fell silent, watching the surge of bobbing mortarboards and swaying tassels sweep down the aisles. “Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest,” the processional resounded, as the graduates took their positions at the front. Then, Dr. David Brown led the congregation in singing that regal hymn, “Crown Him With Many Crowns,” celebrating the Lord of life, love, and years.

Invocation & Welcome

CEO Dr. Matthew Davis offered the invocation, thanking the Lord for the glorious opportunity to celebrate, acknowledging Christ as the source, asking that every aspect of the ceremony would point to Him. He prayed that seniors would reflect on all they had learned and rededicate themselves to living lives honoring to Him.

When all were seated, Dr. Davis greeted guests, acknowledging them by groups, asking them to stand. Beginning with the faculty, he applauded their investment in student lives. He thanked parents for their years of prayer and dedication, pastors for their investment in ministering the Word, and board members who safeguard Maranatha’s mission and undergird the university.

Scripture, Video & Special Music

Professor and Dean of Students Dr. Andrew Goodwill read the appointed text, 2 Timothy 2:1-7. This passage admonishes believers to be strengthened by grace, to entrust truth to others, and to persevere in trials. Through the metaphors of a  soldier, an athlete, and a farmer, it portrays discipleship as sowing, striving, reaping.

Dr. Davis then introduced a video recorded for the Class of 2026 by Chancellor Dr. Marriott during his final days. He noted that seniors, who have been at Maranatha four years, came during Dr. Marriott’s last year as president. He reminisced about working with Dr. Marriott and then prefaced the video by reading Hebrews 13:3-7.

In the message, Dr. Marriott described the class as exceptional, noting that they had seen him at his weakest physically, yet responded with remarkable care. Stating that this would have been his 16th commencement, he recalled themes from his previous addresses: “Follow Me” and “Long Days, Short Years.” Quoting Hebrews 13:7, he commented that as we follow Jesus, we are also called to emulate godly leaders, “considering the end of their conversation,” that is, their life’s end product. It was his desire to have been a worthy model.

Pondering the next verse—“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever”—Dr. Marriott shared that Christ’s immutability assures us that what He has done for others, He will continue to do. In a final exhortation, he urged the class to serve God faithfully, be active in a local church, engage in ministry, and love and prioritize their families—all made possible by Christ’s enduring faithfulness.

Following the video, graduating music majors Kenneth Hedrick and Samuel Robertson, and accompanist Grace Hedrick offered a winsome rendition of “I Will Praise Him,” continuing the theme: all praise and glory belong to God.

Commencement Address & Offering

President Dr. David Anderson delivered the Commencement Address—”The End Is Coming. Be Patient.” Though we call the service, “Commencement,” an honorable milestone which marks the end of hard work, it is aptly named. It is not the end, but rather another beginning. Yet, we need to consider the end. Turning to James 4 and the beginning of chapter 5, he pointed out life’s brevity and those who lived only for the present, ignoring their end.

James 5:7 exhorts us to be “patient unto the coming of the Lord,” that is, unto the end. Drawing applications from James 5:7-11, he outlined three situations in which patience is rewarded:

  • As a farmer expectantly watches, it is worth waiting and working for the precious fruit of the harvest (5:7-8). It requires “long” patience in which we should “stablish” our hearts, resolutely following God’s plan.
  • As the prophets demonstrated, despite affliction or those who refused to listen, patiently speaking for the Lord means that, in the end, one need not fear the Judge (5:9-10).
  • As Job exhibited, those who patiently endure “under” whatever they are called to face will experience the depths of God’s kindness and compassion (5:11).

He closed by thanking the Lord for His Word and His call to each of us, asking that graduates would be faithful, see precious fruit, speak for the Lord, and fix these truths in their hearts to serve Him unto the end.

Dr. Davis then stepped forward to announce the Commencement Offering, explaining the goal of raising $8,000-10,000 to underwrite expenses of Alumni Hall renovation, specifically to help with furnishings and appointments for the hall. Then, with an arrangement for strings and piano, graduates Gabriella and Lydia Moore, and Jocelyn Metcalf presented a stirring offertory of Ron Hamilton’s humble confession, “Lord, I Need You.”

Presentation of Awards & Conferral of Degrees

Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Thomas Graham recognized those who achieved excellence in scholarship, from cum laude to summa cum laude, having them stand by grade point average. Surpassing last year when three students tied for the highest GPA, this year six students shared the distinction of attaining a 4.0 GPA:

  • Felicia Harmon
  • Peter Hecker
  • Karissa Markle
  • Alyssa McLeod
  • Jacquelyn Penticuff
  • Joseph Stein

Having graduates and their parents stand, he also read names of honorees of exceptional achievement in their fields of study who were acknowledged during Baccalaureate.

Dr. Anderson had the honor of announcing the Founder’s Award recipients, one male and one female student who most effectively exemplified the purpose and spirit of Maranatha through commitment to the Lord’s work and faithful service in the local church.

  • Megan Prigge received the 2026 Thelma Melford Cedarholm Founder’s Award
  • Richard VanNewkirk received the 2026 B. Myron Cedarholm Founder’s Award

Considered to be the highest honor at Maranatha, the President’s Award—given to the student who best demonstrates academic excellence, skill in handling the Word of God, and fitness for gospel ministry—was awarded to Cameron Beachell.

At the podium once again, Dr. Graham presented a profile of the class of 2026: 231 students (both residential and online), representing 34 states, 1 territory, and 4 foreign countries who collectively earned 245 certificates or degrees.                               

The long-awaited conferral of certificates and degrees followed, as graduates were summoned to the platform by school or department, beginning with Maranatha Baptist Bible Institute and progressing through graduate studies. During the ceremony Dr. Davis paused the distribution of diplomas to acknowledge Maranatha’s 6,000th undergraduate—Emma Alsup.

Special Music

The Praisemen—seniors Andrew Centifanto, Daniel Earnest, and Kenny Kartman, with fellow students Bryce Felber and Jonathan Herbster—enthralled the audience, singing an adaptation of Isaac Watts’ resolute lyrics, boldly declaring, “I’m not ashamed to own my Lord, or to defend His cause.”

Prayer of Dedication & Recessional

As the last chord faded, Dr. Anderson entreated the Lord to dedicate the class, to cause them to present themselves living sacrifices, proving what is good and acceptable, patiently serving until they hear His final “well done,” and asking Him to prosper the work He calls them to do.

Then, as the grand chords of Mrs. Cedarholm’s victorious university hymn rang forth, graduates, with tassels now turned, joined in a joyful recessional, leaving the “hallowed halls” of education to step into new callings in which, prayerfully, they will be “To the praise of His glory.”

Benediction

Maranatha Board member and Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church, Chad Prigge concluded the service, thanking the Lord for the beauty of the service and successful completion of another academic year. Noting the approaching end of the age, he asked God to advance the cause and mission of Maranatha and other ministries represented by those assembled. Then he uttered the well-known doxology from 1 Timothy 1:17—”Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Jubilant graduates gathered outside the library for a customary photo, sending a flurry of mortarboards skyward. Then, in their last corporate act, they rang the bell.

Watch the ceremony here.  

View photos here.