A Day to Celebrate

by Heidi Lynn '05

Azusa Pacific University’s 2003 Summer Commencement was held Friday, July 25, at 7 p.m. That evening, 26 bachelor’s degree candidates, 368 master’s degree candidates, and 128 accelerated degree completion candidates marched into the Cougar Athletic Stadium, while APU’s Brass Quintet played “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Rick MacDonald, senior pastor of the Christian Family Center in Azusa, gave the keynote address, titled “The Prince Who Became a Frog.” MacDonald, also chair of the city of Azusa’s Human Relations Commission, serves as founding board member of Our Neighborhood Homework House, an after-school tutoring program in Azusa; and is president of 5812 Coldwater Way, a faith-based, nonprofit corporation committed to community transformation.

Debra Jean Carter, mother of Angele Tiffany Santiago, a candidate for the B.A. in Cinema and Broadcast Arts, gave the invocation. Raynetta F. Cage, daughter of Dorothy Cage, a candidate for the Master of Arts in Religion, provided the benediction.