Greetings from Bryan College.

It's hard to believe that as you receive this, graduation is just a few hours away. What a full year this has been at Bryan College, and we are grateful for your interest and prayerful support for the college.

Next week the college shifts into summer mode. Minimester begins Monday, as will preparations for summer conference groups. Soon, work will begin on Phase II of the new entrance.

While things are a little quieter without hundreds of students on hand, Bryan still is a great place to visit, particularly if you haven't been here in a while. We invite you to come back to the Hill and see first-hand how God is blessing. We'd love to show you around this summer!

E-Lumine

Class of 2009 graduates tomorrow

Bryan officials are keeping close tabs on weather forecasts as graduation for the Class of 2009 is scheduled for Saturday (May 9).

More than 180 students, including seven MBA students, members of the third cohort of Bryan's first Master's program, are expected to receive degrees during the commencement service on the Triangle.

A week of rainy weather has led officials to review a contingency plan in case of rain. “We're praying we don't have to move graduation indoors because we want all our graduates' families and friends to be able to attend the ceremony in person,” Academic Vice President Dr. Cal White said. “Last year, we had nearly 1,800 guests at commencement, so preparing suitable locations inside for all, while doable, would be a challenge.”

A highlight of the weekend will be recognition of some 25 members of the Class of 1959, who are expected to return to campus for their Golden Anniversary reunion. “Golden Grad” Marilyn Laszlo will serve as alumni marshal for the graduation ceremony, and will welcome members of the class of 2009 into the Bryan Alumni Association.

Festivities are to begin May 8, when the Class of 1959 gathers for lunch, reminiscing, and campus tours. That evening, seniors will present a Vespers service reflecting on their years at Bryan.

Commencement begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Faculty members will present a number of awards to graduates, and senior Michael Reneau, from Ooltewah, Tenn., a communication studies major, will deliver the commencement address.

Bryan breaks ground for entrance Phase II

“God provided the sun. Get your shovel. Let's get started!”

Col. John Haynes, chairman of the Bryan Board of Trustees, caught the spirit of the event as college officials, students and friends broke ground for phase II of the new entrance April 17. See video highlights of the event here.

Work won't begin until after school is out in May, but speakers were ready to follow Col. Haynes' lead as they reflected on God's faithfulness and provision. “God has prepared Bryan College for its next chapter,” President Stephen Livesay said.

Trustee Emeritus Don Efird recounted how “in 1969, I brought the oldest of my seven children to Bryan. We missed the cutoff at the bottom of the hill.” It was Mr. Efird, at Dr. Livesay's first board meeting as president, who challenged Dr. Livesay to make the new entrance a priority.

Keynote speaker Michael Gerson said Bryan College is named for “a Christian who changed the nation. William Jennings Bryan had one message, that every life counts.”

The Rev. Mark Hickman told the group that “this was my playground as a child.” He recounted stories of playing on the athletic fields and college grounds as well as in the gymnasium, feeling welcomed by students, and holding good memories of those days.

Banquet raises funds for WJB scholarships

It was a night for celebration, for appreciation, and for encouragement as Bryan College hosted its second annual William Jennings Bryan Opportunity Program dinner April 16.

Vice President for Advancement Blake Hudson reported that gifts and pledges exceeding $110,000 have been made for the program, more than doubling last year's total. "We hope to reach our goal of $150,000, and invite alumni and friends of the college to make a gift to help these students," he said.

Some 225 friends of the college heard President Dr. Stephen Livesay and students say “thank you,” and were encouraged by Michael Gerson, former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, to consider how they live out their faith. See video highlights of the dinner here.

Andrew Zimmerman, a sophomore mathematics and Christian thought major from Grandview, Tenn., told the crowd that his personal heritage and the Bryan heritage will dovetail in whatever vocation he enters. “This education, these degrees are not just so that I can get a job and support myself and raise a family, but they are so I can actively minister to people. It's the heritage of living out the gospel. It's true when they say that we literally would not be here without the scholarship support. I want to thank you for that.”

Mr. Gerson said Christians are at a “searching moment concerning their duties as citizens.” Evangelical leaders are moving from a “narrow set of social and moral issues, particularly abortion and family issues,” and are beginning to address matters such as AIDS and human trafficking.

“This combination of moral conservatism and social activism is the evangelical tradition,” he said. “The new evangelicalism is not trading moral conservatism for social justice. It is adding social justice to moral conservatism.”

He challenged the audience to understand that, as citizens of the kingdom of heaven, “we make a large difference in the kingdoms of this world. It is the salt that preserves the whole, the light that reveals the entire landscape. This is the kind of vision that can change a country.”

College honors Dr. Cornelius for Bryan/Scopes work

Bryan College honored Dr. Richard Cornelius on his second retirement during Honors Day ceremonies April 27.

Dr. Cornelius retired as professor of English in 1999, but has continued to serve as the Scopes liaison, the primary contact for information about William Jennings Bryan and the Scopes Trial, President Stephen Livesay said.

His articles on the subject have appeared in scholarly journals and popular publications. He has published an annotated map of Scopes Trial sites; a pamphlet about Bryan, the Trial and “Inherit the Wind”; edited an annotated bibliography about Bryan and the Trial; edited a collection of articles and photographs about the trial; edited a collection of Bryan's speeches; and produced a collection of songs about the Trial. He has contributed to programs by American and international television, radio and documentary producers, and has been a leader in his church and local history efforts.

Tom Davis, director of public information who has worked closely with Dr. Cornelius said, “He is the unsung hero to countless researchers, ranging from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Edward J. Larson to junior high students researching History Day projects.”

“It has been my honor to work closely with Dr. Cornelius for nearly 18 years, to learn from him, to admire his attention to detail, his commitment to accuracy, and his willingness to go the extra mile for those seeking help,” Mr. Davis said. “More than that, I have seen his deep love for Jesus Christ and for Bryan College. I think it's fair to say that his heart's desire is that our Lord is honored and that Bryan College lives out its motto of 'Christ Above All.'

“In his oration, ‘The Prince of Peace,' William Jennings Bryan said, ‘The human measure of a human life is its income; the divine measure of a life is its outgo, its overflow – its contribution to the welfare of all.'

“Dr. Cornelius' contribution to Bryan College has been one of outgo, overflow, and contribution. I think Mr. Bryan would be proud, and I know we have benefitted enormously from his efforts.”