Commencement 2010: Saturday, May 8, 2010

Graduates getting into their robes for Commencement

Tyler Rathmell and Benjamin Wilcox

The TESL grads with Bonnie Novak (TESL chair)

Dr. Pedrone and Dr. Parker about to walk down the aisle

The grads coming into the gym about to graduate

Dr. Gene M. Williams giving the commencement speech

Dr. Williams reading from John 13

William J. Chatlos the president of the Chatlos Foundation receiving an honorary doctorate

Dr. William J. Chatlos

Grace Fabian (Class 1959) receiving the honorary doctorate

Grace getting her doctorate

Dr. Grace L. Fabian

Ben Baker receiving his Bachelor of Religious Education (BRE) Degree

Tyler Rathmell receiving his degree and having the tassel turned by
Chairman of the Board, Jerry Traister (1967).

The graduates singing the Alma Mater

The graduates being congratulated by the Board of Trustees

Darren and Kendra Maslin

Myself (Corey J. Adams) and my best friend William Deckert

Dr. Walter Schlundt and Jerry Traister (Class 1967)

Grace (Jones) Fabian (class 1959) with her sister Mary

Dr. Grace Fabian and Dr. William Chatlos

Grace and her sisters

Craig Hall (manager of the Davis bookstore) with Grace

Myself with Grace

The honorary doctorate

Grace with her honorary doctorate

This past Saturday (May 8, 2010) the 109th graduating class of Davis College received their degrees. Since the first diplomas were issued by Practical Bible Training School in 1901 (the year after the school began) thousands of men and women have entered into the ministry. Some have become pastors, some missionaries, some counselors, some Sunday School teachers, some Youth works, some TESL teachers, and countless others going into secular work with a Biblical worldview. As the saying goes, "The Sun Never sets on PBTS (PBC/Davis)," because the work of the LORD continues on in each class that graduates from the school, and this past Saturday was no different.

The weather forecast for Saturday was bleak with maybe a few minutes of sun here and there. High winds and rains were predicted for the Southern Tier of New York, but God had different plans for this commencement. It was amazing to see God work in the weather that day. I arrived on the campus around 8:10 AM to setup a video camera and make sure everything was all set and there was a light rain coming down. Only minutes after I arrived the light rain started to fade away and the sun started to come out. At around 8:45 AM Grace Fabian arrived on the campus to start setting up a table for her book signing that would follow the graduation. At around 9:15 AM the graduates, faculty, and Board Members assembled in Lowe Hall to adorn their robes and academic regalia. Soon the class of 2010 would be graduating from Davis College.

At about 10:04 AM the bagpipes started playing and commencement began. The American Flag (carried by student Evan Hickernell) and the Christian flag (carried by student Nate Benner) were walked down the aisle behind David Hall who played the bagpipes. Dr. Pedrone, the Board Members, and the member of the faculty followed and convened on the stage. The graduates followed and assembled in the front of the Robb Activity Center. Today was their big day! Do you remember your graduation day? Maybe you had it in the Robb Activity Center or maybe you had it in King Hall, but in either place your day of completion had arrived.

This commencement marks the second year in which we awarded Honorary Doctorates to two deserving individuals. This year the honorary doctorates went to William J. Chatlos, who the president of the Chatlos Foundation in Florida and Grace L. Fabian (PBTS class 1959). Both were overwhelmed with joy and excitement as they were presented with Doctor of Divinity Degree.

William J. Chatlos and his family have been involved with the college since the 1930s when his uncle (William J. Chatlos), and his aunt (Alice E. Chatlos) attended PBTS. In the 1960s the foundation was formed and donated a large sum of money to the college to build the current main building and also the library. Since then the foundation has continued to donate to college to help the college maintain the buildings on campus.

Grace L. Jones was born in Otego, NY and she had Practical Bible Training School in her blood. Both of her parents had attended PBTS in the 1920s. Her father (Clarence Jones) had graduated in 1927. Grace attended PBTS in the Fall of 1956 and graduated in 1959. Upon graduating from PBTS, Grace joined Wycliffe Bible Translators. She first served in Mexico assisting other Bible Translators. She went back to States to continue her training where she met her husband to be, Edmund Fabian. They were married in 1968 and went to Papua New Guinea in the summer of 1969. She and her husband had four children while they worked on translating the New Testament into the language of Nabak. On April 29, 1993 Edmund was murdered while translating 1 Corinthians 13. In the midst of tribulation God's Outrageous Grace shone through. You can read more about her life in her book called Outrageous Grace.

After both honorary doctorates were given the Commencement speaker, Dr. Gene Williams spoke. Dr. Williams is the President Emeritus of Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, Georgia and he gave a wonderful message from John 13. More specifically he read from John 13.5-11. The passage is about Jesus washing the disciples' feet and Peter being so offended that Christ would wash his feet. In these verses he made comparisons between the Greek word that is used for wash (in terms of the disciples' feet) and bathed (used in addressing Peter's request in John 13.9). For a person that has been "bathed" in the blood of Jesus Christ only needs to be cleaned from their sins that they committed after being saved (1 John 1.9). In essence you only need to have your feet washed. It is such a basic message, but very relevant for all of us.

After Dr. Williams spoke the diplomas were handed out. It was wonderful to see so many friends being honored by graduating from Davis. These were the Freshman class my Senior year at Davis. It was wonderful to see the smiles and tears as they shock hands with Dr. Pedrone and Jerry Traister. Their time at Davis was coming to a close.

The singing of the Alma Mater occurred soon after the conferring of the degrees. It is always sad hearing them sing the final verse of it:

We must part now, for He calls us
To a wider field;
And though we are loath to leave you,
For His sake, we yield.

After the singing the Alma Mater the prayer of dedication was prayed by board member Rudy Holland and the Seniors headed out of the Robb Activity Center. The LORD blessed the day with sunshine for the time they went outside. As mentioned earlier the day was suppose to be full of rain, but God had other plans. There were many tears and hugs as parents and friends snapped photos and wished God speed. Grace stayed in the Robb Activity Center and signed copies of her book.

It was a wonderful Commencement at Davis.
All glory and honor to God.

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Upcoming Events: Ruth Graham and Commencement 2010

Billy Graham's daughter Ruth will be hosting her Get Growing Conference at Davis

William J. Chatlos- president of the Chatlos Foundation

PBTS Alumna Grace Fabian's book Outrageous Grace

There are a couple of exciting events coming to Davis soon.

To start off with at the end of this week Bill Graham's daughter Ruth Graham will be on the campus to host her Get Growing Conference (Friday, April 23, 2010-Saturday, April 24, 2010). It is for both men and women is designed to provide practical teaching and tools to equip you and your church to better understand life-controlling behaviors and how they affect our society today. It is a free conference and a love offering will be taken. To learn more click here.

Only two weeks after Ruth Graham it will be Commencement 2010 and the class of 2010 will be graduating from Davis. On Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 10 AM the Seniors will begin the march down the center of the aisle in the Robb Activity Center. The Commencement speaker will be Dr. Gene M. Williams who the President Emeritus of Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, Georgia. During the Commencement there will be two honor doctorates given by the college as was last year. This year two very special people will be honored and I personally as the writer of the blog am looking forward to it.

The first one that is getting honored is my good friend Grace (Jones) Fabian (Class of 1959). Grace who has just published her autobiography Outrageous Grace about her time in Papua New Guinea where her and her husband Edmund translated the New Testament into the Nabak language. Her story is a story of forgiveness in the midst of her husband being murdered. I encourage everyone to read her book. You will be challenged.

The second person who is getting honored is William J. Chatlos who is the current president of the Chatlos Foundation Inc. The Chatlos Family has been part of the history of Davis College going back to the 1930s when two of William F. Chatlos' children attended PBTS (William J. Chatlos* and Alice E. Chatlos). William J. Chatlos only attended a short time and died at an early age, while Alice E. Chatlos graduated in 1935 and continued to teach at PBTS for many years. In the 1960s Mr. William F. Chatlos donated to PBTS to have the Main Building constructed and he named it after his son (~the William J. Chatlos-Gordon C. Davis Memorial Building). He also donated to the library and named it after his daughter (~Alice E. Chatlos Library). Over the years the Chatlos Foundation has continued to provide funds to the college to help it improve.

Along with these two honorary doctorates around 50 students will be graduating. If you are in Johnson City on May 8, 2010 I encourage you to come by and see this wonderful ceremony. In any case say a prayer for the students as they go out as sheep among wolves. Pray that they will be as wise as serpents and gentle as doves.

Congratulations to all in the Class of 2010

*Note: The William J. Chatlos receiving the honorary doctorate this year was named after the William J. Chatlos that attended PBTS in the 1930s.

Graduation 2009: May 9, 2009

Dr. Dino Pedrone, Rev. Vince Griffis, Mr. Chris Seavey

The Class of 2009

Senior Chris Dorais with Rev. Jerry Traister, Chairperson of Board (Class 1967)

Dr. Dino Pedrone, President (Class 1967)

Naomi and her parents from Sri Lanka

(L-R) Daniel Rathmell, Church Relations (Class 1973), his wife, Terry Robertson, Elizabeth Robertson, Mary Knapton (class 1950), Roger Knapton (class 1950), Dr. Dino Pedrone (1967), Terry and Elizabeth's two sons.

Members of the class of 1967 (and adopted 1968 member)
(L-R) Suzanne (Sisson) Griffis (1967), Vincent Griffis (1967), Walter Schlundt (1967), Jerry Traister (1967), Dino Pedrone (1967), and Janice (Weatherbee) Chandler (1968)

Graduation 2009 went very well on Saturday, May 9, 2009. A new group of Alumni have gone out of the halls of our fine college. The Sun never sets on PBTS, PBC, Davis Alumni and it so true in seeing the students that are leaving the college to go out into the world. There were many special events that happened during the ceremony. During the ceremony an award of Trustee Emeritus was awarded to Rev. Gordon Hay (Class 1954). Also a first for Davis College was the conferring of Honorary Doctorates.

The New York State Education Department has authorized Davis College to grant honorary doctorates. The Doctor of Divinity degree is conferred on individuals who have distinguished themselves in Christian ministry and leadership. Their life and service in ministry exemplifies the college's mission of impacting the world for Jesus Christ. Today the college honors two distinguished servants of the Lord with the Doctor of Divinity degree.

The two people that received them were Vincent Griffis and Terry Robertson.

From the program the bios of each:

Vincent W. Griffis spent most of his formative years on the campus of Davis College, graduating from PBTS in 1967. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible College, a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from Rhode Island College and a Master of Business Administration from Southeastern Massachusetts University. He is presently a doctoral candidate (Ed.D.) at Boston University. Vincent has served as headmaster of the Christian School of Greater Fall River, Massachusetts and was also the director of Rain Forest International School in Cameroon. Currently, he is serving as a Scripture Use Researcher with Wycliffe Bible Translators, examining how much use is made of the vernacular Scriptures in Cameroon. Vincent is married to Suzanne, and they have four children and one grandson. Griffis Hall in the Chatlos Building is named after his father who was a faculty member and administrator at PBTS.

Terry M. Robertson was raised in Alabama where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Samford University in Birmingham. He earned a Master in Religious Education degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He now serves as the Executive Director and Treasurer of the Baptist Convention of New York with offices in East Syracuse, New York. Terry has pastored churches in Alabama, New Jersey and New York and also served as the Director of Missions for Frontier Baptist Association of Buffalo. His passion is the church and reaching the lost with the Gospel message. He is actively involved in. church planting responsibilities in the central New York state region. Terry is married to Elizabeth, and they have three children and one grandson.

After receiving his honorary Doctorate of Divinity the now Dr. Vincent Griffis gave an address to the Graduating Class. He addressed them about the troubles that they will face, but to continue on. He gave wisdom from the Scriptures about the importance of prayer in a believers life. How we don't do it enough, but it is so critical.

After Dr. Griffis spoke the degrees were handed out as a new group of Alumni entered the school history. The ceremony concluded with a prayer of dedication and the singing of the Alma Mater.

Graduation 2009: Time on Campus

Graduation 2009 is less than one hour away on the campus of Davis College. I have been enjoying my time on Campus since Thursday night with friends and the beauty of my Alma Mater. Thursday looked like it would be a gloomy day, but it turned out to have a wonderful sunset as the pictures show above. Keep the graduates in your prayers and the college welcomes a new group of Alumni to the college.

More pictures to follow.

Commencement 2009 on Saturday, May 9, 2009 with Vincent Griffis

(L-R) Suzanne (Sisson) Griffis, Dr. Dino Pedrone, Vincent Griffis (Homecoming 2008)

This Saturday will be the Commencement for the class of 2009. Reverend Vincent Griffis (class 1967) will be the Commencement speaker this year in the Robb Activity Center. Vince is the son of the late Dr. Paul Griffis (class 1932). If you are in the area come by the college and wish the class of 2009 God speed as they head out into the world. Remember the words of our Alma Mater:

On the banks of Susquehanna
In God's chosen place
Stands our dear old Davis College,
Subject of His grace.

Davis College, how we love you
And your teachers dear.
We will all pray daily for you
Though we're far from here.

[to be sung by graduating class]
We must part now, for He calls us
To a wider field;
And though we are loath to leave you,
For His sake, we yield.

Davis College, don't forget us
As we go our way;
And while we are in His service,
For us, won't you pray?

Pray that the Graduating class will be in the service of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember them and all the past students, current students, and future students of the college that their lives would be testimonies of what Christ has done and what He is doing in their lives.

As 2 Timothy 4.2 says, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." May that be my prayer for the class of 2009 that each one of them is ready to use the Word for God's Kingdom. Whether by preaching, teaching, or just living life.

Graduation 2008

Dr. Miller and Dr. Pedrone.

David Hall and Dr. Parker

Dr. Miller
Graduates

Graduation 2008 took place today (Saturday, May 10, 2008) in the Robb Activity Center. It was the last graduation with Dr. George Miller presided and Dr. Dino Pedrone's first as president. Dr. Larry Reesor, Founder and President of Global Focus was the speaker. It was a great day.

On the banks...107th Commencement of the 108th year of Davis

Saturday, May 10, 2008 will mark the 107th Commencement of the 108th year of Davis College. Last year around this time I put the Alma Mater on the website which you can access here. The first graduation happened in 1901 and the school has continued on through many rough times from World Wars and Depression, yet God has remained faithful. Pray for the students graduating that they may continue on and do what the Lord wants them to do for His honor and glory.

Graduation 2007

Today, I graduated from Davis College. From my research the first graduation most likely happened in 1902. There was no graduation for the first two years (1900 and 1901). So technically this is the 105th graduation class of the 107th year of the school's history. The whole graduation was great. It is hard to believe that four years have gone by. The speaker was Dr. Michael Loftis of ABWE. I believe God was glorified.

The Alma Mater

As graduation approaches here on campus and my four years at Davis College comes to a close I have started thinking about the words of our Alma Mater.

On the banks of Susquehanna
In God's chosen place
Stands our dear old Davis College*,
Subject of His grace.

Davis College*, how we love you
And your teachers dear.
We will all pray daily for you
Though we're far from here.

[to be sung by graduating class]
We must part now, for He calls us
To a wider field;
And though we are loath to leave you,
For His sake, we yield.

Davis College*, don't forget us
As we go our way;
And while we are in His service,
For us, won't you pray?


*The name where Davis College is now began as P.B.T.S. and after we became a college it became Practical Bible in place of P.B.T.S.
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It is not known when it was exactly written, but it was written by Irene Major Clark who was a corresponding secretary at PBTS during 1917-22. The term Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" and it has been a part of colleges and universities for close to 1000 years. The tune that is used is that of "Annie Lisle." ""Annie Lisle" is the name of an 1857 ballad by Boston, Massachusetts songwriter H. S. Thompson and published by Oliver Ditson & Co. It is about the death of a young maiden, by what some have speculated to be tuberculosis, although the lyric does not explicitly mention tuberculosis, or "consumption" as it was called then. The song might have slipped into obscurity had the tune not been adopted by countless colleges, universities, and high schools worldwide as their respective alma mater songs" (wikipedia.org). It was first used for Cornell University as an Alma Mater musical score in 1870 and it was adopted by our PBTS and it continue to this day.