2010 President's Scholarship Gala with Mike Huckabee

Governor Mike Huckabee

Another event that will occur on the evening of Homecoming will be a President's Scholarship Gala. This is an event that will raise funds for the President's Scholarship which seeks to provide around $350,000 annually to students at the college.

Dr. Dino Pedrone is pleased to announced that the keynote speaker for this event will be the former Arkansas Governor and Presidential Nominee, Mike Huckabee. Mr. Huckabee a devoted follower of Christ has served as a Pastor at the Beech Street Baptist Church in Texarkana, Arkansas from 1980–1986 and then also at Immanuel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas from 1986–1992. During his time at Immanuel, he also served as the President of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (1989-1991). He came on the national scene when January 28, 2007 he announced his run for the White House. Though losing the Republican nomination to Senator John McCain, Mr. Huckabee continued to be a voice of Christians and Conservatives.

Details of the Event

Location: Robb Activity Center on the campus of Davis College,
400 Riverside Drive, Johnson City, New York, 13790
Time: 6:30 PM (Event will last until close to 9 PM)
Purpose: We will be raising money for the President's Scholarship Fund.
Cost: Currently table sponsorships are available for $2,000.
* $2,000 Table Sponsorship: One table, ten guests.
* Includes two tickets to VIP pre-event reception with Gov. Huckabee.
Individual tickets will be available after table sponsorships are released.
Tickets will be $200/person.
Register: Friends may sponsor a table, make a donation, or get information about tickets by Clicking Here.
Contact: Questions about the President's Scholarship Fund Gala? Contact Sharon O'Connor, Director of Marketing and Development, by email (soconnor@davisny.edu) or by phone (607.729.1581 x 313).


More details to follow.

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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Ruth Graham and Friends

Ruth Graham speaking to YNN

Ruth Graham

Ruth before the opening of the conference

Dr. Pedrone speaking to YNN

Ruth beginning the conference

Dr. Pedrone speaking at the beginning of the conference

Worship leader Jason Catron

Ruth introducing her friends

Several of the audience members

Ruth asking questions of her friends who did the sessions

Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24 Ruth Graham, the daughter of evangelist Billy Graham, came to Davis College to host her Get Growing Conference. Friday night she started off the conference by introducing her friends. They were the ones that were going to do the sessions on Saturday. Saturday the sessions were held for several hundreds. The purpose of the conference was to help Christians deal with life controlling issues. Some of the topics were abortions, abuse, and pornography.

Thank you Ruth for coming and bringing your friends

Pastor's Conference: March 9, 2010

The weather was beautiful today on the campus of Davis

Dr. Snyder speaking to a Pastor

Pastors talking in the cafe and drinking coffee

Dr. Pedrone meeting the Pastors

Several Pastors in the Gym

Over 160 pastors came. Some from as far as Connecticut

The worship team singing in Chapel

Dan Rathmell introducing Dr. Pedrone

Dr. Pedrone speaking to the Pastors on Spiritual Depression

Today (Tuesday, March 9, 2010) was the Spring Pastors Conference at Davis. Dr. Pedrone spoke on Spiritual Depression, and several pastors came very far to hear about it. Some pastors from as far away as Connecticut came to this years conference. Over 160 pastors and ministry works were in attendance. We began in the Cafe and Robb Activity Center were the Pastors could get some coffee and donuts. At 10:20 AM we all heading to Lowe Hall were the students were also. It was great to see all the Pastors, Professors, Students, and Preview Students in there.

After singing two songs Dr. Pedrone was introduced by Dan Rathmell. Dr. Pedrone spoke out of two passages of Scripture: 1 Peter 5.1-4 and Psalm 42. He addressed the changes of ministry and how sometimes the greatest strengths in ministry can cause depression in ministry also.

After the sessions there was lunch in the cafeteria. It was a great day and a lot of great encouragement to me, and the other leaders as well.

Gladiator Preview Days at Davis: Thursday, February 11- Friday, February 12, 2010

Preparing for worship in the evening

Alumnus and Admissions Counselor William Reichel dresses student Ben Tinsch in armor as he does a devotion from Ephesians 6.10-18

Gladiator games in the Gym

Even the COO Rick Cramer got in the action

He had a great time doing it too.

Several students started singing worship songs around the piano in Lowe Hall during the Ice Cream soical

A Preview student getting a free T-shirt from Will

Dr. Pedrone speaking in Chapel

The preview students receiving a tour of the campus.

The Preview Students getting an information session in the cafe.

The preview students started to arrive on campus around 6 PM and registered in the foyer of Chatlos. After registering they went to Lowe Hall for music and pizza. At around 7 PM three students (Ben Tinsch, Levi Owens, and Justyn Palmatier) lead group of Davis students and Preview Students in praise music.

After a time of praise and worship, Alumnus and Admissions Counselor William Reichel did a devotion out of Ephesians 6.10-18. Since the theme was gladiators Will spoke of the Full Armor of God and used Ben as a soldier "model." "The devil doesn't play fair," Will spoke when talking about the arrows. Arrows are the cowardly way of doing battle and so the devil attacks us in that way. We need to put on the armor every day. It was a really challenging message even though many have heard it before.

Following the devotion everyone went over to the gladiator games in the Gym. There were inflatables setup. One was a gladiator ring and the other was an obstacle course. Several students, previewers, and even a few faculty and staff went up in the ring. It was great to see Chief Operating Officer Rick Cramer doing battle up there. Everyone seemed to have fun with the activities which ended up being a dodge-ball game.

After the adrenaline rush everyone went back to Lowe Hall for an ice cream social. It was a time of fellowship and several students started singing around the piano. At around 11 PM the students and preview students headed back to the dorm for the night.

The next day (Friday) the students had breakfast in the Klee Dining Hall followed by classes with Dr. Snyder and Dr. Colton. At 11 AM Chapel was held in Lowe Hall. Dr. Pedrone spoke out of Romans 12. He read through the chapter and gave the context of Romans up to that point. The main verse he focused on was Romans 12.2, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." We as believers need to let our minds be transformed by Christ and His Word. Using this verse he encourage previewers and students alike to keep their mind on Christ.

After Chapel the preview students had lunch in Klee. They enjoyed a tour throughout the campus and then spent the last part of the day in the cafe with other students. The admissions answered questions they had and students shared testimonies.

Keep these preview students and other students planning on coming to Davis in the Fall or maybe later. Some will come as students others will go to other colleges, but keep them in prayer that they do the will of God.