The ceremony begins at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Chukchansi Park (Grizzlies Stadium) in downtown Fresno. The featured speaker will be community activist and author Randy White, D.Min., executive director of the FPU Center for Community Transformation.
An estimated 339 graduates will receive degrees, including about 188 from the traditional undergraduate program, 58 from the bachelor's degree program and 93 from graduate programs, including 20 from the Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary.
FPU's increased enrollment over the past few years makes moving commencement to a larger venue the next logical step, according to President Pete Menjares, Ph.D. "The main campus can no longer accommodate our graduates and their family members and friends who want to be part of this transforming occasion in their lives," he said.
While previous commencements on the main campus, either in the Special Events Center or on the Green, have become a tradition, recent events have demonstrated it is not realistic to host the 6,000-7,000 people who now attend FPU graduation. Moving the ceremony to the stadium allows for comfortable seating, easy parking and no limit to the number of guests graduates may invite. Combining the previous morning and afternoon ceremonies into one evening event avoids the direct sun and high heat that can make May uncomfortable for those in formal attire. "We have planned a wonderful experience for students and their families," Menjares said.
White will also feel at home with the location. An urban activist for more than 20 years, he and his family have lived and served in some of Fresno's most vulnerable neighborhoods. Founder of the Fresno Institute for Urban Leadership (FIFUL), a program of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, White worked internationally as head of the Bakke Graduate University global doctoral degree programs in urban leadership. His books include The Work of Our Hands and Encounter God in the City. White is associate professor of community transformation at FPU.
Begun in 2012, the Center for Community Transformation, part of the seminary, connects the university with Fresno's 500 churches and 100 faith-based nonprofits to transform the region into communities of abundance and peace. Programs include personal financial training for low-income individuals and families, a certificate for Hispanic pastors, support for urban entrepreneurs and working with law enforcement on problems such as human trafficking. The CCT Fellows Society is comprised of FPU faculty and community experts who research and address community issues. The center also has an advisory board of 15 local professionals from churches, businesses and non-profits.
So, while the evening of May 10 will not be filled with crack of the bat or the strains of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," there will be plenty of cheers.