More than 900 students are set to graduate this spring from Fresno Pacific University.
Ceremonies will be Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Selland Arena, 700 M St., Fresno. Commencement for undergraduates begins at 10:00 a.m., and at 3:00 p.m. for graduate students, including Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary.
Each ceremony will be Livestreamed:
- Watch the 10:00 a.m. undergraduate ceremony at youtube.com/watch?v=7G9Q9pTtoPg
- Watch the 3:00 p.m. graduate ceremony at youtube.com/watch?v=8DwTGIpdqV8
In all, 979 students are eligible to graduate, according to university estimates, with 897 confirmed to participate in one of the commencement ceremonies. The total number of graduates breaks down to 217 from traditional undergraduate programs, 345 from bachelor’s degree completion programs and 417 from graduate programs, including 32 from the seminary.
Traditional undergraduate students are typically those recently out of high school or community college, and they study at the FPU main campus in Southeast Fresno. Bachelor’s degree completion students are generally working adults with some college credit, while graduate students are seeking to grow in their profession through master’s degrees. These two groups attend campuses in Merced, North Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield. Seminary students pursue master’s degrees in counseling and ministry at the main campus.
Matthew Dildine, J.D., CEO of the Fresno Mission, will be the speaker at both ceremonies. During Dildine’s time at the Fresno Mission, the City Center project has brought together more than 25 organizations to provide crisis housing, free groceries, charter and career technical education, medical and mental health care, a youth drop-in center and a human-trafficking youth shelter. In process is City Ranch, California’s first master-planned community for people leaving homelessness, human trafficking and foster care. Dildine also helped start and serves as the president of Martin Park, Inc., a faith-based nonprofit that builds parks and community centers in underserved communities, and chairs the board of Citygate Network, America’s largest association of homeless services providers. Before joining the mission, Dildine was a partner at Dowling Aaron Law Firm. Matt and wife Kym—co-CEO of Central California Food Bank—have five children. His dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Religion and Political Science, Master’s in Public Policy and his Juris Doctorate are all from Pepperdine University.
Other participants will include FPU President André Stephens, Ph.D.; Joshua Wilson, J.D., M.A., chair of the FPU Board of Trustees; and Sherri Hughes, Ph.D., interim provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. Special music will be provided by the university concert choir, under the direction of Jeffrey Wilson, D.M.A., professor of music and director of choral activities.
PHOTO: FPU President André Stephens, Ph.D., presents a diploma to a graduate at the 2023 commencement. (FPU photo)