FEIFFER UNIVERSITY’S CLASS OF 2012 READY TO ENTER THE WORFORCE, CONTINUE EDUCATION AND TAKE ON THE WORLD

May 12, 2012 (Misenheimer, N.C.)—On May 12, Pfeiffer University’s 141 new graduates crossed the stage to receive their undergraduate diplomas. The vast majority of the class of 2012, who completed requirements for graduation either in December 2011 or May 2012, are from cities and towns across North Carolina. Approximately half of the class earned bachelor’s degrees in business administration, criminal justice, elementary education, exercise science, psychology or sports management.

Dr. Michael Brown, senior minister, Marble Collegiate Church in New York City, gave  the commencement address. Dr. Brown, a native of Asheboro, graduated from High Point University and Duke Divinity School and received his doctorate of ministry from Drew Theological Seminary. Prior to joining Marble Collegiate, the church served for 52 years by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, he was senior minister to the 4,000-member Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston Salem. He has taught ethics at the College for Seniors at UNC-Asheville, New Testament at High Point University and congregational change at Wake Forest University Divinity School. He is the author of six books and a contributor to 11 others, and awaits publication of two more, Making the Timeless Word Timely and Love Your Way to Happiness. In 1995, he was included in the Great American Preachers book series.

At the ceremony, Dr. Brown received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in recognition of his writings and contributions to his profession. Pfeiffer also conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts on Dr. Lawrence J. Wheeler, director, North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. Dr. Wheeler graduated from Pfeiffer University in 1965 with bachelor’s degrees in history and French. He earned master’s and doctoral degrees in European history from the University of Georgia. From 1970-74, he taught history on Pfeiffer’s Misenheimer campus before becoming director of development for the Cleveland Museum of Art and serving as deputy secretary for the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.

In his remarks, Dr. Brown challenged the new graduates to have the courage to live a life that matters through a decision to practice what he calls active loving.

“Break form with the mantras of the world by listening when  you prefer to talk, being patient when in a hurry, and standing up to make right a wrong,” he said. “Ultimately, the quality of your life will depend on what you do with the time you have.”

Remarkable students from the Class of 2012 include:

·         Arsena Todd Schroeder, Charlotte, N.C., Pfeiffer’s first Knapp Scholar and Gates Millennium Scholar. Graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies, Arsena is headed to UNC Charlotte to earn a master’s degree in school counseling with extended support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered through the United Negro College Fund. The Knapp Scholars Program, funded by the Knapp Family Foundation, in particular Pfeiffer trustee Robert D. Knapp and his wife Marcia, supports deserving low-income students  who have demonstrated extraordinary scholarship and extra-curricular achievement.  Arsena’s career goals include opening a family counseling business with her husband, Stephen, who will graduate from Pfeiffer in December.

·         Zachary McMichael, Raleigh, N.C., who will attend Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Mo., on full scholarship to study patent law. Zach, a competitive swimmer, chemistry major and Milton Rose Scholar, was introduced to St. Louis last summer during a paid internship with agricultural and biotechnology leader Monsanto, where he will work again this summer before classes begin. Committed to living in St. Louis for at least three years while he completes his studies, Zach will move there with his fianceé Ashley Zeek, profiled below.

·         Ashley Zeek, Anthem, Ariz., will teach high school biology  in St. Louis, Mo., for Teach For America, the national teacher corps of recent college graduates who commit two years to teach in under-resourced urban and rural public school districts. A biology/chemistry major and basketball player who spent summer 2011 conducting research in Madagascar through Pfeiffer’s biology department, Ashley will fulfill her teaching commitment before applying to and completing medical school.

·         Several Pfeiffer graduates have been accepted to divinity school at prestigious seminaries. They are: Grady Wiley, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J.; Rachel Ford, Vanderbilt University Divinity School, Nashville, Tenn.; Laura Owens, Boston School of Theology; Aaron Duncan, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C.; and Stephen Weymouth, Pfeiffer University, M.A., Practical Theology, Charlotte, N.C.

Photo captions:

(Brown_Miller_Weaver) President Michael C. Miller (center) conferred honorary degrees at Pfeiffer’s 2012 spring commencement ceremony upon Dr. Michael Brown, senior minister, Marble Collegiate Church, New York City, who gave the commencement address and Dr. Lawrence J. Wheeler, director, North Carolina Museum of Art.

(Justin_Paige_Beard_2) Justin and Paige Beard, who live in Albemarle and own Beard Bikes in downtown Albemarle, graduated from Pfeiffer University on Saturday. Justin earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and Paige earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

(Lauren_Kaminski_3) Lauren Kaminski of Albemarle participated in commencement at Pfeiffer on Saturday. She is office manager for Robinson and Associates in Albemarle.