OBU to graduate students today

A total of 247 graduates will have degrees conferred upon them during Oklahoma Baptist University’s 94th Spring Commencement today. The graduating students will take their final walk across the campus as OBU students when they file into Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium for the 10 a.m. ceremonies. In academic regalia, the students will proceed from the Geiger Center to the east steps of Raley Chapel, passing through rows of OBU faculty members. The walk is a symbolic conclusion to the students’ OBU careers. More than 1,800 will witness the commencement. Dr. John McWilliams, assistant professor of natural science and recipient of the 2007 OBU Distinguished Teacher Award, will deliver the commencement address. John W. Parrish, OBU interim president, will preside. In addition to the address from McWilliams, the program includes greetings by officials from the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and induction into the OBU Alumni Association. OBU’s top three honors for faculty and staff members will be presented by Parrish during the graduation exercises. They include the Distinguished Teacher Award, the Promising Teacher Award, and the Meritorious Service Award. One OBU graduate to be honored during commencement actually will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of completing his bachelor’s degree. Henry Maxey, a member OBU’s class of 1958, was unable to participate in the university’s commencement that spring, as he had to report for military service prior to the on-campus event. Maxey, Broken Arrow, will be recognized for a bachelor of music degree in choral directing: voice.