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Five honorary doctorates presented over Commencement Weekend

Liberty University’s 43rd Commencement Weekend was a time to celebrate accomplishments. In addition to honoring the largest graduating class to date, with 19,430 degrees awarded, Liberty also recognized the accomplishments of five individuals who have achieved success in their respective careers. These individuals were presented with honorary doctorates — either at the Main Commencement Ceremony or the Baccalaureate Service — by President Jerry Falwell and Provost Dr. Ronald Hawkins.

Since its founding in 1971, Liberty has grown to a point where its alumni are serving in virtually every profession, carrying out the university’s mission as they live and work as Champions for Christ. Three such alumni were among those awarded doctoral degrees honoris causa. Honorary degrees were also presented to two individuals who, in addition to being American heroes, spent decades lending their talents and expertise to Liberty.

Rashad Jennings, honorary Doctor of Humanities

Rashad Jennings receives and honorary doctorate from Liberty University.
NFL running back and Liberty University alumnus Rashad Jennings (’09) is given an honorary Doctor of Humanities by President Jerry Falwell (left) and Provost Dr. Ron Hawkins (right).

Jennings, the 31-year-old New York Giants football player, is now Liberty’s youngest-ever Commencement speaker, just seven years after his own graduation from Liberty.

A native of Lynchburg, Jennings grew up just a few miles from Liberty. After high school, he spent one season at the University of Pittsburgh, then returned home to help care for his ailing father and transferred to Liberty.

At Liberty, Jennings set numerous records and rushed for 1,000-plus yards in each of his three seasons. During that time, Liberty won its first two Big South Conference Championships and had a combined conference record of 11-2. He did all this while double majoring in business and sports management with a minor in biblical studies. Rashad also holds the record for the number of touchdowns scored in Williams Stadium as a running back for the Liberty Flames football team.

Jennings was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009. Since then, his career has taken him from coast to coast. After two years in Florida, he played a season with the Oakland Raiders before landing in New York. During his five seasons in the NFL, Jennings has scored 20 touchdowns and logged over 3,000 yards on the ground, including 863 yards as a Giants starter last year.

Throughout his career, Jennings has focused on giving back. His nonprofit organization, the Rashad Jennings Foundation, provides mentoring and promotes literacy, health, and wellness to youth. He visited the Lynchburg area in March to encourage local students to read. In 2015, over 20,000 students from 25 schools across the nation participated in Jennings’ reading challenge, collectively reading 167,655 books.

Falwell also pointed out that Jennings just recently fulfilled his lifelong dream of building a new house for his mother.

Falwell recognized Jennings’ “contribution to those in need” and acknowledged “his leadership both on the athletic field and through his philanthropic endeavors” as he awarded Jennings an honorary Doctor of Humanities.

Dean Parker, honorary Doctor of Business

Dean Parker receives and honorary doctorate from Liberty University.
Liberty University alumnus Dean Parker (’97) is given an honorary Doctor of Business by President Jerry Falwell (left) and Provost Dr. Ron Hawkins (right).

After graduating from Liberty in 1997, Parker went on to graduate from Harvard Business School and became an accomplished corporate executive, technology entrepreneur, company adviser, public speaker, and community activist. He is the chairman and CEO of Vita Capital, an early-stage investment firm, and was the national finance chairman for Dr. Ben Carson’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Prior to Vita, Dean was founder and CEO of Callis Communications, the leader in unified communications in the southeast. Callis was acquired by C Spire in 2014, and under his leadership was recognized as the fastest growing company in Alabama by Inc. magazine.

Dean has received numerous recognitions throughout his career. He has been a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards and a finalist for Executive of the Year in the American Business Awards.

He holds seats on a number of corporate boards, and is regional vice chairman in the southeast for the Young President’s Organization. Dean is co-founder and chairman of 1702, the premier peer network of chief executive officers and business leaders from the most promising emerging and high-growth companies in Mobile, Alabama.

Parker and his wife, Joanne, have four children, Jody, Trey, Lauren, and Zack.

President Falwell noted that the Parker family has generously supported Christian ministries and other charities including the ministry of Liberty’s former campus pastor, Clayton King.

Falwell awarded Parker an honorary Doctor of Business, in recognition of his “contribution to our nation and to Christian ministries, and in acknowledgement of his leadership in the business world.”

Penny Young Nance, honorary Doctor of Humanities

Penny Nance receives and honorary doctorate from Liberty University.
Liberty University alumna Penny Nance (’88) is given an honorary Doctor of Humanities by President Jerry Falwell (left) and Provost Dr. Ron Hawkins (right).

Nance is a recognized authority on cultural, children’s, and conservative issues. She is the CEO and president of Concerned Women for America (CWA) — the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization, with more than 500,000 members. CWA was founded by Beverly LaHaye, a former member of Liberty’s Board of Trustees. The organization has been a valued partner, providing opportunities for Liberty students to intern and work in the nation’s capital.

She received her degree in communications in 1988 from Liberty University and went on to a successful career in marketing, consulting, and public policy. Nance loves Liberty students and shares her wisdom whenever she can — whether in Washington, D.C., or on campus.

Nance was recently named one of the top four most powerful pro-life female voices by The Christian Post. She is a weekly political commentator and a popular speaker at national events. Nance has appeared on all major television networks and has been featured in numerous publications, including the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal.

She just released her first book, “Feisty and Feminine: A Rallying Cry for Conservative Women,” and continues to teach the next generation to advocate for truth in the public square.

Penny is married to Will Nance and they have two children: Claire (a rising sophomore at Liberty) and Briscoe, a high school sophomore.

President Falwell was on Sean Hannity’s radio show a week before Commencement and quoted Hannity as saying Penny Nance is a “rock star” in the conservative world.

Falwell awarded Nance an honorary Doctor of Humanities in recognition of her “contribution to our nation and in acknowledgement of her leadership in the fight to preserve those values upon which this nation was founded.”

George Rogers, honorary Doctor of Business

George Rogers receives and honorary doctorate from Liberty University.
George Rogers (left), a former WWII POW and finance administrator at Liberty University, is given an honorary Doctor of Business by President Jerry Falwell (right) and Provost Dr. Ron Hawkins.

Rogers served in the Philippines in World War II.

He came to work at Liberty in 1974 as its Chief Financial Officer and retired in 1999.

Falwell said Rogers “was one of my mentors in the many difficult years that Liberty endured financially in the ’80s and ’90s. He was known as ‘Mr. No’ among faculty and staff because he was the frugal financial guy who turned everybody down when they wanted to spend money.  George’s prudent financial management was largely responsible for Liberty’s survival during tough times.”

In World War II, Rogers was taken prisoner by the Japanese along with 75,000 American and Filipino troops. Prisoners were forced to march about 75 miles in 5 days in what is now known as the Bataan Death March. Rogers then spent 3 1/2 years in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp. At 6-feet 3-inches tall, he dropped to weigh only 85 pounds. After the war, he was told by doctors that he would never have children and likely not live past age 40. Rogers is now 97 years old and remains in good health.

He has five children, 18 grandchildren and just recently returned to Japan to tour his former prison camp.

George finally received recognition for his service when he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal in 2012.

Falwell welcomed Rogers to the stage at Commencement and presented him with an honorary Doctor of Business degree in recognition of his “sacrifices to our nation and in acknowledgement of his leadership in the fight to preserve those values upon which this nation was founded, as well as his service to this university.”

Tim Lee, honorary Doctor of Divinity

Tim Lee receives and honorary doctorate from Liberty University.
Tim Lee, an evangelist, Purple Heart veteran, and Liberty University Board of Trustees member, is given an honorary Doctor of Divinity by President Jerry Falwell (right) and Provost Dr. Ron Hawkins (left).

At Liberty’s 43rd Baccalaureate Service on Friday night, President Falwell thanked evangelist and Purple Heart veteran Tim Lee for being a hero, “not only to his nation but to this university as well.”

Lee joined the Marine Corps in 1969 and, in March of 1971, lost both of his legs in a land mine explosion in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. After returning home, Lee decided to use his platform to speak out about his faith in God.

Today, Lee is the president of Tim Lee Ministries, based out of Garland, Texas. He speaks in a variety of venues — from patriotic rallies to radio and television — across the country. Lee is a member of Liberty’s Board of Trustees and a regular guest speaker on campus. In 2012, Liberty awarded Lee the George Rogers Champion of Freedom Award, given annually to a veteran who has displayed extraordinary heroism while serving. Lee led the group Veterans for Cruz during Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Lee has been married to his wife, Connie, for 44 years. They live in Rowlett, Texas, and have three children and six grandchildren.

Lee has traveled millions of miles and shared the Gospel with countless people around the world.

“He never strays from preaching an uncompromising message grounded deep in patriotism, righteous living, and biblical revival,” Falwell said of Lee.

Falwell conferred upon Tim Lee an honorary Doctor of Divinity in recognition of “his sacrificial service to this nation, his work as an author, speaker, pastor, evangelist, and his proven leadership in the church.”

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