Whether it was the rousing speech from keynote speaker Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, the exciting drone show over Williams Stadium, or the proud smiles of graduates as they crossed the stage to the loud cheers of their loved ones, Liberty University’s 52nd Commencement was filled with special moments and special people to celebrate the largest graduating class — over 32,000 — with a spirit of victory and thankfulness to the Lord.
Commencement Weekend, May 8-10, was packed with multiple campus events, including 28 degree presentation ceremonies Thursday through Saturday, a Welcome Fair, Alumni Reception, and Military Graduate Recognition Ceremony honoring over 7,000 service members, veterans, and military spouses.
Commencement Keynote, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin
The 74th Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin returned to campus in May to deliver the keynote address at Commencement.
“It is so humbling to be here with the amazing First Lady Suzanne Youngkin and my son Grant Youngkin and to have an opportunity to be back at this wonderful institution,” he said. “It’s an institution that is respected all around the world because it is rooted not in the temporal but in the eternal.”
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivered the keynote address during the May 9 Commencement Main Ceremony.
The event marked his third visit to campus; Youngkin spoke at Convocation in Spring 2022 and at the Inauguration Ceremony for President Dr. Dondi E. Costin in Fall 2023.
During Commencement, Youngkin highlighted graduates’ accomplishments, including the more than 6,300 who were graduating with honors, 4,100 with a perfect 4.0 GPA, and 7,129 with military ties.
“With over 32,000 graduates, the Class of 2025 is not only the largest in Liberty’s storied history, it’s also one of the most impressive since Jerry Falwell Sr. had a vision and opened the doors of this school more than five decades ago.”
He thanked the graduates for setting an example of service to others, from helping residents recover from Hurricane Helene to protecting the lives of the unborn.
“You marched for life with me in Richmond, and you stood up for those who can’t stand up for themselves,” he said as the audience erupted into applause. “You partnered with organizations like Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Blessing; you did more than aid those who have lost everything — you showed what it meant to be a Champion for Christ, and that is the utmost demonstration of love in action.”
He said there will be seasons when the graduates hear God’s call and can choose to respond, “Here I am. Send me,” like the prophet Isaiah and many Virginians throughout history, including Patrick Henry; Desmond Doss; Barbara Johns, who protested segregation at 16 years old; and Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, founders of Operation Smile.
“This faithful courage that says ‘Send me’ doesn’t just belong in the history books. It is also with us right here in Williams Stadium.”
But Youngkin also warned that God’s call isn’t always “comfortable” or “convenient,” and may come at unexpected times, even when you feel you are already fulfilling your purpose. He shared his own story of following God’s call in the middle of a successful 25-year business career.
“In 2020, I had what I thought was my dream job,” he said. “I was married to the love of my life for 26 years then, and we were raising our amazing four children. I thought I was exactly where I was supposed to be, and the Lord had other plans. He put a stop sign in my prayer life — a stop sign impossible to ignore.”
It was on a Friday night that year when Youngkin revealed those plans to his wife, plans to run for governor, and they prayed together for guidance, wisdom, and strength. Youngkin said they have never regretted it.
Youngkin was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humanities during the ceremony.
“Other than the day I accepted Jesus as my Savior and (the day) Suzanne said, ‘Yes, I will marry you,’ I have never felt more purposeful in my life,” he said. “Each of you will have a different story. And I don’t know how your chapter will unfold or what your specific callings will be. … But I know this for sure: the Class of 2025, you are ready to hear the invitation, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I am so confident that you will stand up and say, ‘Send me.’”
In closing, Youngkin told the graduates that a Liberty education will set them apart, and he prayed for them.
“From this moment on, in every room you enter, you will be bringing the unique formation of a Liberty education, and what a blessing that will be to everyone whose path you will cross. The world needs your witness, it needs your intellect, it needs your promise, it needs your commitment. The world needs more Champions for Christ. Above all, it needs your faith, it needs your hope, it needs your love. And remember — the greatest of these is love.”
Watch the Main Ceremony’s drone show below
DID YOU KNOW?
Liberty’s Commencement is the largest event in Central Virginia every year, with about 60,000 people converging on campus over three days.
Across the generations
Over 26,000 members of the Class of 2025 earned their degrees through Liberty University Online Programs, and Liberty was honored to welcome different generations to Commencement.
Virginia J. Morelock — 94 Years old
Dr. Virginia J. Morelock, 94, of Orange County, Calif., is the oldest graduate in the class. She earned her Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction: Elementary Education last fall and was excited to attend Commencement and visit campus for the first time. (Read her full story at Liberty.edu/News)
Noah Mansoor — 16 Years old
At an age when many teenagers are only beginning to apply to college, Noah Mansoor earned his bachelor’s degree at 16 and has even begun work on his master’s. (Read his full story at Liberty.edu/News)
