While honoring them for the dedication required to complete their degrees, Dr. Steven Keith (Chaplain, Colonel USAF Ret.) challenged Liberty University’s military graduates to live out their faith and answer God’s calling on their lives during the fifth annual Military Graduate Recognition Ceremony, held May 13 in the Vines Center.
The event, attended by approximately 350 active duty, retired, and reserve graduates, was organized by Liberty’s Office of Military Affairs. Over 5,800 military service members, veterans, and military spouses made up about 30 percent of the Class of 2016.
“We can train you to be a Champion for Christ, and you’ve put in the commitment, but the decision is yours to be all in for Jesus Christ,” said Keith, who serves as director of Liberty’s Center for Chaplaincy in the School of Divinity. “In Mark 8:34, Jesus said, ‘Take up your cross and follow Me.’ He’s King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He’s the God of the Universe. He’s the Commander-in-Chief. He wants you to be all in and follow Him with all of your heart.”
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of challenge coins — engraved with images of the Bible, the American flag, and a graduation cap — to the graduates, honoring their service in the military and completion of their respective degrees.
Another 150 spouses of military members were honored at the second annual Military Spouse Graduate Recognition Ceremony held earlier in the day. Liberty also held two special commissioning ceremonies for graduates of its Eagle Battalion Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and Air Force ROTC Detachment 890, who were sworn in as second lieutenants in their respective branches.
Kyle Seeger, who served in Afghanistan from February 2012 to February 2013, was recognized as the second recipient of the Major Michael J. Donahue Award. Named in honor of the former Liberty alumnus and instructor who was killed Sept. 17, 2014, in a Taliban attack on a U.S. military base outside Kabul, Afghanistan, the award is presented annually to the second- or third-year Army ROTC cadet who has provided leadership and inspiration to others through his or her unmatched selflessness, work ethic, and integrity.
“We in the military understand what personal sacrifice is. The valor, the character, the selflessness, the commitment that we all must give to our country is what you brought to the education process. There are people all around the globe right now, military members, taking the God-given character that you have and applying it to their education, and we are so proud of you.”
—Dr. Steven Keith (Chaplain, Colonel USAF Ret.), director of the Liberty University Center for Chaplaincy
