Convocation Celebrates Southwestern’s 125th Year

Faculty and staff were given custom medallions to commemorate the 125th year of Southwestern.

Southwestern Adventist University celebrated Convocation yesterday, an annual tradition used to usher in a brand-new school year and welcome the professors.

President Ken Shaw stands with Convocation speaker Sam Leanor before the event.

This year makes the 125^th anniversary of Southwestern Adventist University, really giving more meaning to this event. University President Ken Shaw, rocking a truly outstanding bowtie for the day, had this to say about the event: “Convocation is one of the great events for our campus and really celebrates the beginning of a new year. Our theme this year is thrive and our speaker today, Chaplain Sam Leonor is going to talk about thriving in Jesus.”   

Dean of Men Wil Iversen celebrates with James The, VP for student services.

Sam Leonor is the chaplain at La Sierra University, with degrees from Southern Adventist University and Andrews University. Leonor presented a message on the difference between surviving and thriving, using examples such as “there’s a difference between earning a diploma and getting an education. Earning a diploma means you can move on, you can advance. Getting an education means you’ve learned something and you can use that to live your life.”

Communication professors Glen Robinson, Kyle Portbury and Mike Agee show off their new medallions.

While this could be seen as just another assembly for many students, this day marked a new experience for one person in particular. Pastor Buster Swoops graduated from SWAU in 2006, but with this convocation marched down the same aisle as some of his old professors.

 “It’s surreal, being in this position,” Swoops says. “I know that this is used to honor the professors, but I also think it’s important for the professors to honor the students.”

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