BOLIVAR (SBU) — Southwest Baptist University conferred 220 undergraduate and 265 graduate degrees during two ceremonies Saturday, May 14, on the Bolivar campus. Another 149 degrees were conferred Thursday, May 12, in Springfield to graduates of the Mercy College of Nursing and Health Sciences of SBU.
The 2016 recipients of the Life Beautiful Award are Jenna Durnell of Harwood, Mo., and Reed Dressler of Bolivar, Mo.
Durnell graduated with a degree in accounting and information assurance. She is the daughter of Mike and Suzan Durnell of Harwood, Mo.
Dressler graduated with a degree in religion and philosophy. He is the son of Howard and Gwendolyn Dressler of Bolivar.
The Life Beautiful Award was established in 1937 by Rosalee Mills Appleby, a career missionary to Brazil. This award is given annually to an outstanding man and woman in the Southwest Baptist University spring graduating class.
During the Bolivar undergraduate ceremony, the Rev. Billy Russell, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Bolivar, reminded graduates that they will never be alone because the Lord will constantly be watching over them.
“The steps you take today away from your alma mater are history in the making,” he said. “As you take steps away from these hallowed halls, from this sacred ground, to make history as you go, I want to remind you of a few promises from our heavenly Father.
“God is going to put great people of faith in your life. He is going to make sure that through the known and the unknown you can know that He is with you. The Lord will keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life.”