Th e end and the beginning

"The grass was still damp with •*• the morning dew and the air seemed to clingwith asenseof anticipation and excitement

Allaround the academic buildings, students walked,proudly flourishing their gowns, ready to don them and march infortheceremony thatwould be theend of their undergraduatecareerand the begining of the new life they had worked so hardfor

Inside the Multi-Purpose Center, the location of the 1981 commencement, parents and friends eagerly awaited the entranceof the graduating classthatwould mark the tenth year of the college.

A drum-rollwas sounded and to the melody of"Pomp and Circumstance," the graduating class and the faculty entered thebuilding.

The first year of the college there were 150 students,on this day there were 469 graduates in the three schools.

After the opening exercises by Dr

Falwell and Dr Guillermin,the honorary degrees were awarded.

There were four honorary degrees conferred. The first wentto Woo Lung Houng, who was tortured forhis faith inNorth Korea untilhe left the countryin1954. He then began aschoolin

South Korea that today isthelargest Christian school in the world Other honorary degreesawarded were to Dr. Jack Van Impe,Don Stone and RichardVigneulle

The commencement address was brought by Dr.W. A.Criswell; ofthe FirstBaptistChurch in Dallas, Texas.

Dr Falwell said of Dr Criswell, "He hasprobably broughtthe greatest honor totheWord ofGod ofany man today."

Dr Criswell challenged thegraduatesby presenting thebasisof Christianeducation

"We can livein the basement level oflife," hesaid "We can reachout for intellectual achievement, or we can reach out for the spiritual view. The man who knows and walks with God this islife eternal."

Following the address,Dr Falwell gave an invitation during which a number of parents came forward, accepting Christ assavior

Before anyone realized it, three hourshad gone by and theprocession of the faculty had passed out ofthe building.

Dr. Guillermin then presented the graduating class of1981 Cameras flashed, cheers sounded and caps flew into the air

The graduates, amidst thehugsand handshakes, gradually made thier way out of the building to face their future— toleavefriendsandfamiliar surroundings.

Some were certain and steady and some were unsure. They knew that graduation wasn't a peak, but they knew it was a major milestone

-John Schlesinger •

For many, graduation is an emotional experience. Here, a graduate accepts an embracefrom his proud father.

Dr. W. A. Criswell, pastor of The First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, gave the commencement address for the second time in the school's history. The first timewas in 1975.