Approximately 163 students walked across the stage on May 6, 2017 at the John W. Swails Center with 139 earning a bachelor’s degree and another 24 earning their associates.
Valedictorians are Ms. Paisley Whitaker and Mr. Daniel Moore (baccalaureate) and Ms. Anna Holcombe (associates).
Faculty Awards went to Ms. Timia Reynolds and Mr. Clarke Sowell.
The Dorothy Ferguson-Caddell Support Staff Award went to Ms. Kathy Roach, EC’s Accounts Payable Officer
The Johnny and Irene Brady Faculty Award went to Campus Pastor Chris Maxwell.
The Lee H. & Lucille Firebaugh Memorial Faculty Award went to Mr. Kyle Garrett, EC English Professor.
Valedictorians are Ms. Paisley Whitaker and Mr. Daniel Moore (baccalaureate) and Ms. Anna Holcombe (associates).
Faculty Awards went to Ms. Timia Reynolds and Mr. Clarke Sowell.
The Dorothy Ferguson-Caddell Support Staff Award went to Ms. Kathy Roach, EC’s Accounts Payable Officer
The Johnny and Irene Brady Faculty Award went to Campus Pastor Chris Maxwell.
The Lee H. & Lucille Firebaugh Memorial Faculty Award went to Mr. Kyle Garrett, EC English Professor.
Mr. David Roberson, who serves as EC’s Board of Trustees Chairman received an honorary bachelor’s degree.
This year’s commencement speaker was Emmanuel Alumnus Micah Gravley (’97), who currently serves as the Georgia State Representative for the 67th House District representing parts of Douglas and Paulding Counties.
This year’s commencement speaker was Emmanuel Alumnus Micah Gravley (’97), who currently serves as the Georgia State Representative for the 67th House District representing parts of Douglas and Paulding Counties.
Representative Gravley began by thanking Emmanuel College for preparing him for success.
“I have no doubt that the leadership and guidance of my professors at Emmanuel helped me get to where I am today in the Georgia General Assembly,” he said.
He then shared two challenges and two encouragements to the Class of 2017.
First, Representative Gravley challenged the graduates to find where a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class is offered and sign up for it.
“If you can learn how to manage money, the odds are in your favor that you will learn to manage much more in life as well,” Representative Gravley said.
Secondly, Representative Gravley encouraged graduates that even the smallest jobs matter. He shared that he began his career in politics as a volunteer working in the mailroom and going door to door with signs, but that hard work does not go unnoticed.
As his second challenge, Representative Gravley called for the class of 2017 to live out their faith, because the world is watching. When working for Governor (now Secretary) Sonny Perdue in 2007, Representative Gravley shared that Georgia experienced a historic drought. Not knowing what to do, the Governor called state leaders together to meet at the capitol steps and pray for rain. Three years later, a group from the Lutheran Church in Germany came to Georgia to meet with legislators to discuss ways to put an end to human trafficking. When asked “Why Georgia?” their answer was immediate. “We saw a newspaper article where you had a Governor that prayed on the capitol steps. We saw this as God’s answer to us.”
Representative Gravley encouraged the graduates to “Never, ever, ever give up.” He shared a story of Frank Martinez, a firefighter who passed away from cancer. Before passing away, Frank worked with Representative Gravley to pass a bill that would provide benefits to firefighters diagnosed with cancer. Although Frank did not live to see the bill passed, Representative Gravley never gave up and with the help of other firefighters and the Martinez family saw House Bill 149 passed a few days ago.
“You will stumble and fall down, but you are not a failure,” Representative Gravley said. “Always remember that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
“I have no doubt that the leadership and guidance of my professors at Emmanuel helped me get to where I am today in the Georgia General Assembly,” he said.
He then shared two challenges and two encouragements to the Class of 2017.
First, Representative Gravley challenged the graduates to find where a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class is offered and sign up for it.
“If you can learn how to manage money, the odds are in your favor that you will learn to manage much more in life as well,” Representative Gravley said.
Secondly, Representative Gravley encouraged graduates that even the smallest jobs matter. He shared that he began his career in politics as a volunteer working in the mailroom and going door to door with signs, but that hard work does not go unnoticed.
As his second challenge, Representative Gravley called for the class of 2017 to live out their faith, because the world is watching. When working for Governor (now Secretary) Sonny Perdue in 2007, Representative Gravley shared that Georgia experienced a historic drought. Not knowing what to do, the Governor called state leaders together to meet at the capitol steps and pray for rain. Three years later, a group from the Lutheran Church in Germany came to Georgia to meet with legislators to discuss ways to put an end to human trafficking. When asked “Why Georgia?” their answer was immediate. “We saw a newspaper article where you had a Governor that prayed on the capitol steps. We saw this as God’s answer to us.”
Representative Gravley encouraged the graduates to “Never, ever, ever give up.” He shared a story of Frank Martinez, a firefighter who passed away from cancer. Before passing away, Frank worked with Representative Gravley to pass a bill that would provide benefits to firefighters diagnosed with cancer. Although Frank did not live to see the bill passed, Representative Gravley never gave up and with the help of other firefighters and the Martinez family saw House Bill 149 passed a few days ago.
“You will stumble and fall down, but you are not a failure,” Representative Gravley said. “Always remember that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
[Editor's Comment: It is important to know that after David Robeson left Emmanuel College. David received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit while he was a student at Emmanuel College when it was a junior college. He did not graduate from EC because he was having too much fun. However, he went on to Campbell University and earned his B. A. degree two years later. He never gave up. He pressed on to achieve his goal.
David developed life-long relationship with students and that is where he met his wife, Mary. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the David Allen, Company.
Since its founding in 1920, the Company's master craftsman, David G. Allen, refused to compromise integrity, quality of work, or customers' commitment. On that foundation, David Allen Company has now become the nation's most capable and respected marble, granite, terrazzo, and tile contractor and has been the recipient of many national awards for its exceptional work. The headquarters is located in Raleigh, NC, with branch offices in Washington, DC, South Florida, Columbia, SC and Birmingham, AL.
I am highly honored to have David Roberson as a great friend and brother in Christ.]
David developed life-long relationship with students and that is where he met his wife, Mary. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the David Allen, Company.
Since its founding in 1920, the Company's master craftsman, David G. Allen, refused to compromise integrity, quality of work, or customers' commitment. On that foundation, David Allen Company has now become the nation's most capable and respected marble, granite, terrazzo, and tile contractor and has been the recipient of many national awards for its exceptional work. The headquarters is located in Raleigh, NC, with branch offices in Washington, DC, South Florida, Columbia, SC and Birmingham, AL.
I am highly honored to have David Roberson as a great friend and brother in Christ.]