Approximately 75 Anderson University students received diplomas during winter commencement exercises Dec. 16.
A graduate enjoys a moment of achievement.Wayne Cox, English professor and faculty chair, delivered the commencement address. Cox challenged the graduates to continue to broaden themselves beyond their specific disciplines in order to be able to adjust more readily to the rapidly changing world around them.
Richard Franklin, a 1963 Anderson graduate, was presented the Alumni Achievement Award. He served at Anderson as vice president and dean for student development from 1974-88. He later served at Gardner-Webb College and completed his career at Samford University, where he instituted several innovative programs for students, including a new code of student behavioral expectations and a four-year program of student leadership education and development. Samford University established the Richard H. Franklin Servant Leader Scholarship upon his retirement in spring 2009.
Todd Price, a 2005 graduate from the evening adult program, was named the first recipient of the AU ACCEL Alumni Achievement Award. Price is a principal with Edward Jones Company and is active in many Anderson community service organizations.
Sheila Day, AU’s first graduate to have completed all her courses online, received her degree in criminal justice.
The winter commencement was the first Anderson University graduation ceremony to feature a new school song, “The Sounds of Anderson,” written by musician and songwriter Johnny Mann, who has become an ardent Anderson supporter since retiring to the community a few years ago.