For the 17 graduates of Pacific Islands University in Guam, the May 9th commencement ceremonies marked the end of one mission and the beginning of another. Six students received Associate’s degrees, 10 students earned their Bachelor’s degrees, and the school awarded its first Master of Arts degree. The ceremony was also special because it marked the first time that graduation exercises were held on campus. Tents and canopies were set up to protect graduates and guests from the rain, but just before graduation began, the rain stopped and the sun came out.

There were two valedictorians this year; Xuefen Mei and Grateful Nokar both completed their degrees while earning a grade point average of 4.0. Joyce Owen, the wife of university president Dave Owen, had the second highest GPA, and was selected as salutatorian. Peng Li, from Harbin, China, earned the very first Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies from Pacific Islands Evangelical Seminary.

Guam’s Lieutenant Governor Ray Tenorio offered the commencement address and challenge to the graduates. “Take the good and the bad experiences from life,” he said, “and learn from them."