It’s a weekend filled with excitement and well-deserved recognition as Providence University College and Theological Seminary prepares to celebrate the graduating class of 2025.
Dr. Nicholas Greco, Provost and Professor of Communications and Media, says the weekend is filled with special events in honour of the graduates.
“We've got, for students, of course, Alumni High Tea. We've got achievement banquets happening, we've got receptions, and all of that is culminating in our graduation ceremonies happening on Saturday and Sunday. We have three of them happening this coming weekend.”
While Providence has students studying in Winnipeg and Otterburne, Dr. Greco explains that all graduates will gather in Otterburne for the ceremonies.
“Our Winnipeg students are going to make the trip out to Otterburn and we're going to have some graduation ceremonies specifically for our Winnipeg students here at our Otterburn campus.”
He shares that they have just over 330 graduates, which is a huge milestone for Providence.
“In our undergraduate and our university programming, we have 60 graduates. From Providence Theological Seminary, we have 33 graduates, and out of our Providence downtown programs, we have 239 students graduating this year, so we're very, very happy about this.”
As final exams wrap up and the school year comes to a close, emotions are running high across campus.
“I suspect that my feelings are different from the feelings of some of the students,” says Dr. Greco. “We're of course excited for our students to end well, and I think our students are probably full of anxiety, writing exams even as we speak and try to finish up some last-minute things that they've got going. But of course, we're always excited at this time of year.”
Among this year’s many student achievements, Dr. Greco highlights a standout moment in which a student was published in an academic journal.
“Now they're on the world academic stage, if you will. And that's something that, of course, makes us proud as faculty members, but also looks very good on them and on the institution as well. So, we're quite proud of that.”
Graduation is a special moment not only for students but also for the faculty and staff who have supported them along the way.
“We're so excited because graduation is when we see the fruit of our labours. And so, we're glad to watch these students walk across the stage,” he says. “For us, the graduation ceremonies are the summit of the academic year. This is when we get to shine, and we get to celebrate our students.”
Dr. Greco sees Providence’s impact going far beyond the campus walls.
“We believe that these students are equipped; they will go out and do what God has called them to do, and they may not even know that God has called them to serve the world in the way that they are going to do so. But that’s what brings us joy. We’re sending folks out into the world.”
He continues, “Many people talk about the educational program as being the product of a school, we're trying to sell our education to students. But for us, I think our product to the world is actually the students that we are producing because they're going to go from Providence and now serve the world and their communities.”
Although graduation weekend is the highlight of the season, celebrations won’t end there. The university is in the midst of its 100th year and will continue marking the centennial throughout the summer and into the fall.
“The Theological Seminary is also continuing to teach students as we go throughout the summer and then we're gearing up, of course for that first weekend in September for our Centennial celebration where we will have a gala in the city at the RBC Convention Centre, we're going to have an afternoon of fun here at Providence at the Otterburn campus and then a concert in Steinbach.”
As the Class of 2025 prepares to take their next steps, Dr. Greco offers them a heartfelt farewell.
“I would say go and go with God. Know that you have been given a gift and in fact, you've worked hard to receive this particular gift of education and now it's your chance to shine in the world, show the love of God to the neighbours around you, and make sure that you serve others as hopefully you've been served over the last number of years.”
The Providence University College and Theological Seminary graduation ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 26, in the gym (Hanna Centre) at 2pm, with the reception to follow.
While the Providence Downtown graduation ceremony will be held on Sunday, April 27, at 12:30 pm in the gym (Hanna Centre), with a second ceremony to follow at 3 PM.
With files from Adi Loewen