Hooding and Commencement Ceremony
Wake Forest University
School of Divinity
Wait Chapel
7 p.m. Saturday, May 18
2024
Hooding Ceremony
Seven Oβclock in the Evening Saturday, May the Eighteenth, Two Thousand and Twenty-Four Wait Chapel
Prelude
Procession of the Light*
Processional*: βSing A New World Into Beingβ (page 6)
Matthew Bacon (MDiv β24) Organist
Devin Withrow (MDiv β25) Lightbearer
Olena Withrow (MDiv β25) Lightbearer
Emily Burke (MDiv/MA in Counseling β25) Poetry Reading
NETTLETON
Joshua Gregg (MDiv β26) Crossbearer
Invocation Courtney Jones (MDiv/MA in Counseling β25)
Deanβs Welcome
Scripture Readings
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 40:30-31
*All who are able are invited to stand.
Corey D B Walker
Dean and Wake Forest Professor of the Humanities
Shelby Miles (MDiv/MA in Counseling β25)
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Refrain: β Those Who Wait for the Lordβ
With a gospel feel (piano)
Reprinted with permission under OneLicense net A-701691
Text based on Isaiah 40:31 Music by Sally Ann Morris Β© 2014. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Introduction of Speaker
Song: βWild Resilienceβ (Composed for Class 2024 New Student Orientation)
I am resilience, hallelujah! I am resilience, hallelujah! Wild resilience, hallelujah! Wild resilience, hallelujah!
Every step I take, every move I make
I wonβt back down, I wonβt back down Every step I take, every move I make I wonβt back down,
I wonβt back down
Iβm getting stronger now, hallelujah!
Iβm getting stronger now, hallelujah! (Repeat)
Every breath I take, every plan I make, The Spirit leads, The Spirit goes with me .
Every breath I take, every plan I make, The Spirit leads, and goes with me
Iβm moving forward now, hallelujah!
Iβm moving forward now, hallelujah! (Repeat)
If I fail or succeed, everything that I need
Bradley Hunt II (MDiv β24)
I find in You, You make me new
If I fail or succeed, everything that I need I find in You, You make me new . lyrics by Joshuah Brian Campbell Director of Worship, Music, and the Arts, and Director of University Gospel Choir tune-βIβve Got the Victory,β traditional-congregational
2 ο ο ο ο ο ο ο
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ο ο οο ο
οο ο Those who ο ο οο ο
ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο waitforthe ο ο ο ο ο ο ο οο ο ο
ο
ο ο ο ο Lordshallre ο οο ο ο
ο
ο ο ο ο ο οο ο ο ο ο newtheir ο ο ο οο ο 5 ο ο ο ο
ο
ο ο ο ο strength,theyshall ο ο ο ο
ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο mountupand ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο
ο ο ο ο ο ο fly ο οο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο and ο ο ο ο ο ο 9 ο ο οο ο
οο ο they shall ο ο οο ο
ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο runandshall ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο οο ο
οο ο not be ο ο οο ο
ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο weary;shall ο ο ο ο ο οο ο ο
ο
ο
ο
13 ο ο ο ο
ο ο ο ο ο ο
ο οο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο notgrow ο ο ο ο ο
ο
ο ο
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ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο ο Isaiah 40:31
walk andshall
faint.
Zachary Jackson (MDiv β24)
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Conferral of Degrees
Remarks
Presentation of Candidates
Conferring of Degrees
Hooding of graduates
Derek S .Hicks
Associate Professor of Religion and Culture
Susan R Wente President
Corey D B Walker Dean
Susan R . Wente President
Elizabeth OβDonnell Gandolfo Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Earley Associate Professor of Catholic and Latin American Studies
Brittani D Hunt (MDiv β15) Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Services
Mary Ellen Walter Assistant Director of Academic Services and Assistant Registrar
School of Divinity Faculty
Presentation of the Class Gift Nicole Johnson (MDiv β24) Erica Baldwin (MDiv β24)
Video Presentation
Special Recognitions
Georgia McKee (MDiv β24)
Guthrie Prize Elizabeth OβDonnell Gandolfo
Bill J . Leonard Award
Recessional*: βGo in Peace . Go in Loveβ (page 7)
Please join us for a reception honoring the graduates in the Green Room of Reynolda Hall.
*All who are able are invited to stand.
3 Homily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corey D . B . Walker
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Benediction
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About The Speaker
Derek Hicks teaches and researches broadly in the areas of African American religion, religion in North America, race, the body, religion and foodways, theory and method in the study of religion, and cultural studies He serves as co-chair of Wake Forest Universityβs Slavery, Race, and Memory Project, a Wake Forest University initiative seeking to account for the institutionβs role with slavery He also serves as a member of the American Academy of Religionβs Program Committee Dr Hicks is the author of the book Reclaiming Spirit in the Black Faith Tradition (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012) He is currently completing a second book entitled Feeding Flesh and Spirit: Religion, Food, and the Saga of Race in Black America . In addition, he served as assistant editor of the volume entitled African American Religious Cultures (ABC-CLIO Press) He is also the co-author of an article entitled βHow Much a Dollar Cost?β: Political Ideology, Religion, and Poverty Policy Through the Lens of Kendrick Lamarβs Music (Southern California Review of Law and Social Justice, Vol 28:2, 2019) Dr Hicks is the founding director of the Center for Research, Engagement and Collaboration in African American Life, which serves Wake Forest Universityβs intellectual community as an interdisciplinary research hub that promotes innovative programming and community engagement .
Class of 2024 Gift
Members of the Class of 2024 gave a gift of $525 toward the Wake Forest University School of Divinity processional cross . The generosity of their support makes this addition to our worship spaces possible . Their gift will play an integral role in strengthening our worship experiences The School of Divinity appreciates the Class of 2024βs efforts in contributing to our learning community
Notes
β’ The commencement hashtags are #wakediv2024 and #wfugrad
β’ Please silence all mobile devices during the ceremony
β’ βSing A New World Into Beingβ used with permission under OneLicense net #A-701691
β’ βGo in Peace Go in Loveβ used with permission under OneLicense net #A-701691
Processional hymn:
Matthew Bacon (MDiv β24), organ
Recessional hymn:
Sally Morris, piano
About the Margaret Woodford Guthrie Prize
Student Marshals:
Sophia Carter (MDiv β25)
Claire Cox (MDiv β26)
Damisha Moore (MDiv β25)
Adrian Starks (MDiv β26)
Jason Wright (MDiv β25)
The Margaret Woodford Guthrie Prize is an award established by Wiley C . Guthrie (β52) in memory of his wife Recipients must have a superior scholarship record, a personality suited to the requirements of Christian ministry, and have effectively participated in the schoolβs activities
About the Bill J . Leonard Distinguished Service Award Pro Fide Et Humanitate
The Bill J Leonard Distinguished Service Award is awarded annually to faculty, alumni, or friends of the Wake Forest University School of Divinity Recipients embody the principle of Wake Forestβs motto of Pro Humanitate and the Schoolβs mission, such as a commitment to diverse faith engagements and to being agents of justice, reconciliation, and compassion in Christian churches and other ministries
The award was established and funded by the late James M . Dunn and his wife, Marilyn, to honor βthe life contributions of Bill J Leonard as teacher, scholar, historian, and as the first dean of the divinity school at Wake Forest β Dunn served as resident professor of Christianity and public policy from 1999 until his retirement in 2014
The first award was made during the 2009-2010 academic year to commemorate the Schoolβs first class of entering students in 1999 and to honor the Reverend Dr Bill J Leonardβs decade of service to the School .
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Matthew David Bacon
MASTER OF DIVINITY
May 20, 2024 Graduates
Winston-Salem, NC
Erica D Baldwin Greensboro, NC
Gabrielle M . Banks
Stafford, VA
William Warner Branch~ Winston-Salem, NC
Brianna Nicole Eley Rocky Mount, NC
Rebecca Jean Gordon
Winston-Salem, NC
Ana Huckins Virginia Beach, VA
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Bradley Hunt II
Zachary Bruce Jackson β
Greensboro, NC
Sandersville, GA
Nicole Johnson Β§ Winston-Salem, NC
Bethany Rose Leggett
Snellville, GA
Georgia Anne McKee Frisco, TX
Kristina J Meyer Richmond, VA
Malcham Avery Seals
Decatur, GA
Strauss Moore Shiple York, SC
Leah Terraglio
Statesville, NC
Marion Charlene Thomas Β§ New York, NY
Alexia Valenzuela Washington, PA
Lance Kenneth Williams
Cincinnati, OH
Bradley Ylitalo Wayzata, MN
JURIS DOCTOR / MASTER OF DIVINITY
May 20, 2024 Graduates
Kit Everett Kniss
Chambersburg, PA
Jada Mileena Williams Snellville, GA
MASTER OF DIVINITY / MASTER OF ARTS IN COUNSELING
May 20, 2024 Graduates
Michael Lee Branton Shelby, NC
Amelia Hope Britt
Kirby Elizabeth Jones
Β§ Interfaith Literacy and Leadership Concentration
β Womenβs, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Graduate Concentration ~ In Memoriam
Savannah, GA
Garner, NC
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Reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net A-701691
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Sing A New World Into Being
Reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net A-701691
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Go in Peace. Go in Love
Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted, but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like
eagles;
they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint .
Isaiah 40:30-31 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being
renewed day by day . For our slight, momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of
beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen, for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
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glory