IUPUC conducts commencement for 280 students

The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Bishop Johnnie Edwards, President, Columbus Branch, NAACP. Photo provided

COLUMBUS, Ind. — IUPUC held its 2022 commencement celebration ceremony on Thursday at the Airpark Columbus campus.

The Class of 2022 includes 280 students receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology, business, business administration, education, communication studies, community health advocacy, criminal justice, English, general studies, mechanical engineering, mental health counseling, nursing, psychology, and sociology.

This was the second year that the ceremony was conducted on the IUPUC campus, and the first time since 2019 that guests were permitted to attend in person due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Student speakers included Heather L. Adams, President of the Student Government Activities Board who gave the welcoming address, and Nettie Elizabeth Miller, who gave Chancellor’s Scholar address.

The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Bishop Johnnie Edwards, President, Columbus Branch, NAACP. He is a member of the Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County Board, the African American Pastor’s Alliance, and the IUPUC Diversity Council. Since 2017 he has served as the Pastor of the Second United Methodist Church in North Vernon, and he was ordained Bishop in 2021. Edwards attended Ivy Tech Community College in Columbus, graduating cum laude in supply chain management, and recently graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a bachelor of science degree in international relations and clobal security.

The celebration ceremony was live streamed for those who could not attend in person, and a replay of the livestream will be made available online at graduation.iupuc.edu.