Administration

Communications

Commencement scheduled for May 10
Monday, April 28, 2008

CANTON, MO – About 190 Culver-Stockton College students will receive their bachelor’s degrees in ceremonies on Saturday, May 10. The 152nd Annual Commencement will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Charles Field House.

Donald M. Claycomb, president of Linn State Technical College, Linn, Mo., will be the commencement speaker. Dr. Claycomb has been president of the institution for 15 years during which time it was renamed from Linn Technical College to Linn State Technical College. Under Dr. Claycomb’s leadership, the institution has undergone major changes through program development, accreditation, faculty, and facility development.

Over his career Dr. Claycomb was on the faculties at Kansas State University and the University of Missouri-Columbia in addition to having served as executive director of the Missouri State Council on Vocational Education. Dr. Claycomb, who was president of both the Missouri Association of Adult Continuing and Community Education Association and the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education, is a consultant-evaluator for The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. He also serves on the Accreditation Review Council for the 19-state area.

HONORARY DEGREES
Dr. Claycomb is one of two individuals who will receive honorary doctorate degrees during Culver-Stockton’s 2008 commencement. Culver-Stockton will also present an honorary degree to Donald K. Gnuse of Quincy, chair of the C-SC Board of Trustees. Gnuse graduated from Culver-Stockton in 1956 with a bachelor’s of science degree in business and economics and earned a diploma from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. Honored as a C-SC outstanding alumnus in 1973, Gnuse joined the C-SC board in 1984. He is a retired president of First Bankers Trust Company and is active in a number of business, civic and religious organizations. He also is on the board of Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing.

STUDENT SPEAKER
Culver-Stockton graduating senior Michael Zehnle, a senior math major, has been selected to speak on behalf of the Class of 2008. Zehnle is the son of Mary Howald of Center, Mo., and Robert Zehnle, of Quincy, Ill. Zehnle was a three-year letterwinner as a defensive end for the football Wildcats. In 2007, he was named as a scholar-athlete by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and as an NAIA Region V Scholar-Athlete. Zehnle played in 24 career games, starting all 11 games as a senior. He had 76 tackles during his Wildcat career, which included 55 tackles as a senior.

FACULTY AWARDS
During commencement, Culver-Stockton also will announce and honor the faculty members who have been selected to receive the 2008 Reuling Prize and the 2008 Helsabeck Prize for Teaching Excellence. The Reuling Prize is a new award, created to honor former C-SC president Walter S. Reuling who died last March, and goes to a faculty member selected by his or her peers. The Helsabeck Prize is awarded annually to a faculty member selected by a committee of students, faculty and staff from submitted nominations. Both prizes honor teaching excellence.

LOGISTICS
Seating in the Charles Field House is on a first-come, first-served basis on May 10, with doors opening at 7:30 a.m. Handicapped seating will be available, but those who need other special accommodations are asked to contact the Registrar’s Office at 573-288-6330. A shuttle service will be available from parking lots at the Comfort Inn, County Market, and Nichols Field (baseball).

A continental breakfast will be available from 8 to 9:15 a.m. in the dining hall of the Gladys Crown Center. Following commencement, there will be a reception for graduates, families, and friends on the lower patio of the Gladys Crown Center.

NURSE PINNING
Seniors also will be honored at other activities during the week. Pins will be presented to graduates of the nursing program, a partnership between Culver-Stockton College and the Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing, at 2 p.m., Friday, May 9, in Madison Park Christian Church, Quincy.

BACCALAUREATE
Baccalaureate is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 9, in Alexander Campbell Auditorium. Rev. Brent Reynolds, Culver-Stockton chaplain, will be the baccalaureate speaker. Reynolds joined Culver-Stockton in July 2007. Previously, he was senior pastor of First Christian Church, Watkinsville, Ga., and worked closely with Christian College of Georgia and Disciples on Campus College Ministry. He also has served as associate pastor of First Christian Church of Valdosta. Ga. He earned his bachelor’s degree in religious studies and philosophy at Bethany College, Bethany, W. Va., and his master’s of divinity at the University of Chicago Divinity School.

Dr. Robert Paige, who is retiring from his position as C-SC professor of communication, will give the class challenge. Pastor Randy Shannon of Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Marshall, Mo., will read the Scripture. Pastor Shannon is the father of C-SC 2008 graduate Bethany Shannon, a senior earning her degree in arts management.

Media: Please contact the Culver-Stockton Communications Office if you have questions about commencement or graduating seniors’ activities: mheaton@culver.edu or 573-288-6312.