Commencement Speaker

Dr. Keziah Tinkle-Williams’ Commencement speech at the first of seven ceremonies for online learners Monday morning was powerful. She shared with the audience her struggles with multiple sclerosis and the importance of slaying our inner dragons that can prevent us from reaching our goals. Her speech was so inspiring, it resulted in a number of outbreaks of applause. “Stop selling yourself short. Be your own hero,” she concluded.

As Kendall Smith looked out to the audience at Friday evening’s Spring Commencement ceremony, she couldn’t help but reflect on her time at the University. An active member of the Honors College and the College of Arts and Media, she considered the opportunity to be the student speaker the perfect end to a memorable four-year journey at GCU. Smith expressed her gratitude in her speech for the love and care the university puts into every students experience. “I hope that students, when they graduate, that they’re proud to Lopes,” she said. “I hope all the graduates feel very thankful for all GCU has done for them.”

Dyllan Taylor captivated a crowd of graduates, families and friends at Friday’s Winter Commencement ceremony. Discussing everything from his experience as a Lope to all the life lessons he learned along the way, Taylor hopes his speech helped others focus on the things that are most important. “I want to encourage all of you to hang onto those relationships that matter,” he said to the crowd. “When we take off these goofy costumes, some of us may never set foot on this campus again, but it is the unique people that you intentionally form bonds with that will carry you on to the next step.”

Kirk Cameron’s Fall Commencement keynote address underlines the importance of perseverance. The former “Growing Pains” star and now prominent Christian actor addressed GCU’s most recent group of graduates with congratulations and a powerful message of overcoming fear, fulfilling their mission and finishing the race. “This was really exciting,” Cameron said. “I was a little nervous, I’ve never done it before … I knew with all these Christian families, it was just really a special blessing to be part of this day that they’ll remember for their whole life.”