This past weekend, Lee University conferred 169 degrees to undergraduate and graduate students during its winter commencement ceremony. Graduates and family gathered in a festive, holiday-decorated Conn Center to celebrate the accomplishment, with a keynote address delivered by Dr. Mark Walker. 

“For most of you graduating today, you’ll always remember Mark Walker as your president; for me, he is not only a close friend but someone for whom I have great admiration. It’s a pleasure to have him address you today,” said Lee President Dr. Paul Conn upon introducing Walker. 

In his commencement address, Walker reminded the graduates to always live with the needs of others in mind. “Wherever your degree takes you, live to give, for that is the heart of the Gospel. We are called to embody the Gospel, to be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. It’s not just something we know; it’s something we live.” 

Walker shared three ways to live with a giving heart: be a person of excellence, be a person of integrity, and be a person of authenticity, “for the world needs the real you. Go be great. Be the gospel. Live with others in mind. And live to give!” 

After serving for seven years on Lee’s Board of Directors, Walker was asked by the Board to lead the school’s pastoral training program. In 2017, he became the vice president for Ministerial Development and chair of the Department of Christian Ministries until he was asked to serve as Lee’s president in 2020. At the completion of his term in May of this year, he returned to Lee’s School of Theology & Ministry as a professor of pastoral studies. 

Of the 169 degrees conferred Saturday, three were associate’s degrees, 151 were bachelor’s degrees, 12 were master’s, one was an education specialist, and two were doctoral degrees. 

The winter event is one of three graduation weekends at Lee each year. Lee also holds commencements in May and July.  

To view the commencement and commissioning ceremonies, visit leeu.live.  

For more information about commencement exercises, contact the Academic Events Office at [email protected], (423) 614-8117, or visit academics/graduation-info/.