IWU's Barnes Presides at Final Graduations
By Alan Miller
4/29/06

Dr. Jim Barnes presided at his 100th - and final - graduation April 29 at Indiana Wesleyan University. Dr. Barnes will become IWU's first chancellor on July 1, a day after he completes his 19th year as president.

A total of 1,476 students received diplomas during three ceremonies on IWU's Marion campus. IWU also has multiple graduation ceremonies in August and December.

Commissioner W. Todd Bassett, the U.S. National Commander for The Salvation Army, spoke at the three graduations and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.

Commissioner Bassett and his wife, Carol, were commissioned as Salvation Army officers in 1965. She is the National President of Women's Ministries. The couple retired from Salvation Army service a day after participating in IWU's graduations.

Dr. Wayne Schmidt, senior pastor of Kentwood Community Church in Kentwood, Mich., spoke at a baccalaureate ceremony on April 28. Dr. Schmidt, a 1979 IWU graduate, also received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree at commencement.

Dr. Henry Smith, who joined IWU two years ago as Executive Vice President, will become the University's eighth president on July 1. Dr. Smith was born and reared in Frankfort, Ind., where his father has been a Wesleyan pastor for more than 50 years.

Alan Miller is the University Relations Director at Indiana Wesleyan University.