Wilbur Williams to Speak at IWU Graduations

Dr. Wilbur Glenn Williams will mark his 40th year as an Indiana Wesleyan University professor by speaking Saturday at three IWU graduations. It is the first time in at least 50 years that IWU has asked one of its own professors to speak at graduation.

The 77-year-old Williams, an Associate Professor of Biblical Literature and Archaeology, still teaches full-time at IWU. A day after graduation, he will leave to guide his 131st tour of the Holy Lands.

Williams has been named IWU’s Professor of the Year or Professor of Excellence a record 10 times. He and his wife, Ardelia, received undergraduate degrees from IWU. She was the coordinator of the IWU art department for 35 years before retiring in 2002.

A total of 1,701 students will receive diplomas Saturday. A total of 440 students earned degrees through traditional programs on IWU’s main campus in Marion, and the remaining 1,261 graduates earned degrees through adult education programs.

IWU also has multiple graduations in August and December. Saturday’s graduations, which will be in Luckey Arena, 41st and Nebraska streets, will be at:

• 10 a.m. for traditional students. Dr. Henry Smith, IWU president, and his wife, Teresa, will host a breakfast for graduates and their parents at 8 a.m. in the IWU Student Center.
• 2:30 p.m. for students who earned undergraduate degrees through adult education programs.
• 6 p.m. for students who earned graduate degrees through adult education programs.

Tickets are required for admission to the three graduations, but there will be overflow seating in the auditorium of Phillippe Performing Arts Center. Tickets are not required for auditorium seating.

Dr. Earle L. Wilson, a General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church for 23 years, will speak at a baccalaureate service at 3 p.m. Friday in the Phillippe Center auditorium. He is a former president of United Wesleyan College, Allentown, Pa., which merged with Houghton College in 1989.

Indiana Wesleyan University is an evangelical Christian comprehensive university that was founded in 1920 and is committed to liberal arts and professional education. IWU is sponsored by The Wesleyan Church, which is based in Indianapolis.

A total of 2,935 students were enrolled in traditional programs on the Marion campus for the 2006-07 academic year. Almost 11,000 students were enrolled in adult and graduate programs at regional campuses in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and online.

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