Truett McConnell College celebrated several milestones at the school's commencement on Saturday in Cleveland, including officially changing their name to Truett McConnell University.
The Baptist school announced the change in a release on the same day they celebrated their 70th anniversary and graduated their first masters degree student.
The school's board of trustees approved the name change last October with plans to add several graduate and undergraduate programs. Ben Garrison graduated with the recently added masters program in arts of theology. The school also plans to add masters programs in biology, business administration, arts in missions and arts in education. Truett McConnell President Dr. Emir Caner said the school wants to stay true to its roots while expanding its programs.
"The hope and dream was to simply raise up a generation of ministers who will pastor churches and a generation of students who will love Christ," Caner said. "I’m pleased to say that 70 years later, that vision is still intact."
The degree programs will need approval from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges before they can be implemented. 134 students graduated at the ceremony which was held in the school's gymnasium.
