CLEVELAND — Saturday morning's commencement ceremony at Truett McConnell University in Cleveland was monumental in several ways.
The event was the 68th for the school, but also was its first as a university. Additionally, the day was special because the school awarded its first master's degree.
Prior to presenting diplomas to 134 candidates, Truett McConnell alumnus Scotty Wilbanks, keyboardist with the Dove Award-winning Christian music group Third Day, spoke to the crowd.
Wilbanks, 45, who grew up in Maysville, graduated from TMC 25 years ago and, along with humorous remarks about his education and career, he told the graduates, "In this single monumental moment in your life is to decide, without apology, to commitment to the journey and not the outcome."
Wilbanks also said, "So many people are looking for guarantees instead of opportunities."
A highlight of the diploma presentation was the awarding of the first master's degree to Benjamin Adam Garrison, who earned the master of arts in theology degree at the school.
