By Al Quartemont, Special to the Message
[img_assist|nid=7834|title=Happy grads|desc=Members of LC’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates for 2011 take time to celebrate their accomplishment. Louisiana College conferred degrees on 117 graduates.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=567]PINEVILLE – For Louisiana College Theater Arts major Chris McDowell of Deville, graduation meant one thing.
“It means adulthood is here,” he said. “I’m a grown- up now.”
McDowell and 42 other undergraduate and 74 graduate students in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at LC began that next stage of life Saturday, Dec. 10, when the college hosted its 151st commencement ceremony.
“These students have exalted Almighty God through their academic pursuits,” LC president Joe Aguillard told the audience of family and friends gathered at Guinn Auditorium. “This marks a new beginning – an avenue to change the world for Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
LC’s graduating class for this semester, 117 in all, came from 10 states and one foreign country.
The ceremony included the giving of the Invocation by Christian Studies major Kristen Fuselier of Alexandria. Kristen also accompanied on the piano her sister Kellie, a Social Work major, in the performance of “Carry Your Name.”
Other participants included English major Stephanie Baer of Monroe who brought the Scripture Reading, Mathematics major Alisha Williams of Bunkie who led the gathering in the Pledge of Allegiance and Social Work major Natalie Fruge’ of Sulphur, who led in the benediction.
The Commencement Address was given by Rod Masteller, recently named the director of the Joseph Willis Institute for Great Awakening Studies at LC and Ambassador for the Caskey School of Divinity. Dr. Masteller is the former pastor of Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport; he recently retired after nearly 14 years of service.
Dr. Masteller spoke to the graduates on the topic, “Can You See It?” He said there were three key elements to seeing the vision God has for each of the students’ lives: watch and be perceptive, walk and be persistent, and wait and be patient.
“The secret of life is your daily routine,” he said. “Spend time with God every day, and I promise you He will bless your life.”
For McDowell, that blessing is something he said he experienced greatly during his time at LC.
“The environment of LC – I will never have that again anywhere,” he said. “I will definitely miss that.”