Judson holds commencement for 133

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

Liftoff.

In his keynote address for Judson University's commencement ceremony Saturday, the Rev. Aidsand Wright-Riggins, executive officer of National Ministries, part of American Baptist Churches USA, compared the students' journey to a rocket launching.

Throughout the graduates' educational careers, parents, family members and the instructors have served as boosters, which helped the rockets (the graduates) into orbit, he said.

It's time for the boosters to fall away and for the graduates to control their own destiny, he said.

"Today does make a significant ending and beginning," Wright-Riggings said. "Will the rocket lift or will it fall back to earth?"

During the school's fall commencement exercises, held at the school's Lindner Fitness Center, 133 students graduated.

Of those, 76 received bachelors degrees and 57 earned masters degrees.

Wright-Riggins said the graduates are living in an age in which people are dying from unprotected sex, senseless violence and other "foolish urges."

He encouraged them to stay true to their Christian values and to become an example to their generation. "True wisdom begins with true knowledge, and true knowledge begins with God," Wright-Riggins said. "We need wisdom or we will die."

After the keynote address, Wright-Riggins again began the count down.

"Congratulations 2009, have a great fly," Wright-Riggins said. "Go with God."

As they enter an economy that's been called the worst since the Great Depression, graduates made a wise choice to continue their education and get their degrees, President Jerry Cain said.

That the graduates completed that rite of passage wearing caps and gowns made out of recycled plastic bottles is a sign of the times and shows the school is at "the forefront of environmental awareness," Cain said.

"It's time to party in this building. The victory is yours and we stand to join you in that celebration."