Circleville, OH - May 3, 2025
A steady rain may have blanketed the campus of Ohio Christian University on Saturday, but not even gray skies could overshadow the joy, pride, and excitement that filled the air as 160 graduates took their long-awaited walk across the commencement stage.
The 2025 OCU Commencement Ceremony, held on May 3, brought together students, families, faculty, and friends to celebrate years of hard work, personal growth, and academic achievement. While umbrellas and ponchos were in full view, so too were proud smiles, tearful hugs, and bursts of laughter that echoed inside the Maxwell Center.
"Today graduates, you stand at the intersection of accomplishments and anticipation - ready to step into a world of possibilities and challenges - to be 'Oaks of Righteousness'" said keynote speaker Dwight Mason, lead pastor of NewPointe Community Church. In a powerful and heartfelt address, Mason encouraged graduates to embrace their calling, lean into their faith, and live lives of purpose beyond the campus gates.
"Your journey doesn't end here," Mason told the Class of 2025. "It's just eh beginning. Step into the world with courage and compassion, and remember who you are whose you are."
University President, R.D. Saunders, also addressed the crowd saying "An OCU education is a combination of intellectual growth, spiritual development, practical experience and progress as leaders, servants, saints, and scribes."
The ceremony included some traditional and non-traditional elements such as a time of worship lead by the OCU Chorale, conferring of degrees, and the awarding of an Honorary Doctorate to Dwight Mason. Despite the weather, the celebration was vibrant and heartfelt, with families cheering loudly and proudly as each graduate's name was read aloud. For many in attendance, the day was not only about personal achievement but also community and shared accomplishment.
Though the clouds lingered, the spirit of hope and celebrations burned bright, proving once again that nothing—not even a rainy day—can stop the momentum of a determined heart.
Congratulations to the Ohio Christian University Class of 2025!
