Almost 1,000 Graduates to be Honored at Lewis University Winter Commencement Ceremonies
Published: December 12, 2022.
Timothy McCarthy
Lewis University will celebrate Winter Commencement ceremonies for close to 1,000 students on December 16-17 on the university’s campus in Romeoville. The Winter Commencement ceremonies honor August and December graduates.
Tickets are limited for the in-person events. However, the degree ceremonies and Commencement Mass will be streamed live at www.lewisu.edu/livecommencement by the Lewis University Television Network and Department of Communications.
The celebration began Sunday, December 11 with the Commencement Mass celebrated by Father Dennis Lewandowski, university chaplain. Graduates and their families and friends, as well as faculty, and staff of all faith traditions joined in prayer in celebration of the Lewis University graduates and their families.
On Friday, the Graduate Degree Ceremony will honor more than 550 students receiving doctoral degrees, certificates of advanced study, and master’s degrees, as well as graduates of adult accelerated programs. Eight students will receive their doctorate degrees.
The Morning Undergraduate Degree Ceremony will honor more than 230 College of Aviation, Science and Technology, College of Business, and School of Graduate, Professional & Continuing Education degree recipients. During the ceremony, Stephanie Lee Lingenfelter will offer the Lasallian Address, sharing insights on the University Mission values of Knowledge and Association. The Whiteland, Ind., resident earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science.
The Afternoon Undergraduate Degree Ceremony will honor more than 200 College Education and Social Sciences, College of Humanities, Fine Arts and Communications degree recipients, and College of Nursing and Health Sciences degree recipients. During the ceremony, Christian Bogdan Mietus of Lemont will be recognized with the Father Aquinas Colgan Award for transformation while earning a bachelor’s degree in English. Lingenfelter will offer the Lasallian Address again, sharing insights on the University Mission values of Knowledge and Association.
Timothy McCarthy, a Lewis University alumnus who served as a distinquished law enforcement and public safety professional for nearly 50 years, will receive an honorary doctoral degree and address the graduates. McCarthy served as a United States Secret Service agent beginning in 1972 during Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H. Bush terms of office. During the Reagan presidency, he was shot, along with the president, during an assassination attempt. After John Hinckley began to fire, McCarthy deliberately put himself in the line of fire to shield the President. McCarthy received the NCAA Award of Valor in 1982 in recognition of his bravery. Since retirement from the Secret Service in 1993, McCarthy served primarily as Orland Park's Chief of Police as well as several other regional public service roles.
Visit http://www.lewisu.edu/commencement/ for more information.
Lewis University is an innovative Catholic university offering market-relevant undergraduate and graduate programs to 6,500 students. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis University is nationally recognized for preparing intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, and globally-connected graduates who impact the world for the better. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.
