Liberty University will honor its largest graduating class to date Saturday, as Gov. Mitt Romney will address an estimated crowd of over 34,000 at Commencement 2012.
In all, 14,012 will receive degrees, surpassing last year’s graduating class, which topped 10,000 for the first time.
The main ceremony begins at 10 a.m. in Arthur L. Williams Stadium. Following the main ceremony there will be 22 degree presentation ceremonies for the individual schools and colleges.
Over 6,000 will participate in Liberty’s 39th Commencement exercises, representing all 50 states and over 70 countries, with 2,208 residential graduates and 3,803 graduates of Liberty University Online.
Military personnel make up over 2,000 of the graduates and Liberty will honor them with a special Military Graduate Recognition Service on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Vines Center. This is Liberty’s first year to hold this ceremony, which is intended to become a tradition for years to come.
Over 60 percent of participating graduates have earned their degree online. A reception for online graduates and their families will be held on the concourse level of Williams Stadium on Friday from 2-4 p.m.
This year, Liberty will bestow 6,512 bachelor’s degrees, 6,299 master’s degrees, 147 doctoral degrees and 1,054 other degrees.
Preceding graduation day will be the Baccalaureate service, Friday at 6 p.m. in the Vines Center. World-renowned evangelist Luis Palau will deliver the message for the event, which Liberty includes as part of its Commencement ceremonies, staying true to its Christian values.
Until the implementation of separation of church and state, Baccalaureate services were included in public school Commencement ceremonies. They now are no longer officially school-sponsored events at public schools.
“One of the privileges of attending Liberty University is that this service, honoring Jesus Christ, has not fallen prey to political correctness and is still one of the official commencement ceremonies,” said Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr., at last year’s Baccalaureate.
Liberty University, located in Lynchburg, Va., is the world’s largest Christian university. Nearly 100,000 students attend classes on its 6,800-acre residential campus and study in its thriving online education program.
By the Numbers
4,260 arts and sciences graduates
2,225 business graduates
1,989 individuals receiving their degree in education
2,016 seminary students receiving degrees
3,522 individuals completing other degree programs
via PR Web