“Chisel Away”

Katie Bruels addressed the graduates at the December ceremony.

Graceland celebrated Fall Commencement on Dec. 16, 2023, at the Community of Christ Auditorium in Independence, Mo., as graduates from the School of Nursing, Community of Christ Seminary, and Gleazer School of Education joined by graduates of the Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics, and Master of Science in Nutrition and Human Performance programs proudly walked across the stage.

Katie Bruels, DNP, ’18 delivered the commencement address. A distinguished graduate of Graceland’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, Bruels has held various leadership roles at Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA) for the past 16 years and now serves as Chief Nursing Executive for HCA Midwest Health. She emphasized the importance of practicing daily gratitude and striving to make a positive difference regardless of one’s circumstances. She also encouraged graduates to define their happiness in their chosen careers and to recognize their ability to create a better work-life atmosphere.

David Seda closed his speech by saying, “You’ve all been very kind, thank you very much. Class dismissed.”

Spring Commencement weekend, held April 27-28 in Lamoni, was full of memorable activities and remarkable individuals. The celebration began on Saturday with the Baccalaureate service, during which two students were honored with the prestigious Student Life Award: GSG President Peyton Anderson ’24 and COSA President Delaney Fox ’24. Vice President for Student Life Dave Schaal, EdD, ’80 acknowledged both recipients for their involvement in student government, house council, and various campus clubs, and for their significant contributions to the Graceland student community.

Sunday’s commencement ceremony was a joyful occasion as students prepared to receive their degrees and join the ranks of Graceland alumni. This year’s Spring Commencement speaker was David Seda, MA, ’83, who has held prominent positions at Apple, Cisco, and other tech companies like Microsoft, where he currently leads Azure AI. Seda’s speech was well-regarded by many, encouraging graduates not to be defined by their size in the world but to “chisel away” by asking the right questions and discovering their passions. He emphasized the importance of lifelong learning and assured the graduates that they were destined for greatness.

At Commencement in Lamoni, Bob Ackerley expressed how meaningful it is to be part of the Graceland community.

During the ceremony, Graceland also honored Bob Ackerley with an Honorary Degree. Ackerley and his family have been passionate supporters of the University, contributing to the outdoor track and endowing the prestigious Ackerley Scholarship for CSIT and Data Science majors.

Fall 2023 Commencement images  |  Spring 2024 Commencement images

What’s Next?

The Horizons team asked these 2024 graduates about their plans and aspirations after graduation:

Bahati Nabindu

HOMETOWN: Thornton, Colorado
MAJORS: Criminal Justice & Psychology

“I am planning to attend the University of Denver to get my master’s in Forensic
Psychology.”

Peyton Anderson

HOMETOWN: Lee’s Summit, Missouri
MAJOR: Economics
MINORS: Data Science & Sport Management

“I will begin working for the Kansas City Royals in their Sales Department.”

Samuel Johnson

HOMETOWN: Clovis, California
MAJOR: Biology

“I was accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University and will be attending to follow my dream of becoming a veterinarian.”

Mackenzie Klinginsmith

HOMETOWN: Trenton, Missouri
MAJOR: Elementary Education (Music Endorsement)

“I will be teaching music at Lamoni Community Schools in the fall.”

Calvin Hays

HOMETOWN: Blue Springs, Missouri
MAJOR: Business Administration & Economics

“I will continue working in Independence, Mo., as General Manager of Polly’s Pop, one of the many companies owned by Ken ’79 and Cynthia McClain.”

Faculty Recognitions

Fall 2023

Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching

Wendy Berdych, MSN, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing

“I felt honored and completely shocked when I received the Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching in my first year. I felt a strong connection and dedication to the amazing Graceland Nursing students, and I am so glad they felt that way towards me and my teaching style. Teaching our future nurses has been a lifelong dream, and I love my experience here at Graceland.”

Spring 2024

Exceptional Service Award

Sehwan Kim, PhD
Assistant Professor of Sport Management

“I am deeply honored to receive this award. This recognition not only reflects my past contributions to Graceland and our students but also inspires me to deepen my engagement with the university community. Every day, I am reminded of the impact our collective efforts have on shaping the educational and personal growth of our students. Being acknowledged in this way motivates me to continue striving for excellence and to explore new ways to enrich our vibrant community.”

Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching & Excellence in Scholarly Achievement

Ioseb “Soso” Gabelaia, PhD, ’10
Interim Chair of Humanities, Assistant Professor of Business Administration

“As my name was announced, I walked onto the stage to receive the award for Exceptional Service and Excellence in Teaching. At first, there was disbelief! I could not grasp that this honor was truly mine. Then, a wave of pride washed over me, filling my chest with warmth, knowing that my dedication to scholarship and teaching had been recognized.

With each step towards the podium, I felt grateful for the support of my colleagues, especially students (my MVPs), who had made this moment possible. As I held the award, a deep sense of fulfillment settled in, affirming that my efforts had made a meaningful impact. Also, it was a reminder to continue investing in teaching and development to serve better. It was a genuinely humbling experience!”

Excellence in Scholarly Achievement

Iqra Shagufta Cheema, PhD
Assistant Professor of Humanities

“I am honored to receive this award for scholarly excellence, for institutional affirmation of my work. I’m grateful to the award committee members and the Graceland community for their support of my scholarship.”