TBC honors 8 grads in June 15 commencement

Pictures from 2007 Graduation

By AMY DAVIS
Tennessee Bible College

COOKEVILLE—Hand shakes, pats on the back and smiling faces were aplenty as this year's graduating class at Tennessee Bible College was honored during commencement exercises on June 15.

Eight diplomas were bestowed on the class of 2007 during the Friday evening event, with five of the recipients graduating through TBC's Distance Learning program.

Graduates receiving a bachelor's degree in religious education were Michael Hogan of Pine Bluff, Ark.; Webby Kenabanyama, Godfrey Pitika and Joseph Andson Tembo, all of Zambia, Africa; and Tony Li of Wuhan, China.

Graduating with the two-year preaching diploma were Earl Alverson of Sparta, Mark Day of Algood and Jamie Kang of Wuhan, China.

Of the eight graduates, four received their accolades in person. Those living too far from campus were able to participate as well, having prerecorded messages that were played during the commencement ceremony.

Present for graduation were Kang, Day, Alverson, and Hogan.

Jamie Kang, Mark Day, Earl Alverson, and Michael Hogan pose
for a photo as they await the graduation ceremony.

Alverson, a Distance Learning student from Sparta, has been preaching 15 years and currently ministers at Mt. Della Church of Christ near Fall Creek Falls. He earned a two-year preaching diploma and plans to resume studies at TBC in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in religious education.

Hogan, also a Distance Learning student, received a bachelor's degree in religious education. He is a preacher at Hazel Street Church of Christ in Pine Bluff, Ark., and is now working toward a master's degree in theology from TBC.

Kang, a native of Wuhan, China, earned a two-year preaching diploma. He has been a campus student at TBC since coming to the United States in 2005.

Also receiving the two-year preaching diploma was Day, a campus student from Algood, formerly of Indianapolis, Ind. He is a preacher at Midway Church of Christ near Spencer and also serves as production assistant at TBC. Day plans to continue his studies at TBC in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in religious education.

Those unable to attend the TBC commencement exercises were Distance Learning students Li, Kenabanyama, Pitika and Tembo.

Li, who lives in Wuhan, China, earned a bachelor's degree in religious education. A campus student for almost two years, he returned to China in March to complete his studies through Distance Learning. He serves as an evangelist.

Kenabanyama and Pitika are also recipients of the bachelor's degree in religious education. Both are instructors at the Zambia School of Biblical Studies in Livingstone, Zambia, Africa.

Tembo, a preacher in Zambia, also earned a bachelor's degree in religious education. 

Though unable to attend the TBC commencement in person, the three African graduates will still have a chance to don their caps and gowns for a ceremony in their honor when TBC director of missions Ronald D. Gilbert travels to Zambia later this summer for his annual missionary pilgrimage.

This year's graduation exercise marked the 19th for TBC, the first being in 1982. Since then, a total of 81 have graduated from all programs. TBC now has alumni in 15 states and three foreign countries.

Tennessee Bible College, located at 1616 McCulley Road in Cookeville, was established in 1975 and is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to award the bachelor's degree in religious education, master's and doctorate degrees in theology, and a two-year preaching diploma. Distance Learning, refresher courses and a free Bible correspondence course are also offered. 

More more information, call 931.526.2616 or visit the web site at www.tn-biblecollege.edu.