Gratitude and thanks were words often spoken by Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, as he challenged 1,189 undergraduate and graduate students in two commencement ceremonies Friday, Dec. 6, in the largest December commencement in the history of CU. The number of the graduates was a 75 percent increase over one year ago. Degrees are conferred for the graduates upon completion of all requirements for graduation. Carter urged the graduates to thank those who have helped them on their educational journeys. He told the students they have not been on the journey alone and told them to express gratitude to their families and friends who helped and prayed for them as they reached this milestone in their careers.

"Be kind." That was the advice Christi Thomas McGuire, a 1997 alumna who played basketball for Campbellsville University's Coach Donna Wise, gave to Campbellsville University's Department of Human Performance graduates that applied to all the university's graduates. There were 1,717 graduates for May and August 2021 for the 2020-21 academic year; and 2,327 for May and August 2020 for the 2019-20 academic year.

Dr. Joseph Hopkins, the 12th president of Campbellsville University, presided over his first commencement asking the 1,593 students who were receiving their degrees "Who's on your journey?" May 6 and 7 in Powell Athletic Center. Hopkins presented an address telling of the experience of his family fulfilling one of his bucket list items - traveling to the Sahara Desert where he and his wife, Suzanne, and sons, Joseph and Vance, camped and enjoyed "who" was on their 115-degree heated trip. He told the graduates they are about to launch on a journey of their own. "Most often, the questions being asked at this stage are where, what, why and most especially, how?," he said, while he challenged them to add the who to their list of questions.

"Be kind and work hard, and I promise you amazing things will happen," Ashli Schmidt Watts, senior vice president of public affairs for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, told a record number of 2,279 students who received degrees from Campbellsville University during three commencement ceremonies May 3 and 4. A total of 2,592 students received degrees upon completion of all requirements for graduation during the 2018-19 academic year. There were 2,011 students receiving master's degrees; 255 receiving bachelor degrees and 12 being awarded associate degrees in the May 3 and 4 ceremonies.

Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, told 680 undergraduate and graduate students in two commencement ceremonies Friday, Dec. 7, the largest in the history of the university, to thank those who helped them along their journey and that today will be a day they will remember. A total of 1,653 students received their diplomas for the 2017-18 academic year. Diplomas are given upon completion of all academic requirements. Carter welcomed those attending and told them Dec. 7 was a "very historic day" when soldiers sacrificed tremendously on Pearl Harbor Day Dec. 7, 1941 as Japan attacked the United States leading the U.S. into World War II.

"Because I cannot add years to my life, I want to add life to my years. If I am not able to do anything about the length of my life, I can do something about its breadth and depth," Dr. E. Bruce Heilman, 92, chancellor at the University of Richmond in Virginia told Campbellsville University graduates in his commencement address Saturday, May 12. "The most important day in an institution is commencement. This is one of those days you will always remember. My heart is full of thankfulness and humbled by your accomplishments. We are very proud of you," Dr. Michael V. Carter, in his 19th year as president, told 700 students, a record, in four ceremonies on May 11 and 12. Also, a record number of 1,013 students graduated during the 2017-18 academic year. Carter said Campbellsville University has also set a record enrollment of more than 10,000 students, and students graduating from CU have the lowest student debt of any public or private institution in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The academic honors' President's List for the Spring 2022 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' President's List for the Fall 2021 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' President's List for the Spring 2021 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' President's List for the Fall 2020 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' President's List for the Spring 2020 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' president's list for the Fall 2019 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' dean's list for the Spring 2022 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' dean's list for the Fall 2021 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' dean's list for the Spring 2021 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' dean's list for the Fall 2020 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' dean's list for the Spring 2020 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' dean's list for the Fall 2019 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' president's list for the Spring 2018 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' dean's list for the Spring 2018 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The academic honors' president's list for the Fall 2017 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Students in the Carver School of Social Work were inducted into Phi Alpha Honor Society among the awards given at the Carver School pinning ceremony Dec. 15 at Campbellsville Baptist Church.

The academic honors' dean's list for the Fall 2017 semester has been announced by Dr. Donna Hedgepath, Campbellsville University's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

"I want you to take Jesus with you when you go," Dr. Beverly Rowland, dean of Campbellsville University's School of Nursing and associate professor of nursing, said. Rowland spoke at the nursing pinning ceremony in Ransdell Chapel Dec. 14 when 11 students were recognized. Dr. Donna Hedgepath, provost and vice president for academic affairs, gave opening remarks for the ceremony and told the students to always have faith in everything they do and to keep hope close to their hearts.

"This world, our schools, need kindness. Where will it come from? It will come from you," Cullen Byrne, a Campbellsville University senior who was the salutatorian for December, said at Campbellsville University School of Education's pinning and hooding ceremony recently at Campbellsville Baptist Church.