113th Commencement exercises to honor 333 graduates

HUNTINGTON, Ind.- Huntington University will host its 113th commencement exercises at 3 p.m. May 14 in the fieldhouse of the Merillat Physical Education and Recreation Complex. The university will award master's, bachelor's and associate degrees to 333 graduates. The university will also award three honorary doctorate degrees.

Dr. Joseph M. Stowell, president of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich., will give the commencement address. His address is titled "True Identity" and will focus on Matthew 4:18-22. The Rev. Bill Fisher, Huntington University dean of Christian faith and life, will present the baccalaureate sermon at 10:30 a.m. in the fieldhouse. His message is titled "Sticky Business" and will focus on a passage from John 15.

An honorary Doctor of Divinity degree will be presented to commencement speaker Stowell, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree will be presented to local attorney Theodore L. Bendall and an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science will be presented to president and co-owner of InterDesign Phillip G. Howard.

The commencement exercises and the baccalaureate sermon are open to the public, and no tickets are required.

Since 2008, Stowell has served as the 11th president of Cornerstone University. He is a graduate of Cedarville University and the Dallas Theological Seminary and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from The Master's College in 1987. He is a nationally known speaker and author of more than 20 books including "Jesus Nation," "The Trouble with Jesus," "Simply Jesus and You" and "Radical Reliance." From 1987 to 2005, he served as the president of Moody Bible Institute, and as the teaching pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in suburban Chicago from 2005 to early 2008 prior to assuming the presidency at Cornerstone.

Bendall has practiced law with the Huntington-based firm DeLaney Hartburg Roth & Garrott LLP since 1964, and has provided legal counsel to Huntington University since 1968. He graduated from Albion College in 1961 and earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Michigan in 1964. He is a member of the Huntington University Foundation and has served as a member of the Huntington University Board of Trustees.

Howard is the president and co-owner of InterDesign, an Indianapolis-based business offering comprehensive professional architecture, design and master planning services for higher education institutions, schools, libraries, government offices and senior living and long-term care facilities. His firm has served as the university's architect for more than 30 years and helped to develop the university's first master plan, including the development of the Habecker Dining Commons, RichLyn Library, Merillat Centre for the Arts, the Science Hall and numerous residence halls. Howard graduated with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Purdue University in 1969, and is a registered professional engineer.

Fisher became Huntington University's dean of Christian faith and life in 1993. In addition to his work at the university, he serves as the permanent part-time pastor of preaching and discipleship at the First Baptist Church in Warren, Ind. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in religion from the University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, S.D., and a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. He has done post-graduate work at Oxford University in Oxford, England, and Western Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Ore.