Liberty's Largest Graduating Class Honored In Star-Studded Ceremony

News Staff : May 17, 2016
CBN News

Willie Robertson, Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn, just to name a few, encouraged Liberty grads, as well as NY Giants' Rashad Jennings as the keynote speaker.

[CBN News] The graduation ceremony at Liberty University on Saturday was a star-studded celebration for the 19,430 students who gathered to hear an inspirational message encouraging them to live with dynamic faith. (Screengrab via Liberty University/CBN News)

Pyrotechnic flame projectors positioned around the stage shooting bursts of fire was the first string of surprises for the 35,000 guests in attendance.

Celebrity guests Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn appeared alongside screenwriter, director and Lynchburg native Randall Wallace. The trio charged the graduates to inspire others with stories from their own lives, like Desmond T. Doss, the character of their latest film called "Hacksaw Ridge". (Screengrab via Liberty University/CBN News)
 
Click here to watch Liberty University's graduation ceremony.
 
The faith-based World War II biopic is about the life of Doss, who is a legend in Lynchburg and a Congressional Medal of Honor war medic.
 
Gibson also mentioned during the ceremony that he is planning a sequel to "The Passion of the Christ", and it will be about the Savior's resurrection.
 
Willie Robertson from A&E's "Duck Dynasty" also made an appearance on stage and challenged the graduates to make their marks on the world. (Screengrab via Liberty University/CBN News)
 
President Jerry Falwell Jr. used part of his address to honor the men and women who are serving or have served in the military as well as their spouses.
 
Falwell presented an honorary Doctor of Humanities to Penny Young Nance ('88) for demonstrating excellence in her career. Nance is the president and CEO of Concerned Women for America, the nation's largest women's public policy organization. She was honored for her longtime career as an advocate for Christian and family values.
 
Keynote speaker New York Giants running back and Liberty alumnus Rashad Jennings ('09) was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree by Falwell. Falwell recognized the Lynchburg native for his leadership "both on the athletic field and through his philanthropic endeavors."
 
As the youngest Commencement speaker in Liberty's history, Jennings told graduates to make their degrees count for the Kingdom of God. (Screengrab via Liberty University/CBN News)
 
He mentioned how he had been inspired by Liberty's founder, the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, who envisioned Liberty as a world-class university in both its academic and athletic offerings.
 
Jennings used pyrotechnics throughout his message to illustrate burning away the distractions from life and the glowing flames of a life lived with dynamic faith.
 
He told the graduates that they can truly be world-changers and Champions for Christ if they have a "simple, childlike, Christ-centered faith."