Meet the Class of 2016
Get to know some of the outstanding seniors in this year’s graduating class, and take a look at photo galleries from Ivy Cutting, Undergraduate Commencement, and Graduate Commencement.
Undergraduate Commencement Events
Join the Class of 2016 to Restore SPU’s Rare Paintings
The 2016 Senior Gift Committee has elected to help fund the restoration and installation of two rare paintings by African American artist Charles Ethan Porter which were recently donated to the SPU John Perkins Center. Visit spu.edu/givenow to make an online donation, select “other” and specify “Senior Gift.”
Graduate Commencement Events
Political Science at SPU
Co-leaders of the student Political Union Bruna Afonso and Andrew Bell, each with very different viewpoints, talk about their unique friendship and how Political Science Professor Bradley Murg impacted their learning.
Honors Project by UScholars
University Scholars is SPU’s honors program for academically gifted students who seek a rigorous education that encourages the development of a Christian mind and life. View the titles of the final research projects for graduating seniors in the UScholars program.
2016 Commencement Speakers
- Undergraduate Commencement speaker: Phyllis Campbell, chairman, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Pacific Northwest
- Ivy Cutting speaker: Dr. Brian Chin, associate professor of music, Seattle Pacific University
- Graduate Commencement speaker: Dr. Larry Nyland, superintendent, Seattle Public Schools
Some of Our Outstanding Graduates
Kevin Johnson turned down two offers to play college basketball to focus on his education at SPU. When the Falcon coach saw him playing hoops in intramurals, he offered him a spot on the men’s basketball team. “I’m so thankful he reached out,” Johnson says.
The double major in apparel design and fashion merchandising says she’s inspired by surf culture, her Filipino heritage, and the desire to make women of every shape and size feel beautiful.
Tucker Goodman wants to own a theatre someday, so he’s involved in everything his Theatre major can offer. Not only does he act in and manage SPU Theatre productions, but he also serves as an electrician for the department.
The psychology and sociology major plans to pursue a career in counseling. She says Professor Paul Youngbin Kim’s cross-cultural psychology class was “one of the most life-changing classes I have ever taken.”
Summer Downs spent her senior year building relationships between Set Free (an SPU student advocacy against human trafficking) and local organizations. Her goal is to help the club become “a sustainable feature of campus life.”
Ever since she was young, Lindsay Ware had a knack for writing. In her blog “Skinny Purse,” she writes about fashion, beauty products, and health and wellness.
Taylor Ford is possibly one of the most genuine and enthusiastic Falcons on campus. When he was a junior, he answered questions from prospective students in SPU’s etc magazine.
During his junior year, Alex Crossen was editor-in-chief of SPU’s student newspaper, The Falcon. He wrote about his experience with Tent City 3, a homeless community which moved onto campus for a three-month stay.
Not only is Maria Hundley the most decorated Falcon gymnast of all time, but her final tally of seven national crowns tied her for the most decorated competitor in the history of the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships.
Through a Starbucks internship, Bo Valencia decided to change his major from biology to biochemistry so that he can work, like his dad (who developed Starbucks VIA), on soluble coffees.
The night before William Nguyen was going to enlist in the Army Reserve, he came down with the shingles virus. While he was recovering, he decided to change his future path and pursue a degree in nursing at SPU.
When she was in the Navy, Yashica Crumpton decided to pursue nursing. As a graduate nursing student in clinical leadership, she credits her professor with encouraging her and “giving me the best educational experience I have had thus far.”
After reading an issue of SPU’s Response magazine about the many ways alumni, faculty, and staff are working to improve health care around the world, Giselle Tayal says she “felt a strong pull to apply and join a community of motivated and passionate health professionals.”
These two baristas featured in the current issue of SPU’s Response magazine demonstrate how serving coffee applies to all kinds of different professions.
This apparel design major doesn’t seem to lack energy — or drive. She’s involved with MODE, the fashion club at SPU, been a leader at Orientation, served as a resident advisor, and has also worked as a student office assistant in the School of Education.