LA MIRADA, CALIF — President of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), Shirley V. Hoogstra, will deliver the commencement address during both fall ceremonies on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. There will be 176 graduate and 274 undergraduate students who will participate in the ceremonies.

As president of the CCCU, Hoogstra combines her passion for the rule of law and Christian higher education, promoting the integration of faith into a liberal arts education. Hoogstra serves on the board of several community organizations and schools, including the New Haven County Bar Association and Calvin College. She earned a bachelor’s in education at Calvin College and a Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Prior to her role at the CCCU, Hoogstra served for 15 years as vice president for student life at her alma mater, Calvin College. She also spent more than a decade practicing law as a partner at a firm specializing in litigation in New Haven, Conn.

Of the 176 graduate and 274 undergraduate students participating in the ceremony, Biola University will induct 25 undergraduate students into Biola’s honor society, Epsilon Kappa Epsilon — a prestigious award given to students who have excelled in academics and in community involvement during their time at Biola.

Both ceremonies will take place at Chase Gymnasium. The first ceremony scheduled at 2 p.m. will include Crowell School of Business, School of Fine Arts and Communication, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Science, Technology and Health. The second ceremony will include Cook School of Intercultural Studies, School of Education, Rosemead School of Psychology and Talbot School of Theology, scheduled at 7 p.m.

For more information, please visit the Fall 2017 Commencement Website. There will be a livestream available for those who are unable to attend.

For more information, contact Jenna Loumagne, Media Relations Manager, at (562) 777-4061 or jenna.loumagne@biola.edu.