LA MIRADA, CALIF — President of the National Christian Hispanic Leadership Conference (NCHLC), Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, will deliver the commencement address during both Spring undergraduate ceremonies on Friday, May 26, 2017. There will be more than 200 graduate and 700 undergraduate students who will participate in the commencement ceremonies.  

Rodriguez serves as a representative voice for the more than 100 million Hispanic evangelicals assembled in over 40,188 U.S. churches and over 450,000 churches spread throughout the Spanish-speaking dispersion through his role at NCHLC, the world's largest Hispanic Christian organization.

He earned his master’s degree of education from Lehigh University and his Honorary Doctorates from Baptist University of the Americas and Northwest University. He was ordained as a Minister of the Assemblies of God at age 23.

As an award-winning author, Rodriguez contributes to well-known publications such as the Washington Post, Outreach Magazine, Christianity Today and others. He is also regularly  featured on CNN, FOX, NBC, The Wall Street Journal, The San Francisco Chronicle and more.

Rodriguez currently serves on the board of directors of some of America’s leading evangelical organizations such as Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, National Association of Evangelicals, Empowered21, PCCNA and Christianity Today.

Of the 228 graduate and 715 undergraduate students participating in the ceremony, Biola University will induct 40 undergraduate students into Biola’s honor society, Epilson Kappa Epsilon — a prestigious award given to students who have excelled in academics and in community involvement during their time at Biola.

A posthumous degree will be awarded to Hasiet ‘Joy’ Negash, a beloved student who passed away in January 2015. This is the first time Biola will be publicly awarding a posthumous degree to an undergraduate student. Members of her family will be present to accept the diploma from President Corey.

Both ceremonies will take place on Metzger Lawn. The first ceremony scheduled at 10 a.m. will include Cook School of Intercultural Studies, Rosemead School of Psychology, School of Science, Technology and Health, and Talbot School of Theology. The second ceremony will include Crowell School of Business, School of Education, School of Fine Arts and Communication, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, scheduled at 7 p.m.

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

Written by Lauren Overshoun-Hall, iBiola Intern. For more information, please contact Jenna Loumagne at (562) 777-4061, or by email at jenna.loumagne@biola.edu