Two commencement programs will take place April 28 on the campus of Columbia International University (CIU) as 193 students are recognized for academic achievements from certificates to bachelor degrees to doctoral degrees. The commencement exercises begin at 8:30 a.m. for seminary and graduate students and at 11:30 a.m. for undergraduate students. Both ceremonies will be held in Shortess Chapel and both are ticketed events.   

The commencement speaker for the 8:30 a.m. event for graduate students is Lyn Cook, the secretary-treasurer of Cook’s Pest Control headquartered in Decatur, Alabama. Cook’s Pest Control has 35 district offices in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida and Tennessee, with over 1,600 employees.

Cook has been a member of the CIU Board of Trustees since 2009, and is an active member of First Bible Church in Decatur. She also serves on the Decatur Heritage Christian Academy Board of Trustees and has been recognized with the “Women of Distinction” award by the Girls Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

The commencement speaker for the 11:30 a.m. undergraduate commencement is Dr. Benny Tate, senior pastor of Rock Springs Church in Milner, Georgia where he has served for 25 years. Under his leadership, the church has grown from 60 in attendance to more than 6,000 with five satellite campuses and a variety of ministries to the needy.

 Dr. Tate also serves as president of the Congregational Methodist denomination and is a highly sought-after evangelist and motivational speaker. He has had the honor of being a guest chaplain for the Indianapolis Colts, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Founded in 1923, Columbia International University is private, Christian and multidenominational. CIU is experiencing growth in enrollment and has announced $25 million in expansion plans. Information on CIU programs and enrollment is available at (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024 or www.ciu.edu.  CIU is accredited by SACS-COC.