At Conrad Grebel University College’s 24th annual Convocation Service in April, 63 students were challenged to strive to be bigger and better, dialogue with one another, and make a difference in the world. Achievements of University of Waterloo undergraduates who have participated in Grebel life were recognized, while four Master of Theological Studies students had degrees conferred upon them.
This year's convocation address was delivered by Nelson Kraybill, president of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries in Elkhart, Indiana. He used Ezekial's image of a flowing river and illustrated how small initial steps toward change can have dramatic results. The illustration he included was the idea Mark Yantzi had as a young probation officer in 1974. As part of the criminal punishment process, Yantzi required the vandals who had slashed tires, meet the victims of the crime. This was the beginning of the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) and this incident, known as the "Elmira Case," has become a precedent in case law. Kraybill noted that he had prepared this example in his address well before he knew that Yantzi was to be honoured by receiving this year's Distinguished Alumni Service Award. Kraybill used this example and others to encourage graduates to boldly go forth and make a difference in our churches and in our world.
Dana Evans, undergraduate valedictorian, said how proud she was to be part of the most vibrant and active independent community on the University of Waterloo campus. She compared her time at Grebel to a game of “Bigger & Better”, where students were given a penny and sent out into the neighbourhood to trade it in for items that were “Bigger & Better” than the penny.
Since day one, [she said,] my Grebel experience has challenged me in every way to go bigger and be better than I ever have before. [She encouraged her graduating class to answer these questions:] What is it that will set you into motion? What will take you to a new level of something bigger and to a place where you can be even better?
Representing the Master of Theological Studies graduating class, Jonathan Seiling talked about footnotes, and how the very act of citing another person is an encounter in dialogue with another, and an identifier of our conversation partners.
We as Grebel students are part of a vibrant and growing conversation that extends far beyond the classroom walls, [he said.] As we move on, I look forward to further encounters that bring our dialogue with one another and the richness of the whole church’s tradition into an encounter with the divine nature within us.
Master of Theological Studies graduates were Kendra Whitfield Ellis, Elizabeth Lucas, Jonathan Seiling, and Jacob Shelley, all in the Biblical-Theological option.
