By Elizabeth Clarke, LCU News
PINEVILLE, La. (LCU News) – Louisiana Christian University held its 171st commencement, May 9, in Guinn Auditorium on campus.
Conferred were 72 master’s degrees and 120 undergraduate degrees. Graduates included students who finished their degrees in December 2025, May 2026 and who will complete their coursework in August 2026.
The 10 a.m. ceremony included the undergraduates who earned degrees from the School of Sciences, Computing and Artificial Intelligence, the School of Christian Studies, the College of Health and Professional Programs, the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Media, Communication and Fine Arts. The 2 p.m. ceremony included the undergraduates and graduate students from the Ray and Dorothy Young School of Business, the School of Education and the School of Social Work.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Henry Robertson, who has served the university for 20 years, offered his reflections on his time as a professor and as an administrator. This was his last commencement at LCU.
“This has been my biggest joy, to be your instructor,” he said. “These are moments and times of service never to be forgotten.”
He also thanked the faculty and staff for their commitment to the students, telling the graduates, “We are your biggest fans—the faculty and staff here.”
Students and faculty offered reflections at both ceremonies.
Camille Allgood, Student Government Association president and history major, said what she loved most about LCU is the sense of community.
“It’s bittersweet to leave a place I love so much, but I’m excited to see what happens next,” she said. “It’s not a goodbye, it’s an LCU later.”
Amy Chandler, assistant professor of education, remarked on her own time graduating from LC and what an impression the worldview taught at the school made on her future.
“It’s now up to you to apply your Christian worldview as you go into the profession you were called to,” Chandler said. “We are the builders of civilization, and God is the project manager. Leave something better than you find it. Go and do great things in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Master of Social Work graduate Shequantna Sanders gave a testimony of her nontraditional and oftentimes difficult journey while she was at LCU.
A single mother who held down two jobs while working on her degree, Sanders also fought through two cancer diagnoses, but she never gave up.
“God blessed me with some amazing professors and awesome classmates, who prayed for me and prayed with me,” she said. “Let the Lord lead you. Keep God first. Put in the work. Treat everyone with grace.”
Marcia Hardy, dean of the Young School of Business, congratulated graduates on their accomplishments.
“We are excited for you,” she said. “You will have the opportunity to excel in what you do best, to bring your light into the world. Every day, you have the opportunity to bring your one tiny candle that can illuminate a thousand. Go light your world, and your LCU faculty, staff, and friends will continue to support you and uplift you.”
Victory Lindo-Lemons, dean of the School of Education, and an alumnus of LC, told students that the day wasn’t simply about earning a degree but also about becoming who God has called them to be. She said that the school had not been her first choice when she was choosing a college to attend, but that she became a Christian while a student.
Lindo-Lemons told students that just as some of them were, she was the first person in her family to attend college.
“God has a way of planting us right where we need to grow and planting others you need to help you grow,” she said. “Today, I want to honor your perseverance. Perseverance is holy work. Some of you are changing the generational outcome of your families forever.”
After the conferring of degrees, Johnson offered the presidential charge to the graduates.
Johnson encouraged the students to be faithful, regardless of whether it brings them the level of success they expect to achieve.
“The Lord never said to be successful,” Johnson said. “He said to be faithful. It may take you to places that even surprise you. So why be faithful instead of successful? When you hit hard times, if you keep the faith, the faith will keep you. He will hold you tight. It is faith that keeps us in the most difficult times of our lives.
“You will take hits, and you’re going to fall, but the Lord will be with you along the way. When you fall, you will get back up again. The Lord placed something inside you to get back up. You can face whatever you’re going to face because the Lord is with you.”
