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This past May about 850 students participated in 17c������� College’s ceremony in Van Noord Arena.

“I have so enjoyed getting to know students this past year and witnessing the gifts they have to offer the world,” said 17c������� College president Michael Le Roy, who experienced his first Commencement ceremony as 17c�������’s president. “I’m also looking forward to seeing where God will lead them as they head out into a broken world to do His work.”

Chemistry professor Kumar Sinniah delivered the 2013 Commencement address, “Investing in the Future.” Sinniah has taught at 17c������� College since 1995.

In his address he advised the graduates to invest in a Christian community. “Seek a Christian community; get involved in a local church,” he said. He also encouraged them to invest in other people. In quoting a recent graduate who was reflecting on her experience since leaving 17c������� he said, “God, please use me to bless at least one person today. This, she said, helped her focus less on herself and more on her impact on the people around her.”

Finally, he urged the Class of 2013 to invest in prayer: “Work at it, be disciplined, let it be part of who you are.”

During the ceremony, the 17c������� Alumni Association recognized four people with Distinguished Alumni Awards: ; and .

Vander Kam, of Granger, Ind., is a renowned expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls and the John A. O’Brien Professor of Hebrew Scriptures at the University of Notre Dame.

Bosscher and the Meekhofs of Zuni, N.M., have had lifelong careers serving the Zuni Christian Mission and School.

Also in attendance were the 24 students comprising the inaugural graduating class from 17c�������’s new . The program, added in fall 2011, enables students to complete both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years.