The 174th commencement ceremony for Emory & Henry College graduating class of 2022 will be held at the Fred Selfe Stadium on the Emory campus on Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m. More than 230 graduates are expected to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas.
The commencement speaker will be Dr. Jerry Jones, retired Emory & Henry College professor of computer information management, popular African American author, talented musician and Glade Spring resident. Jones spent his life in academia, struggling against segregation as a student and then teaching high school business and computer programming. During that time, Jones wrote the college textbook, “Structured Programming Logic.” Jones came to Emory & Henry in 2001 and 10 years later he released “Go and Come Again—Segregation, Tolerance and Reflection,” a book detailing the history and culture of small-town Virginia in the Jim Crow era. Jones, whose musical specialty is gospel, has been a musician for six decades in addition to his years in academia. He has n the campus of Emory & Henry.
In addition to the main event, the College has planned a Cinco de Mayo celebration on Thursday, May 5 at 5 p.m. on the Van Dyke Lawn and Tent with President John Wells and Shannon Earle that will follow the commencement rehearsal for graduating students.
Diversity and Inclusion Year-End Celebrations will be held throughout the day on Friday, May 6 at the Board of Visitors Lounge in Van Dyke Hall. Later that day a Baccalaureate Worship Service for graduates and guests will be held at 4 p.m. at the Memorial Chapel on the Emory campus. All graduates are encouraged to join in the interdenominational service as the community prepares spiritually for commencement and gives thanks for their academic achievements. Dr. Joseph T. Reiff of Abingdon and professor emeritus of religion at the College will speak at the event.
More information and senior spotlights are available at www.ehc.edu/commencement. played piano at numerous area churches, events sponsored by Abingdon’s Highlands Festival, and events
