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Concordia University Irvine’s Thirty-Second Commencement

Concordia University Irvine’s Thirty-Second Commencement

Event Schedule

10:00 a.m. Baccalaureate Service


  • CU Center for Worship and Performing Arts

1:00 p.m. Undergraduate Commencement

  • Bren Center
  • Bachelor’s Degrees
  • Bachelor’s Degrees: CU Accelerate

4:30 p.m. Graduate Commencement

  • Bren Center
  • Master’s Degrees (by proxy)
  • Master’s Degrees

The Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement Ceremonies will be viewable via live web stream.

Speakers and Honorees


Commencement Speaker, Undergraduate Ceremony Dr. D. Ray Halm, President Emeritus, addresses Concordia University Irvine’s thirty-second graduating class during the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. Dr. Halm served as Concordia University Irvine’s second president from 1980 to 1998. A graduate of Concordia College in Seward, NE, Dr. Halm received a Master’s degree in American Literature from Ball State University in Muncie, IN and received his Colloquy into the pastoral ministry from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO in 1978. He went on to obtain a Doctorate in Administration of Higher Education at Pepperdine University in California in 1987. Dr. Halm has served schools and congregations as a teacher, administrator and pastor prior to becoming Concordia’s second president. Dr. Halm’s roles within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) include serving as vice chair of the Board of Higher Education, member of the LCMS Blue Ribbon Task Force on Missions, assistant secretary of the LCMS, authoring the Synod’s Mission Blueprint for the 90s and creating the Western Alliance of the Lutheran high schools. Most recently he has acted as Senior Director for CUEnet which serves the educational objectives of the Synod and functions as a collective symbol of LCMS higher education.

Commencement Speaker, Graduate Ceremony The Honorable Jim Palmer addresses students in Concordia University Irvine’s Graduate Commencement Ceremony. Mr. Palmer is President of the Orange County Rescue Mission (OCRM), the county’s most comprehensive private homeless services provider and the largest non-profit, faith-based organization in Orange County, serving more than 22,000 people annually throughout Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties. In 2008, the OCRM launched Village of Hope, a custom transitional shelter home for homeless women and children. Under Mr. Palmer’s leadership, OCRM has received national recognition for success rates of client graduates and entrepreneurial approaches to developing self-sufficiency, including the 211th Presidential Point of Light award, Governor Schwarzenegger’s Service Award (2004), and recognition from President George W. Bush at the Faith-based Initiatives Conference in Washington, D.C., where he was appointed by the President to the Board of the Corporation for National and Community Service. He currently serves on the Tustin City Council, in addition to numerous other roles in the Orange County community.

The Great Commission award is presented to the Rev. Dr. Bryant E. Clancy, Jr., in recognition of his leadership in the evangelism and mission efforts of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Upon graduating from Immanuel Lutheran College and Seminary, Clancy went on to obtain a Doctor of Ministry Degree at McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago. He has served as a pastor and missionary in the Southeastern District of the LCMS, and Mission Developer for several Lutheran churches. He served on the Commission on Black Ministry and the Board for Black Ministry Services for the LCMS. In addition Clancy was project director for the “This Far By Faith” hymnal. In the community of Charlotte, NC, he has served on numerous boards and committees concerned with civic action and easing racial turmoil in local school systems.

The Christus Mundo award is presented to Patricia Schutte for her demonstration of commitment and service to Christ, the church and the community. Schutte has served as president of the Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League (LWML), both in San Diego and for the whole Pacific Southwest District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). She has also served as editor for the Southwest District’s news- letter and the Lutherans Woman’s Quarterly, which reaches over 250,000 women in the organization. She has been on the board of communications for the LCMS, and currently serves as missions-and-ministry consultant for the Southwest District. In the community she has been a member of the Foothill’s Republican Women’s group, and currently volunteers at the Pregnancy Care Center in San Diego.

A member of the Concordia University system of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, Concordia University Irvine, guided by the Great Commission of Christ Jesus and the Lutheran Confessions, empowers students through the liberal arts and professional studies for lives of learning, service, and leadership.

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