July 15, 2009

Harding University to hold commencement exercises July 25

SEARCY, Ark. ⎯ Harding University will hold commencement exercises
Saturday, July 25, at 10 a.m. in Benson Auditorium.

Nearly 250 students will receive degrees awarded from the colleges of
Arts and Humanities, Bible and Religion, Business Administration,
Communication, Education, and Sciences. The number also includes those
who are receiving graduate degrees in business, education, marriage
and family therapy, ministry, and physician assistant studies.

The featured commencement speaker is Dr. Mike Ireland, pulpit minister
of West Side Church of Christ in Searcy and associate professor of
Bible at the University.

Raised in Hurst, Texas, Ireland earned a bachelor’s degree in Bible
from Oklahoma Christian University. In addition, he holds master’s
degrees in philosophy of religion and in theology with an emphasis on
marriage and family therapy, along with a Doctor of Ministry degree in
communication from Harding University Graduate School of Religion. He
has served at West Side Church of Christ since 2004.

Harding had a record enrollment this year of more than 6,500 students
from 48 states and 52 foreign countries. It is the largest private
university in Arkansas and attracts more National Merit Scholars than
any other private university in the state. Harding also maintains
campuses in Australia, Chile, England, France/Switzerland, Greece,
Italy and Zambia.