Ambassador Andrew Young, who played an integral role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., addressed graduates and received a standing ovation during the 2025 spring commencement on the historic Alumni Lawn at Anderson University May 9. 

Introducing Ambassador Young was Dr. Matthew Daniels, distinguished university professor of law, political science and human rights. In 2024, Ambassador Young endorsed the joint initiative of Anderson University and Good of All that, under Dr. Daniels’ leadership, will bring together students from universities across the nation to study and practice the principles of civility, public service and human rights. This program has been named The Ambassador Andrew Young Higher Education Fellowship Program. 

Ambassador Young shared his journey from a childhood growing up in the South during the Great Depression to answering his calling into a lifetime of public service. He shared that he found his purpose early in life by taking on jobs nobody else wanted to do. 

“I figured that’s what the Lord laid out for me and I developed a career literally for the last 75 years where almost everything I’ve done… I have made a phenomenal career out of doing things that nobody else wanted to do,” Young said. “Nobody wanted to work with Martin Luther King.  People were getting beat up and put in jail… Nobody wanted to answer his mail and there were stacks of mail that people that sent him from all over the world, so his secretary said, ‘if you really want to help Martin Luther King, take some of his mail home with you and try to answer several letters.’ All it took was a little will and a little determination and a little faith in myself, but more important, a little faith in God that if this was something that needed doing and there was nobody else—if  I did it—I’d be doing the right thing, and that’s sort of the creed of my life.

At 93 years of age, Ambassador Young said he continues to look for ways to impact the world for good. He gave this challenge to the graduating class of 2025:  

“There’s a whole world out there looking for people with your potential, with your dedication, with your training,” Young said. “The world is really hungering for the leadership that you bring, and so remember, commencement is not the end. Commencement is the beginning, and so this is the beginning of your triumphant life under the power of the Holy Spirit and then the image of the living God.” 

On May 10, the speaker during the Saturday ceremony for graduate students was Dr. Anil Kumar Palla, an entrepreneur and leader in global education who currently serves as the founder and CEO of University HUB, a strategic partner in extending the reach of Anderson University degree programs worldwide. 

Dr. Palla shared with the commencement audience his journey that began when he became a medical doctor and transformed into the founding of a University Hub, a growing global education technology company. Quoting from the Robert Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken,” Dr. Palla spoke about the many curves in the road he encountered in life, from practicing medicine to studying international business to leading the way in education technology.  

He shared with the 2025 graduating class five lessons he’s learned:  

“Embrace change, stay curious, keep learning, think globally, and run your own race.”  

“We’re entering the world of full uncertainty but also full of promise, so let your values guide you, let your curiosity free you, and when the road bends, don’t freeze, because that curve in the road might just lead you to your purpose,” Dr. Palla said. 

During the Friday ceremony, honorary degrees were given to Ambassador Young and also Mary Anne Bunton, former chair of the AU Board of Trust who has served on the board for more than 30 years.  

The President’s Award was presented to students Leah Duncan, Rosella Stike and Ian Thompson. The President’s Award is presented to members of the graduating class who best exemplify a balance between campus leadership, citizenship, scholastic accomplishment and Christian commitment.  

Dr. Carrie Koenigstein of the College of Arts and Sciences received the Michael Boles Excellence in Teaching Award, which is presented to a faculty member whose character, teaching skills and devotion to students are judged to be exemplary.  

Leah Duncan, 2024-2025 student body president, presented the class gift, which will fund the installation of a black marble Anderson University Seal prominently placed in front of the Merritt Administration building.  

Ceremony highlights also included a welcome and call to order by Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts during both ceremonies. Board of Trust Chair Shawn McGee gave the invocation and Provost Ryan Neal welcomed family and friends of graduates. Giving the invocation during the Saturday ceremony was Vice President for Christian Life and Senior Minister to the University, Dr. Tracy Jessup. Giving the benediction at the Friday ceremony was Dr. Joe Carol Mitchell-Rogers, retiring professor of art from the South Carolina School of the Arts at Anderson University. Giving the benediction at the Saturday ceremony was Gaidi Burgess, assistant professor of Christian Studies. 

Students from the Department of Music at the South Carolina School of the Arts performed musical selections for each ceremony, including Anderson University’s Centennial Alma Mater, “The Sounds of Anderson.” 

More than 500 graduates received their degrees during spring commencement ceremonies. 

Videos of the undergraduate and graduate ceremonies can be viewed on the Anderson University YouTube channel.