Mount Olive College Graduation Set for August 27
MOUNT OLIVE- University of Mount Olive will graduate approximately 250 students at its 58th summer commencement on Saturday, August 27, 2011. Graduation exercises are scheduled for 2:00 PM. in the George and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena.
The commencement speaker will be the Honorable Louis Pate, North Carolina Senator (pictured at right). Pate’s political career has included serving as a member of the Mount Olive Board of Commissioners, Mayor of Mount Olive, North Carolina House of Representatives 11th District, and currently North Carolina Senator, a position he has held since 2010. Pate served in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1982. From 1982 to 1990 he was president of Garner Brothers Incorporated. Pate earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA degree both from Golden Gate University in 1978 and 1980 respectively. Pate and his wife, Joyce, have three children, Lisa Rosen, Chip Pate and Frances Hill.
Preceding graduation University of Mount Olive will hold its traditional baccalaureate service in Southern Bank Auditorium in Raper Hall at 10:30 AM. The Reverend Mark S. Hobbs will be the keynote speaker.
Hobbs is pastor of Snow Hill Free Will Baptist Church near Mount Olive. He is the senior aerospace science instructor for the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Program at North Johnston High School. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Central Conference of Original Free Will Baptist. He is a member of the Original Free Will Baptist Chaplaincy Commission. Hobbs is a retired Senior Protestant Chaplain from Pope Air Force Base. He is married to Gracelyn Hobbs. They have three children, Stevens, McKenzie, and Kate. Their two grandchildren are Autumn and Malachi.
University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.