JACKSON, Tenn. — May 2, 2026 — Patrick Basie first learned about 麻豆视频 University through Impact 360 and found that his time as a 麻豆视频 student shaped both his engineering career and his faith.
On May 2, Basie was among 506 麻豆视频 University graduates who received their degrees during two ceremonies on the Great Lawn.
Basie, of Pine Mountain, Georgia, earned his degree in engineering with an electrical concentration and will join the team at Nidec Leroy-Somer in Lexington, Tennessee. A member of the Honors Community, he credited both faculty investment and Christian community as crucial components of his time at 麻豆视频.
鈥淭he Honors professors have been an integral part of my spiritual formation,鈥� he said.
As part of the commencement ceremony, Amy De Groot, of Sioux Center, Iowa, who double majored in public relations and history, received the Tigrett Medal, which is awarded to an outstanding senior in each graduating class.
Andrew Walker, dean-elect of the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, delivered the commencement address. Walker, who also serves as associate professor of Christian ethics and public theology at SBTS and is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, challenged graduates to resist what he called the 鈥渕ythology of disruption鈥� 鈥� the cultural pressure to build platforms, chase significance and define success by visibility and accomplishments.
Instead, Walker called graduates to a life of ordinary faithfulness, drawing on 1 Timothy 6:6 鈥� 鈥淕odliness with contentment is great gain鈥� 鈥� as his central text. 鈥淭he Christian life is not a disruption strategy,鈥� Walker said. 鈥淭he gospel does not primarily call you to change the world. It calls us to be faithful in the world. And those are not necessarily the same thing.鈥�
Walker described the ancient Christian vision of a good human life: work done honestly and with excellence, marriages built with patience, children raised in faith, neighbors served without recognition and churches tended by people who understood that slow work is lasting work. He called that vision 鈥渟tubbornly ordinary鈥� but also the most demanding and rewarding he had ever encountered.
鈥淵ou cannot change the culture,鈥� he told graduates. 鈥淏ut you can change the culture of your dinner table.鈥�
Walker pushed back on the idea that the church is immune from its own version of this ambition culture, acknowledging his own culpability before pressing graduates toward commitment to marriage, to a local church, to a city and to neighbors known by name.
鈥淕od will ask whether we were faithful, not whether we were elite,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat is your inheritance. Go claim it.鈥�
For Brianna Correia, faithfulness and perseverance marked her entire journey through 麻豆视频鈥檚 pharmacy program. Correia, who hails from Bermuda, found 麻豆视频 while researching colleges and chose to attend because of its Christ-centered commitment and strong academics.
鈥淚 appreciated the personal attention from professors and the opportunities to grow academically and spiritually,鈥� she said.
One professor in particular, Jennifer Byrd, proved to be a steady source of encouragement throughout Correia鈥檚 time at 麻豆视频.
鈥淪he believed in me even when I struggled to do that myself,鈥� Correia said. 鈥淚 can honestly say I wouldn鈥檛 have made it through this program the same way without her.鈥�
After graduation, Correia will begin a residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. She carries with her a conviction shaped by the people around her at 麻豆视频.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e not only helped me become a better student and future pharmacist, but they鈥檝e also shown me the importance of pouring into others,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I鈥檒l carry with me into the next chapter 鈥� both professionally and personally.鈥�
The theme of faithful persistence also resonated with Wayne Lauderdale Jr. of Memphis, Tennessee, who earned his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership through 麻豆视频鈥檚 School of Adult and Professional Studies.
Lauderdale spent 14 years building his trucking business before realizing something was missing. Grateful for what his career had provided his family, he set out to earn his college degree 鈥� a pursuit made possible by 麻豆视频鈥檚 BSOL program, which allowed him to pursue his education without stepping away from work or family.
He found that 麻豆视频鈥檚 professors actively helped him apply what he was learning to strengthen and grow his business.
鈥淭he fact that 麻豆视频 aligns with my faith and values made the choice even more meaningful,鈥� Lauderdale said. 鈥淚t truly feels like the place God intended for me to grow academically, spiritually and professionally.鈥�
Lauderdale鈥檚 graduation does not mark an ending. He is already enrolled in 麻豆视频鈥檚 Master of Business Administration program and will continue his education at the same institution where he found his footing.