University President Steven Knapp said people of deep faith can use their strong religious devotion to do good things in the face of great evil at the annual Interfaith Baccalaureate ceremony Friday.
Speaking at the Western Presbyterian Church on Virginia Avenue, Knapp recalled a recent evening he spent with South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who was filled with “mirth” – a state where joy is found in companionship and there is a bottomless desire to do good.
“It is my hope that each of you will meet these special people who seek justice, even while recognizing the evil in the world,” Knapp said in the keynote address.
The service also featured a number of students and religious leaders from a variety of faiths.
The five student speakers discussed how their time at GW helped them develop spiritually. Saif Inam, a Muslim, said the University forced him to mature by challenging him inside and outside the classroom. Noting the rising price of tuition, Saif told the crowd that the money spent was “worth every penny.”
“The knowledge I’ve gained here is priceless,” he said.
Sarah Spooner, a Presbyterian who worshipped at Western Church for the past four years, recalled a trip back home to work on a political campaign in the middle of the semester. Although she was unsure of herself and wondered if it was the right decision, Spooner said those around her had faith in her decision.
“Our shared belief in God gives us a belief in each other,” she said.
Catholic Bryan Ediger discussed his attachment to the GW Newman Center and the people he met there. He remembered how they all came together after the Virginia Tech tragedy last year.
“I was so proud that we knew what to do, that we were able to come together as a community and support each other,” he said.
Lawrence Bryant, a Christian and an eight-year Army veteran, gave advice to his younger fellow graduates, many of whom “are so driven they know everything they want before their parents let them out of the car.” He said it was important to know what you want and how to get it, but also to leave room for the unexpected.
“There are always going to be things you can’t plan for,” Bryant said, recalling how he met his wife at a Bible study in 1999.
Kathleen Borgueta, a Jew, discussed her faith and love of music. She said music has been “a constant” throughout her life as both an assistant cantor at her synagogue at home and a participant in services at GW.
“It’s my way to feel close to God,” said Borgueta, who sang “Yerushalayim Shel Zahov” as part of the baccalaureate.
Borgueta also discussed the Jewish concept of “Tikkun Olam,” or “repairing the world.” Reflecting on her new job with an international AIDS organization, she said she now has the skills to make a difference.
Rabbi Jessica L. Oleon of Temple Sinai gave the service’s invocation. She challenged graduating students to make the world a better place for all its inhabitants.
“Your success in life will not be measured by your wealth or material possessions, but by how you change the world,” she said. “We are depending on you. Change wisely and change well.”
This year’s Interfaith Baccalaureate marked the seventh consecutive year the service has been held at Western Presbyterian. Pastor Carol Howard Merritt hosted the ceremony and music was provided by GW music professors.
