Master’s hooding ceremonies celebrate students’ achievements at CBU
Master’s hooding ceremonies celebrate students’ achievements at CBU
Riverside, Calif. (Aug. 17, 2021) – Hundreds of master's degree candidates at California Baptist University are celebrating their academic achievements at hooding ceremonies, leading up to commencement ceremonies Aug. 18-19.
More than 600 master’s degree candidates and 17 doctoral candidates are eligible to participate in the summer commencements. At CBU, colleges and schools hold individual hooding ceremonies to recognize their candidates and also give students their distinctive colored hoods to wear at their commencement ceremony.
The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences has the largest group of master’s candidates with 93. The Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education has the second largest group with 84 candidates. Additionally, the Online and Professional Studies division has more than 200 candidates throughout its various programs.
At the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences hooding ceremony, held Aug. 17 at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the college, told the graduates they were crossing from students to professionals.
“Over these last years as a student, you have worked very hard. You've studied, completed field assignments and grown in knowledge and skill. And if we have done our job well, you have also developed in professionalism and personal character,” Gustafson said. “The world needs your competence, your passion, your grit and your faith in believing what cannot yet be seen. Go and be great.”
Dr. Kristin Mauldin, director of the sport and performance psychology program, reminded the graduates that the Lord would be with them.
“Go forward with courage. Courage to face your fears, to feel the feelings that arise, to take risks and to step boldly. Keep your eyes on the Lord knowing He will guide your steps and correct your path. He will give you the resources that you need to do His will and will be there to hold you and your loved ones in His loving embrace,” Mauldin said.
Hailey Dirksen, who earned a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, wants to be a marriage and family therapist. She said CBU’s Christian environment and professors helped shaped her worldview and her role as a counselor.
“I do have a purpose here on earth and that God will use me no matter what gives me peace and confidence in who I am and who I was created to be,” Dirksen said.
Eric Gonzalez, who earned a Master of Science in Sport and Performance Psychology, will be a soccer coach at University of California, Riverside. He said he was soul searching during the pandemic and wanted to come out of it with something useful when he found the program at CBU.
“It definitely helped me, helped shape me. With everything going on, it helped provide some positives in my life,” Gonzalez said. “With all the courses and all the internship hours it gave me that experience to be ready to make that next jump forward.”