Celebrating our Graduates, at last, in person.
On May 20th 2022, we celebrated the graduation of MA, MDiv and STM Buddhist and BIE students, at Union Theological’s 184th Commencement ceremony. As this was the first in person graduation in two years, we also welcomed back graduates of 2020 and 2021. It was a long awaited and very joyous occasion!
This year was in fact the largest graduating cohort of BIE and Buddhist students since the inception of the BIE program as Union. Students and faculty were beaming, in this day of celebration which marked such a respite from what has been a challenging few years on many levels.
The day began with a procession around the block of the seminary, followed by a bus ride to the Marcus Garvey Park where the ceremony proper took place, which seemed most appropriate. It also allowed for a large presence of family and friends. Highlights included particularly heartfelt rejoicings of the graduating doctoral students and the celebration of retiring professor Rev. Dr. Daisy L. Machado, who was granted faculty emerita status, in honor of her many contributions to Union over the years.
Alexandra Gekas MDiv BIE ‘22 and Rev. Kosen Greg Snyder, Osho.
The day was glorious, despite a sudden rain storm which that began to break towards the end of the ceremony, cutting some of the speeches and musical performances short. Upayadhi was asked to offer a “closing prayer,” along with two other students, in which the theme of mud figured prominently, which seemed so timely after the rain! She took the opportunity to honor the memory of two illustrious Buddhists graduates of Union and Columbia: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh.
Left to right (back): David Sievers MDiv BIE ‘21, Dharmacharini Upayadhī MDiv BIE ‘21 STM ‘22, Andrea Jones MDiv BIE ‘22., James Mannion MDiv BIE ‘22., Thomas Walker MDiv BIE ‘22. Left to right (front): Jing Lin (Xian-an Shi) MDiv BIE ‘21 STM ‘22, Ai-ping Cao (Ven. Xian-ai Shi) MDiv BIE ‘21 STM ‘22, Eric Manigian MDiv BIE ‘22, Weishin Huang MDiv BIE/MSW '22. Missing in this photo from of ‘22 grads: Alexandra Gekas, Lucinda Keck and Kevin Wall.
Right: Dharmacharini Upayadhī offers a closing prayer, pondering the question: “Do Buddhists pray?.”