NGU Graduates Encouraged to Find Identity in Christ at Spring Commencement
Posted on: May 8, 2026
Tigerville, SC—North Greenville University graduates were challenged to find their identity in Christ as they begin pursuing their callings during the institution’s spring commencement ceremony Friday night at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium in Tigerville.
“Stand firm in the gospel,” Dr. David Dockery told the graduating class. “Serve others. Work hard. Don’t grow weary in doing good. Don’t lose sight of God’s purposes and promises for you. Stay tuned to those things that you’ve learned from the outstanding faculty members who serve this institution. And be willing to risk your lives for the sake of the gospel. Most importantly, identify all aspects of your life and service in Jesus Christ.”
Dockery, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, delivered the commencement address to graduates, as 311 students had their degrees conferred by NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr.
The ceremony opened with a welcome from President Fant, followed by an invocation from Michael Lord, chairman of NGU’s Board of Trustees.
“We are proud of you,” Lord told the graduates. “You have done an amazing thing, and we are going to ask God to bless you as only he can.”
Prior to his address, Dockery and his wife, Lanese, were presented NGU’s Paula and Ken Hemphill Denominational Service Award “in recognition of their long and important service” within Southern Baptist life.
“You are one of the most significant Baptist theologians of this generation,” President Fant told Dockery during the presentation. “You have preached around the country and around the world. You have mentored innumerable pastors and leaders across Southern Baptist life. Lanese, too, has had a long and significant ministry, mentoring and encouraging the wives of pastors, leaders, and dozens of university and seminary first ladies. Their service to the kingdom is an overflow of their calling to serve God with their talents and skills.”
Noting the list of Christians Paul referenced in Romans 16, Dockery encouraged students to reflect on the importance of being included on the list of graduates.
“What will people think about the names on this list 50 years from now?” Dockery asked. “The list of names in Romans 16 includes people without regard to rank, position, race, gender, socio-economic status. The list reflects variety; men and women from various geographical regions. It exemplifies aspirational commitments that leaders at North Greenville University dream about, a life of faithful service and missional priorities, and global and influential awareness.”
“Phoebe’s name is on the list, not so much because she was affluent, but because she had a faithful walk with Christ that motivated her to have an impact on others,” Dockery said. “Some of you on the list in today’s commencement program will hopefully follow in Phoebe’s steps. Your life of service, just like hers, will set you apart for all the right reasons.”
“These people were the backbone of the first century Christian world,” continued Dockery. “This list of graduates tonight hopefully includes the names of the people who will be the backbone of the church in the 21st Century.”
Dockery said the names listed in Romans 16 had a strong unifying characteristic.
“The distinguishing factor, as you read through Romans 16, is a powerful identity marker that accompanies everything else that is said about these people,” he said. “What they did, they did for Christ. Who they were was grounded in Christ. Their hard work, their sacrifice, their achievements were motivated by their love for Christ. Their very being was identified completely in Christ. It’s this grounding in Christ that will make a difference for the 2026 graduating class of North Greenville University.”
“Today, it’s not so important that you remember the names tucked away in that list at the end of the book of Romans. But it is important that you remember the characteristics that describe their lives, grounded in Christ and enabled by God’s spirit,” Dockery said.
Following presentation of diplomas, Dr. Phil Alsup, an NGU trustee and father of a graduating student, led the Blessing of the Graduates,” a responsive reading for all in attendance.
The service concluded with NGU’s Alma Mater, led by graduating students Grace Fuller and Jaen Storay. Dr. Cathleen Ciesielski, program director for NGU’s Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences degree, delivered the benediction.
The evening concluded with a celebratory fireworks display.
Graduate Spotlight
Coleman Yates (’26)
Kind, Charismatic, and Chaotic.
Those are the defining features of North Greenville University’s mascot, Blazer, and for two years, Coleman Yates has been responsible for bringing the character to life.
“Bringing an animated character to life could be one of the weirdest and most awkward moments, or it could be one of be one of the most memorable moments,” Yates reflected. “My job is to make sure everyone is in a good mood. If they’re in a bad mood, I have to change that. It’s all about bringing the positive energy.”
Blazer’s true identity came as a surprise to his friends when it was announced at NGU’s Spring Commencement on May 8, but it also surprised Yates in the beginning.
“If you asked me in the spring of 2022 before I attended college if I would be a mascot, I’d say absolutely not,” he said. “I thought I’d never do anything like that. My family and friends would have laughed.”
“Now, hopefully people will think it’s pretty cool,” he added with a smile.
Yates first tried his hand at being a mascot the summer before he became Blazer.
“I took a chance and applied to be a mascot with a baseball team near my hometown. The summer of 2024 was the first time I debuted as any sort of a mascot. Over that summer, I started feeling a purpose and that I could make something out of this,” he said.
Blazer has been a staple in NGU’s student life since busting onto the scene in 2024. He is present at sporting events, campus activities, and even makes regular trips into the community where he visits elementary schools.
“Seeing all the smiling faces is rewarding. You get to make an impact on anyone from 1 year old to 100 years old,” Yates said.
“There was one interaction I had where a blind lady came to take a photo with me. I wasn’t sure exactly what to do, but I wanted to be kind and sweet and make it a great interaction. Hearing her say thank you got me emotional. It was something I’d never experienced before. I felt like, I may have something and I may have found my purpose,” he added.
Yates said he viewed his role as Blazer as a form of servant leadership.
“Jesus served others,” he said. “He was a servant leader. All of us can be servant leaders in our own way. It doesn’t just apply to one particular field or ministry.”
“North Greenville isn’t just for people going into ministry. Anyone can find their purpose here. North Greenville integrates spiritual life into all endeavors you can pursue,” Yates added.
Yates encouraged future members of “Team Blazer” to embrace the character that has become beloved on campus.
“The most important thing is that the character and the persona that we’ve created doesn’t change when I move on. It’s who Blazer is,” he said. “To all people who want to be a mascot or are thinking about doing something like that is to not be afraid of the experience.”
Jared Thomas, NGU’s vice president of Campus Ministries and Student Engagement, said Yates laid the foundation for future ambassadors.
“He set the tone with great clarity,” Thomas said. “Blazer is not just a mascot. Blazer is a means to serve people and bring joy. He was faithful to show up and serve in the ministry of presence. I believe that people look at Blazer and naturally smile, and that smile builds a pride for NGU.”
