Pepperdine Graphic

A New Chapter: Seaver College Celebrates the Class of 2022

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Graduates celebrate their accomplishments at the conclusion of their graduation. Seaver College hosted graduation at Alumni Park on April 30. Photos by Lucian Himes

Graduates tossed their caps in the air April 30 as the class of 2022 concluded their time at Seaver College. Graduates filled the seats on Alumni Park, with faculty, staff, families, friends and students cheering them on.

Seaver College welcomed Samuel Schmidt, chair of the board of Conquer Paralysis Now and former race car driver, as the commencement speaker, with senior Minji Kim delivering the student address.

“We celebrate these students triumphant achievement of their college degrees, looking back on all they’ve accomplished, and all that they overcame on their journey,” Provost Jay Brewster said. “We also look forward to new journeys, new challenges and transformative new opportunities that will shape these graduates lives.”

honorary doctorate in humanities
President Jim Gash, left, and Dean Michael Feltner, right, honor Samuel Schmidt, center, as the commencement speaker. Schmidt's son, Spencer Schmidt, graduated in the class of 2022.

Schmidt was injured in a race car accident, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. After his accident, Schmidt started Conquer Paralysis Now — an organization hoping to use spinal research to cure paralysis. Schmidt offered five life lessons he has learned in his life for graduates.

“Enjoy the process of the search without succumbing to the pressure of the result. Pursue the right partner. Be passionate and persevere through the trials you face,” Schmidt said. “Find your purpose and trust God’s promises.”

Standing Ovation for Sam
The audience gives Schmidt a standing ovation at the conclusion of his speech. Schmidt shared five life lessons he learned with the graduates in the class of 2022.

Dean Michael Feltner honored Sylvia Franson (’87) with the Distinguished Alumnus Award for her achievements after her time at Pepperdine. Franson graduated from Seaver with a degree in broadcast journalism and now serves as the vice president for Advertising and Sales at NBCUniversal.

honorary graduate
From left, President Gash, Distinguished Alumnus Recipient Sylvia Franson and Dean Michael Feltner stand in front of the audience. Gash and Feltner presented Franson with her award and Franson shared what this award meant to her.

While the class of 2022 went through challenges including the Woolsey Fire, the Borderline shooting and the pandemic, Kim said these challenges helped them grow and learn how to persevere through trials.

“One of my professors told me, he told me that our graduating class of 2022 had been through the most unusually difficult four years of college that I’ve ever witnessed,” Kim said. “But these challenges have strengthened us for whatever lies ahead.”

student speaker
Senior Minji Kim delivers the student address at Seaver College's graduation ceremony. Kim shared about how her experience at Pepperdine taught her lifelong lessons.

my boi jimmy gash
President Gash speaks to the class of 2022. Seaver College celebrated graduation April 30 on Alumni Park.

students entering
Graduates line up before they walk into the graduation ceremony. Graduates met on Alumni for a check-in before Seaver graduation.

anthem
Senior Anahi Casas Perez sings the National Anthem at the beginning of Seaver graduation. Perez graduated April 30 as an applied music major.

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Contact Abby Wilt via Twitter (@abby_wilt) or by email: abby.wilt@pepperdine.edu