Waynesburg University celebrated the 168th anniversary of its charter by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Tuesday, March 20, with a special convocation in Roberts Chapel.
During the ceremony, four retired faculty members were honored with the title of Professor Emeritus and three faculty members received the University’s 2018 Lucas-Hathaway Teaching Excellence Awards.
On behalf of the University, President Douglas G. Lee conferred upon Anthony Bocchini, Dr. Nancy Mosser, Susan Phillips and Dr. Marilyn Roberts the title of Professor Emeritus. Provost Dr. Dana Cook Baer presented the teaching excellence awards to Dr. James Hepburn, James Tanda and Rev. Christy Wise.
CEO and Head of School at Imani Christian Academy Paulo Nzambi served as the Charter Day speaker. In his convocation address, “The Present and its Possibilities,” Nzambi highlighted the significance of Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
During his speech, Nzambi explored pivotal historic moments during which that particular Bible verse may have provided motivation, ranging from the founding of the United States of America to the founding of Waynesburg University.
“History has suggested to me that great achievement often results when the present reality conflicts with an inspirational or aspirational possibility,” Nzambi said. “The very power of Philippians 4:13 becomes real in these moments.”
“I always imagined that when Waynesburg’s founders challenged the present and raised the possibility of establishing an institution of higher learning on this very ground, they were steadied by their belief that they could do all through Christ who strengthened them,” Nzambi said, as he referenced the University’s history as one of the first institutions of higher education in the nation to educate men and women equally.
Nzambi’s diverse professional background has encompassed the areas of education, law and the nonprofit sector.
Founded in 1849 by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Waynesburg University is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with three additional sites located in the Pittsburgh region. The University is one of only 22 Bonner Scholar schools in the country, offering local, regional and international opportunities to touch the lives of others through service.
