Payap University International College’s Student Union

Payap IC Baccalaureate 2008
by Mark Hefner

22 May, 2008

Chiang Mai, Thailand: For the second time in two years Payap friends, family, teachers and staff gathered to honor the upcoming graduates for year 2008. 8 students earning BA degrees and 2 earning MA degrees were honored in the Baccalaureate ceremony held in the library at Payap University on Friday afternoon.

If you find yourself asking “What is a Baccalaureate ceremony” don’t feel bad. On this day, 2 answers were common when asking people the purpose of this ceremony.

One answer, which seemed the most popular, was that since the official graduation was in November, it would be best to honor our graduates now as some of they might be departing for their home countries, new employment opportunities or some other destination far from the place of graduation.

The other answer had to do with an American tradition of separation of church and state. Most public graduations kept God out of the normal ceremony while Baccalaureate ceremonies were intended to make religious (mainly Christian) ceremonies God centered. This was a student led event and since students had the right to assemble, it was impossible to prohibit them from doing so.

This year’s ceremony started with song by the Payap University Music Department. Dr. Rux Prompalit followed by prayer and invited Aj. Dr. Sompan Wongdee to say a few words. Dr. Sompan read from the holy bible about how God told Jeremiah not to let his youth impede him from doing the work of the lord.

Rev. Dr. Esther Wakeman followed her comments with a small sermon on how single individuals can do extraordinary things with God’s help.

Following Dr. Wakeman, the Payap Music Department choral group stepped up sang a beautiful song in preparation for Rev. Dr. Pradit Takerngrangsarit.

Dr. Pradit talked about how the university could be compared to a house with many rooms representing the many different parts of the university. The IC had a room, although smaller than most, was still quite special.

That special room had a window that protruded from the house and looked out in three directions into the world. This would be the unique perspective the international students would have to the rest of the world. As well as the view the international students would provide the rest of the world on Thailand.

Thru their eyes and words will the world come to understand Thailand and why it is so special. The graduating students would carry on Payap’s motto of “Lives of Service” throughout the world.

These students would leave their own special mark on this room and later in life perhaps their children will return and see the legacy left behind by their parents.

After Dr. Pradit spoke, the music department performed once more and then Dr. Wakeman gave the benediction.

The ceremony ended with graduates humbling themselves before their parents to give thanks for their support in helping them achieve their educational dream.