Houston Christian University (HCU) held 2025 Spring Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in The Linda and Archie Dunham Theater, marking the University’s 64th year of operation and the 59th year degrees have been awarded to graduating students.

HCU Provost Stanley Napper welcomed attendees and acknowledged family members and friends for the roles they played in supporting graduating students through the years.

“It is a great joy for us to see so many families here today celebrating their graduation of their loved ones. It is a tradition for us to recognize the family members of the graduates who have helped make this morning possible through all your sacrifices, not only financial, but all the prayers, moral support and encouragement you’ve given,” said Dr. Napper.

HCU President Robert Sloan conferred degrees (and certificates) upon graduating students in the University’s various colleges on the recommendation of faculty and authorized by the HCU Board of Trustees.

Dr. Sloan charged students to have moral courage as they begin their journeys and face challenges in life.

“Moral courage is when you do what is right even though it comes at a great cost to you,” said Dr. Sloan. “I challenge you in our day and age today where morals are sliding, where people are lax, where there is a powerful, at best, moral drift if not outright rebellion in cultures all around the world, I challenge you to be people of moral courage.”

In the face of moral challenges, Dr. Sloan encouraged graduates to remember that the Christian faith is true, reflect, study and meditate on the scriptures and be guided by the Holy Spirit.

“Be courageous, be strong, life is not easy, but you have been called to be set apart to be a follower of Jesus Christ,” said Dr. Sloan.

Diplomas were presented to 484 spring semester graduates, bringing the number of students who have received degrees from Houston Christian University since the institution’s first commencement in 1967 to a total of 27,391 graduates.

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