Nearly 1,000 To Graduate At Lewis University Winter Commencements

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Close to 1,000 students will graduate in winter commencement ceremonies at Lewis University on Dec. 16-17. The ceremonies honor August and December graduates, according to the university.

Tickets are limited for the in-person events. However, the degree ceremonies and Commencement Mass will be streamed live by the Lewis University Television Network and Department of Communications.

On Friday, the Graduate Degree Ceremony will honor more than 550 students receiving doctoral degrees, certificates of advanced study, and master’s degrees, as well as graduates of adult accelerated programs. Eight students will receive their doctorate degrees, the university said.

The morning undergraduate degree ceremony will honor more than 230 College of Aviation, Science and Technology, College of Business, and School of Graduate, Professional & Continuing Education degree recipients. During the ceremony, Stephanie Lee Lingenfelter will offer the Lasallian Address, sharing insights on the University Mission values of knowledge and association, the university said. The Whiteland, Indiana, resident earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science.

The afternoon undergraduate degree ceremony will honor more than 200 College of Education and Social Sciences, College of Humanities, Fine Arts and Communications degree recipients, and College of Nursing and Health Sciences degree recipients, the university said. During the ceremony, Christian Bogdan Mietus of Lemont will be recognized with the Father Aquinas Colgan Award for transformation while earning a bachelor’s degree in English. Lingenfelter will offer the Lasallian Address again, sharing insights on the University Mission values of knowledge and association.

Timothy McCarthy, a Lewis University alumnus who served as a law enforcement and public safety professional for nearly 50 years, will receive an honorary doctoral degree and address the graduates, the university said.

McCarthy served as a United States Secret Service agent beginning in 1972 during presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H. Bush terms of office. During the Reagan presidency, he was shot, along with the president, during an assassination attempt.

After John Hinckley began to fire, McCarthy deliberately put himself in the line of fire to shield the President. McCarthy received the NCAA Award of Valor in 1982 in recognition of his bravery. Since retirement from the Secret Service in 1993, McCarthy served primarily as Orland Park's Chief of Police as well as several other regional public service roles.