One Final Commencement

Dr. William Jernigan has been a key part of every commencement in the history of Oral Roberts University, all 49 of them.

So what's one more?

Upon ORU's 50th commencement ceremony in 2017, Dr. Jernigan will bid farewell to the university in an official capacity, retiring on the golden 50th anniversary to turn his attention to his golden years.

What has been the driving force behind Dr. Jernigan's commitment to ORU as a whole and to the commencement exercises annually?

"It's for the students," he says. "They are our ambassadors as they go out into the world."

They're certainly going out with quite a pioneer cheering them on. Dr. Jernigan started at ORU before any classes had even begun, being personally chosen by Oral Roberts to create the first university library, a critical first step to the all-important accreditation.

From there, Dr. Jernigan steadily worked his way up in the university's administration, becoming a fastidious presence during both the highs and lows, the feasting times and the fasting times. No matter what historic event has occurred at ORU for the last 50 years, Dr. Jernigan was there to witness it.

This commencement then marks the turning of a page as the university sends off a stalwart, while at the same time sending out the next graduating class to be ambassadors that are, hopefully, in some measure like Dr. Jernigan himself.

He may have started at the university by building a library but he is ending it having built a legacy.