Dakota Wesleyan University will celebrate commencement May 8, with a baccalaureate service and graduation, and an honorary degree will be given to a well-known community member.
Baccalaureate will begin at 9:30 a.m. May 8 at the Sherman Center on campus, and Commencement is set for 1 p.m. at the Corn Palace with 283 graduates. The Nurses' Pinning Ceremony is set for 4 p.m. May 7 in the Sherman Center.
The Rev. Eric Van Meter, campus pastor, will offer the Baccalaureate message. An Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters will be awarded to the Rev. Boyd Blumer, of Mitchell, who will also give the Commencement address.
Boyd A. Blumer has spent his life in service to churches, the United Methodist Conference, and more importantly, to individuals.
At the age of 66, after more than 40 years in ministry, Blumer came to Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell. He has been busier in his retirement than many people are in their careers. Since 1997, he has served DWU in many capacities - as interim campus pastor, carpenter, custodian and adjunct professor. For nearly 20 years, he has taught two of three courses each semester: "Death, Dying and the Afterlife," "The Life and Teachings of Jesus" and "The Life and Letters of Paul." One student described him as "the best thing that can happen to a course on the Bible."
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Blumer and his wife of more than 60 years, Evelyn, are parents to four adult children, and they have nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
