Contemporary Christian musician Mitch McVicker will bring his inspirational message of spiritual growth as the keynote speaker at the Friends University Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at INTRUST Bank Arena, 500 E. Waterman.
About 600 students from the College of Business, Arts, Sciences and Education, the College of Adult and Professional Studies, and the Graduate School are candidates for graduation.
McVicker, a GMA Dove Award-winning Contemporary Christian Music singer-songwriter, attended Friends University in the early-1990s where he met and befriended the late CCM recording artist, Rich Mullins, the original artist of the contemporary Christian song “Awesome God”, a hymn that resonates with millions in Christian congregations.
After graduating in May 1995, McVicker moved to New Mexico, eventually touring and writing songs with Mullins. On the night of Sept. 19, 1997, McVicker and Mullins were en route to a benefit concert being held in Wichita and were involved in a serious auto accident after the Jeep they were riding in flipped and ejected both occupants. McVicker was only 24 at the time and sustained major head injuries. Mullins died instantly at the scene after being hit by a semi-trailer truck that swerved to avoid hitting the overturned vehicle.
McVicker says he believes the tragedy happened for a reason. It allows him to better communicate with his audiences, saying, “Our trips through the valleys, our trips through the darkness make us who we are. If we are real about our lives, and truthful it will resonate with someone who needs to hear it.”
Along with recording, McVicker maintains an extensive touring schedule performing between 100 to 200 concerts a year.
Friends University graduates and their guests are invited to attend pre-ceremony celebrations at the Casado Campus Center on the Wichita campus from 10:30 to noon.
Trolleys will run every 15 minutes from the campus to the INTRUST arena. A professionally produced DVD of the Commencement ceremony will be available to order from Kent Audio Visual, for $15.
Friends University, a Christian University of Quaker heritage, equips students to honor God and serve others by integrating their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives.