UC holds opening convocation for students and community

Rush of Fools

University of the Cumberlands brought in the new semester with opening convocation on Sept. 1, 2015, by hosting Christian band Rush of Fools and speaker Brent Gambrell.

At 7:30 p.m. on a Tuesday, the University of the Cumberlands opened their gym to students and community for their first convocation of the semester. Students are required so many appearances at these events per semester. Opening convocations usually host the largest number of students; in fact, students sometimes attend the opening convocation by choice. Lauren Leever, a UC student who is no longer required to attend as a senior said, "I'm not required to go to convocations as a senior, but all my friends were going."

Rush of Fools, a Christian band from Alabama, opened and closed the convocation with popular Christian songs. Students stood singing and dancing along to familiar songs. Some students moved from their seats in the bleachers to the bottom of the stage to participate in song and worship. A group of freshman at the convocation all agreed they enjoyed the music and it was their favorite part of the convocation.

Dr. Larry Cockrum spoke to the students, introducing himself as the new president of the university and giving them the same advice he gave to his children when they began college, "You need discipline in order to make progress." After Dr. Cockrum introduced himself, new employees hired at the university over the summer were announced and applauded. A short video clip on the past year at the University of the Cumberlands was also shown, reminded the older students of the past year and introducing the incoming students with a new school year.

Brent Gambrell

Speaker Brent Gambrell, president of a non-profit ministry and a motivational speaker from Nashville, Tennessee, gave a sermon on breaking conformity with the sinful world and finding complete fulfillment in the Lord alone. He referenced several Bible passages (Ephesians 3:20-21; Matthew 2:12, 10:39; John 15:5) to conclude the central message of his sermon, "Do the will of the Father. Finish the work."

Junior Brooke Greene, double majoring in fitness & sports management and business administration, reflected on the sermon the next day and said, "The message was inspiring. It's exactly what I needed to hear before I started this semester."