LA MIRADA, CALIF. — Bobby Gruenewald, pastor, founder and CEO of the successful YouVersion Bible App, will be the keynote speaker at Biola University’s Spring 2023 commencement ceremonies this weekend. Special recognition will be given to two Biolans at the weekend ceremonies.

Nearly 850 graduates will walk across the stage at the two commencement ceremonies.

“This past year Biola has many reasons to give thanks,” said Dr. Barry H. Corey, President of Biola. “The intellectual, spiritual, compassionate, athletic and vocational endeavors across the disciplines, exemplified in outstanding students like Biola graduates, who continue to reflect the 115-year tradition of a biblically centered, Christ-exalting, academically robust, compassion-oriented education.”

Keynote speaker Gruenewald serves on the leadership team at Life.Church as their pastor and is passionate about the cross-section of technology and faith. YouVersion Bible App has been downloaded on over 560 million devices across the globe.

Biola will honor two graduates this weekend. On Saturday, former Biola student Nate Lewis will be honored. In February of 2020, a Biola freshman was involved in a serious skateboarding accident which caused him a traumatic brain injury. This would have been the semester he would have graduated if he had been able to continue as a student at Biola. He and his family will be in attendance and share a few words during the ceremony in celebration of the strides he's taken in his recovery.

“Though his time at Biola was cut short, we are grateful that he will be with us at commencement, a beloved member of our community,” said Corey. “Nate and his family have taught us so much about walking with God honestly and trustingly through the painful and hopeful realities of our lives.”

Paralympian Morgan Stickney will be graduating this spring as well. Stickney was a top 20 American freestyle swimmer before injuries derailed her career, but caused her to become a gold medalist in the paralympics. She will graduate with a B.S. in Applied Psychology on Friday.

Biola University President Dr. Barry H. Corey will congratulate, celebrate and send off graduating seniors.

The first ceremony will be held on Friday, May 5 at 7 p.m. on Metzger lawn. The following schools will be honored and celebrated at the Friday ceremony.

The second ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 6 at 7 p.m. on Metzger lawn. The following schools will be honored and celebrated at the Saturday ceremony.

For those unable to attend in person, a live stream of the ceremonies will be available on the Biola website and on Biola’s Facebook.

The Spring 2023 ceremonies mark the final year in which Biola has held commencements at the end of each semester. Next year, those graduating in December will join spring ceremonies in lieu of having a fall graduation.

For more information or press passes, please contact Sarah Dougher, media relations coordinator, at sarah.m.dougher@biola.edu.

FOR MEDIA: Upon arrival to campus, please call (949) 521-1829.

Biola University

13800 Biola Ave.

La Mirada, CA 90639

Written by Ryan Wingert, Strategic Communications Assistant. For more information, contact media.relations@biola.edu.