Graduation 2005: “USM—The University of Sacred Moments!”
Neale Donald Walsch addresses an audience of more than 1,850 at USM's 2005 Graduation celebration.On Sunday, August 28, the resplendent venue of Royce Hall on the UCLA campus was the setting for the University of Santa Monica’s 2005 Graduation ceremony.
Every one of the 1,850 seats in the auditorium was filled for this joyful celebration. In addition to the 240 members of the graduating classes, many hundreds of family and friends, members of the University faculty and Board of Trustees, current students, and generations of graduates filled the magnificent auditorium to capacity.
With a new academic year starting this October, there were also many people present who have been accepted for admission as new students into one of USM’s M.A. Programs in Spiritual Psychology. These new students will be part of the student body of more than 500 students who will be participating in the University’s 25th year of classes!
The day’s heartfelt celebration gave all those present a wonderful experience of the joy, enthusiasm, and loving excellence that are hallmarks of USM’s Graduate Programs. Neale Donald Walsch, author of the Conversations with God series, delivered a commencement address that was inspirational as well as humorous, in which he asked profound questions, not just of the graduates but of all of those present in Royce Hall.
A Visionary Leader and Master Facilitator
The afternoon’s celebration began as Faculty member Dr. Sherry Phelan introduced USM’s President, Dr. Ron Hulnick. “The President of the University is a visionary leader in the field of Soul-Centered education and a master facilitator.
“In the classroom he helps to transform lives. He takes complex, elusive principles and makes them clear, concrete, and applicable to our lives, using easily accessible metaphors and models. His humor adds a light touch that facilitates learning, making it fun and grace-filled.
“But the thing that he loves the most is the depth of the work, which leads people to heal issues for the very last time. His commitment to getting this work to a wider audience is unparalleled. So much so that this year he took a ‘trust’ (rather than a ‘risk!’) and pioneered a daring new program that would seek to define what it means to be a Soul-Centered Leader. This program has been an outstanding success.
“Students describe him as wise, compassionate, kind, a humanitarian. To staff he is a role model for authenticity and integrity. To faculty he is a mentor and a friend. I have seen him stand in his truth, willing to trust, and it sparks that courage in me. He is a man with a vision for global peace and loving, one person at a time—and he is living it.”
What is Soul-Centered Education?
After acknowledging USM’s Board of Trustees, Faculty, and Staff, Dr. Ron Hulnick addressed the graduating class, their families, and guests. For many in the audience, this was their first contact with USM. Dr. Hulnick started his address by answering a common question: What is Soul-Centered education?
“Soul-Centered education seeks to bring forward a greater awareness of the spiritual dimension that resides within each of us,” he explained.
Dr. Hulnick continued by placing Spiritual Psychology and Soul-Centered education within the context of the current global climate and humanity’s continuing search for greater peace.
“Peace has been defined by our Chancellor, John-Roger, as ‘the cessation of againstness.’ And it has also been said that peace is always present. How can both statements be true? It all depends upon the frame of reference that you are in at the time. And we can all work towards greater peace. In fact, that is the only way that it is going to happen.”
USM’s President invited all 1,800+ people in the audience to “go inside and find one place inside of you where you harbor againstness against anything. Dare to go inside and identify one area in your life where you are condemning someone or something, and right here and now say, ‘I’m giving that up! I don’t need to hold onto that any more.’
“Global peace happens one person at a time, through the process of each of us letting go of a piece of againstness that we hold inside of ourselves. This is what the graduates have been learning to do over the last two years.” He continued, “While this is simple work, this is not easy work. And it is certainly not easy to learn how to do it consistently and to make that kind of commitment to yourself. These graduates have become masters at it.”
In closing his inspiring address, USM’s President encouraged the graduating class: “Your job, no matter what the world looks like as you move into it, is to always stay at peace inside of yourself. Always commit yourself to align with that loving place inside. If you are committed to that, and aligned with that, then your day will be glorious.”
The Degrees are Granted
A handful of people found space to stand at the back of the hall as USM’s Academic Vice President, Dr. Mary Hulnick, set the granting of degrees in motion. She shared enthusiastically, “It is such a privilege and blessing to be a part of this University. For those of you who are here as friends and family of this graduating class, I tell you, they are awesome! They have truly earned their degrees.”
Looking at the graduates through eyes filled with loving, she continued, “The Founder, John-Roger, said, ‘When you get a degree from the University of Santa Monica, it won’t be because you have passed a prescribed line of curriculum.
It will be because you can do what the degree says you can do.’ And you have all demonstrated that! And I charge you with continuing to demonstrate it!”
There were 162 students who received Master of Arts Degrees in Spiritual Psychology, with 25 more receiving Certificates of Completion in Spiritual Psychology. USM’s latest group of Soul-Centered counselors stepped forward, with 14 students receiving Master of Arts Degrees in Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis in Spiritual Psychology, which fulfill the educational requirements to become licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. In addition, 39 students received Certificates of Completion in USM’s brand-new Program for graduates, Soul-Centered Leadership.
USM’s President and Academic Vice President, Drs. Ron and Mary Hulnick, share in the joy of Graduation.USM—The University of Sacred Moments!
After the 240 remarkable individuals who make up the graduating class of 2005 received their certificates and degrees, they were treated to an upbeat, often humorous, and powerful commencement address from Neale Donald Walsch. The world-renowned author drew enthusiastic applause and laughter from the capacity audience as he sought to find a meaningful answer to one of humanity’s oldest questions: “Who am I?”
He shared, “It’s a three-word question, which this University seeks to answer. Or, better yet, does not seek to answer but seeks to provide the space from which the answer might emerge.”
In reference to USM’s Chancellor, Mr. Walsch continued, “Twelve months shy of a quarter century ago, a breathtaking human being had a breathtaking idea. He created this school. This university. USM—the University of Sacred Moments!
“And he delegated to two people, whose dedication, whose commitment, whose place of beingness has caused this to emerge—Mary and Ron. And he gave them charge of this place and essentially said to them in so many words, ‘Do what you need to do, but understand that from all that you do, nothing will emerge unless it is wrapped and couched and embraced in a place of beingness that deeply understands who you really are.’
“The time of humanity’s greatest choice is at hand. I promise you, this is not an exaggeration. Pick up your newspaper. It is not a moment for despair, but a moment for repair. We will repair every false thought humanity has been holding about itself. We will do it with leadership such as this. Leaders are people who don’t say, ‘Follow me!’ Leaders are people who say, ‘I’ll go first.’
“These graduates have chosen to go first. And they receive the silent thanks of every person who hopes for a better tomorrow, and the silent applause of every human being who dreams of a better future for their children. They receive the solemn promise of all the heavens. In you we have invested the hope of humanity. Take this now from this time and place. Make this day mean more than you ever could have possibly imagined. I know you will. And I know you will leave this time and this place, making every day hereafter, every moment hereafter, an extraordinary conversation with God.”
At the conclusion of this uplifting address, the audience of over 1,800 rose as one in joyful celebration, offering generous applause. Then, everyone moved onto a beautiful sunlit patio overlooking the UCLA campus for a celebration reception. Many new grads took the opportunity to introduce their family and friends to Drs. Ron and Mary Hulnick, as well as the other members of USM’s much-loved faculty. And, of course, there was plenty of time for delicious cookies and refreshments!
The class of 2005 now embarks on the next stage of their co-creative dance with Spirit. Many of them have already secured a space in USM’s Continuing Education Program, Service: A Path with Heart, and will be serving as Readers and Assistants in the upcoming year. They have stepped forward in support of the students who are following in their footsteps.
One thing is assured, the presence of 240 more graduates from the University of Santa Monica will be making a powerful difference in the world—loving beings committed to the cessation of againstness and the establishment of peace, from the inside out!
Congratulations Class of 2005—YOU ARE THIS UNIVERSITY OF SANTA MONICA! We love, honor, and appreciate you!
