MILLIGAN, Tenn. (Dec. 5, 2025) — Milligan University will hold its fall commencement ceremony on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Mary B. Martin Auditorium located in Seeger Chapel. Over 90 graduates will be awarded degrees.
The commencement service will involve student engagement throughout the ceremony, with graduating students providing prayer, scripture readings and remarks given to their peers.
This year’s speakers include Anastasya Hunley-Bota, of Knoxville, Tennessee, receiving a Master of Education and Jacob Rutledge, of Hillsboro, Tennessee, earning a bachelor’s degree in exercise science.
The December 2025 graduates include: two Bachelor of Arts, 27 Bachelor of Science, one Bachelor of Social Work, six Master of Arts in Coaching and Sport Management, two Master of Business Administration, 12 Master of Education, 12 Master of Science in Counseling and 29 Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.
In addition, Milligan will present its Fide et Amore award to Dr. Ted Thomas, professor emeritus of humanities, history and German. The Fide et Amore award, Milligan’s highest acknowledgement of service, honors Thomas’ loving and faithful dedication to the university and students.
Thomas served for 23 years on Milligan’s faculty full-time and worked as a minister for over two decades before arriving at Milligan. His service to the campus extended well beyond the classroom as he served as the faculty advisor for Phi Alpha Theta, created the “Today in Milligan History” emails, and welcomed many students to his home for meals and fellowship. While having retired in 2022, Thomas still teaches as an adjunct professor in the humanities at Milligan.
A complete schedule of graduation activities is available online at www.milligan.edu/commencement or by calling 423.461.8681. For those unable to attend, the ceremony will be broadcast live at www.milligan.edu/streaming.