By Gerard Flanagan, Lead Writer and Communications Specialist, Office of Marketing and Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Who among you will be the greatest?
This was the question Dr. Ryan Coffey posted to the graduates of Campbellsville University as he delivered the commencement address during the university’s May commencement ceremonies in the Powell Athletic Center.
Twenty years ago in 2005, Coffey sat in the same gym as he graduated from CU with a Bachelor of Science in Educational Ministry. In that moment, Coffey shared, “I had a head full of dreams and yet no idea what God was going to do in my life. All I knew was this…I wanted to be great!”
Campbellsville University hosted four commencement ceremonies – two on Friday, May 9, and two on Saturday, May 10. Coffey spoke at both commencement ceremonies on Saturday.
The question of who is the greatest is a difficult question, Coffey explained, because there are so many different measures of greatness. Coffey shared four popular measurements for greatness in today’s world – power, position, possession and prestige.
However, Coffey explained that these pathways are flawed and fall short of true greatness.
“So what are we do? Is there another pathway to greatness?” Coffey asked.
Yes, there is, he answered.
Coffey reminded the soon-to-be graduates that the question of who is the greatest once came up among the disciples of Jesus Christ.
“They desired positions of authority, power, and influence,” Coffey said. “They longed for the wealth and prestige of a greater kingdom.”
Jesus’ response?
“The greatest among you will be your servant,” Coffey said, quoting Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:11.
“He turned their understanding of greatness upside down,” Coffey emphasized. “Jesus defined and redefines our understanding of greatness. Greatness is reserved for those who serve!”
While this might be a hard pill to swallow at first, Coffey said this should instead be good news for everybody.
“Because now, greatness is available to all,” Coffey said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from or where you’re headed. It doesn’t matter how much money you make, where you work or what you own.
“It doesn’t matter if you are ever recognized by your peers or win the award or not. Jesus said greatness is found when you choose to serve! Greatness is not just for those in places of authority. It is for those in authority to kneel and to care for those around them.”
Coffey explained Jesus had all the power, position, possession and prestige. Yet, as Philippians 2:7 reminds us about Jesus, “…rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
“Jesus had all power, position, possessions and prestige,” Coffey said, “and He laid it aside to be a servant. He modeled for us that greatness is found in giving your life away. So let me ask you again: Who among you will be the greatest?
“The greatest among you will be your servant! Graduates, we love you, we’re proud of you, and we wish you the best. And now, go be great!”
Coffey, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Somerset, Ky., serves as a member of the Campbellsville University Board of Trustees. He is a two-time Campbellsville University graduate, with a Bachelor of Science in Educational Ministry (2005) and a Master of Theology (2013).
Since becoming the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Somerset in April 2021, the church has experienced a new era of significant growth and influence. The church has witnessed nearly 600 baptisms in four years and experienced record giving, attendance and historic mission and discipleship participation.
CU President Dr. Joseph Hopkins told the graduates during his charge to the graduates that they are stepping into a very different world than the one he entered after college.
“More than ever, being a person of character, faith and change will require strength and courage,” Hopkins told the graduates.
Hopkins said one of his favorite Biblical figures is Joshua, who faced his own set of challenges as he led the Israelites to claim the Promised Land.
“After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the entire nation of Israel boldly crossed over the River Jordan trusting God to guide, provide and protect,” Hopkins said. “Ultimately, God gave His people victory, a beautiful home, and peace.”
Hopkins shared what God said to Joshua in Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Hopkins told the graduates, “God speaks to us today through these same words. You are stepping into an incredible moment and opportunity. Don’t be afraid and don’t be discouraged.”
The best part, Hopkins added, is that the Lord promises to be with His people in life’s ups and downs.
“This is the source of my strength!” Hopkins shared. “This is the source of my confidence! So, as you go from here to change the world, I implore you to remember that you do not go alone. God goes with you. What a mighty God we serve, and what a bright future lies ahead!”
Four graduates responded to Hopkins’ charge.
At the first ceremony on Friday, Regan Elizabeth Adams said Hopkins’ words resonated with her and her fellow classmates “as we stand at this entrance into a new path.”
“As Joshua led his people, we too step forward into a world full of both great possibilities and challenges,” Adams said.
Adams explained the words of Joshua 1:9 will serve as a powerful anchor for her and her classmates in their next steps.
“Those words reflect not only in Scripture but also in our own experiences here – through every challenge, every long night, and every moment that we have endured to make it to this day,” Adams said. “It is a call to embrace the unknown, not with fear, but with bold spirits, knowing that the foundation of our strength lies not solely within ourselves.”
Adams, of Bonnieville, Ky., received a Master of Social Work.
In the second ceremony on Friday, Yukthakiran Matla reminded her fellow classmates that commencement was not just a celebration of our academic achievements. It was also a celebration of their growth, resilience and shared experiences.
“Today marks both an end and a beginning, and it is a privilege to carry these values and lessons from this chapter into all that lies ahead,” Matla said.
Matla reminded her classmates that they get to live in an era of “extraordinary transformation, where innovation accelerates and global challenges grow more interconnected.”
“Technologies like artificial intelligence are reshaping how we live, work and decide,” Matla noted. “As we move forward, we will face uncertainty, doubt, and change, but also moments that call us to lead with integrity, adapt with humility and stand firm in our convictions.”
Matla noted that, like Joshua, she and her classmates are called to step forward in courage and faith, “not because the way is always clear, but because the journey demands it.”
“The people, the memories, and the guidance we’ve received here will continue to shape the choices we make and the lives we influence,” Matla said. “Thank you to every mentor, friend, and supporter who helped us come this far. Your impact reaches far beyond this campus.”
Matla encouraged his classmates to “bloom wherever they are planted.”
“Embrace the season you’re in, trust the timing of your journey, and leave the rest in the hands of God,” Matla said. “He is faithful, and He will surely complete the good work He has begun in each of us.”
Matla, of Sterling Heights, Mich., received a Master of Science in Computer Science.
In the opening ceremony Saturday, Kaylee Shay Campbell echoed Hopkins’ charge, saying today’s world is “complex, fast-changing and sometimes uncertain.”
“And yet, we leave here equipped not just with knowledge, but with values – character, faith and the courage to be agents of change,” Campbell noted.
Like the Israelites crossing the Jordan River, Campbell reminded her classmates that they, too, are stepping forward in faith.
“We, too, are stepping forward in faith – believing that what lies ahead is filled with promise and purpose, even if the path is not always clear,” Campbell said. “It reminds us that strength and courage are not qualities we must muster on our own.
“They are gifts from the One who walks beside us every step of the way.”
In accepting this charge, Campbell said she and her classmates are accepting a charge to be people of courage, faith and character.
“No matter the vocation we pursue or the place we land, we carry the truth that God is with us, and that His power is made perfect even in our weakness,” Campbell said. “That promise gives us the courage to dream boldly, to love deeply and to serve generously.
“As we look to the future, we don’t see an end. We see a beginning filled with divine possibility.”
Campbell, of Columbia, Ky., received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science Area.
In the final ceremony on Saturday, Allan Johan Garcia Morales said that, when he arrived at Campbellsville University, he brought “a suitcase, a dream and a GPS that said the journey would be four years long.”
“What it didn’t tell me was that those four years would be filled with detours, late-night papers, many of them, unexpected friendships, surprising faith and more ramen noodles than I care to confess,” he shared.
Before stepping forward into their respective futures, Garcia asked his classmates to reflect on the people who helped them get to this point.
“So to the secret heroes, to the parents, my parents, who worked extra shifts, to the grandparents who gave up dreams so we could chase ours, to the mentors, pastors, and friends who believed in us when we didn’t believe in us, this diploma belongs to you too.”
Garcia reminded his fellow graduates of God’s promises in Psalm 77: “Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.”
“Some of us crossed oceans to be here,” Garcia noted. “Some crossed grief. Some crossed doubt. And yet, like Psalm 77 says, God made a path through the sea even when no one could see it, and He still does.”
Garcia told his classmates that, as they step into the future, they go with lessons that have shaped them, people who have carried them and with the confidence that, even if the road disappears, God still knows the way.
Garcia added, “So walk boldly. Walk kindly. Be the first to forgive. Be the last one to quit. And when the waters rise, remember He has done it before, and He will do it again. Congratulations, Class of 2025. Let’s go, not just to make a life, but to make it matter.”
Garcia, of Campbellsville, Ky., received a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministries Area.
During the May commencement ceremonies, Campbellsville University presented the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Community and Student Awards.
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Community Award was presented to Tim Judd, who currently serves as Manager of U.S. Accounting for Compassion International, a global ministry serving more than 2.2 million infants, children, and young adults in 29 countries.
A two-time graduate of CU, Judd served at CU as a full-time employee for 22 years. He began his career at CU as a work-study student in the office of Academic Affairs in 1999 and advanced to Chief Financial Officer/Vice President for Finance and Operations.
In presenting the award, Hopkins shared, “Tim Judd has demonstrated remarkable achievements in finance and in the community of Campbellsville University, showing an unwavering commitment to excellence and making a lasting impact on the world of finance in higher education.”
Hopkins added, “Throughout his career, Tim has been an advocate for being an ethical and compliant administrator in higher education, and today, we celebrate not only the milestones achieved but the inspiration he continues to provide to those around him.”
Judd, a native of Green County, Ky., received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting from CU in December 2002 and his Master of Business Administration degree from CU in May 2005. He also earned his CPA license in Kentucky in 2017.
Judd is married to Jamie Judd, an educator and CU alum, and they have two children: Landon and Laynie.
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Student Award was presented to Samuel Robert Bennett, of Elizabethtown, Ky., who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Pastoral Ministries.
During his time at CU, Bennett has served as a senior residence assistant, a member of the cross-country team, a member of the Campus Ministry Council and a Presidential Ambassador.
Hopkins shared about Bennett, “We see his heart for sharing Christ through numerous mission trips, community service projects and everyday ministry on our campus. This type of commitment to the Lord and others is evidence of Samuel’s desire to serve those around him and is precisely the type of character worthy of being awarded the 2025 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.”
Campbellsville University was selected in 2002 to participate in this prestigious awards program that honors the memory and legacy of the late Algernon Sydney Sullivan. Only 70 colleges and universities are approved by the Sullivan Foundation to annually present these awards to one graduating senior and to one community member.
Co-valedictorians, with their degree listed, are as follows: Steven Glen Bates, of Ferguson, Ky. (Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministries); XoXo Cecil of Harrodsburg, Ky. (Bachelor of Science in Economics);
Kennedy Nicole Chesser of Springfield, Ky. (Bachelor of Science in Biology/Psychology); Francisco Philippe Cocar Montenegro of San Salvador, El Salvador (Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Sociology);
Taryn Malia Harper of Southaven, Miss. (Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Criminal Justice Administration); Kate Lin Rae Hollenbach of Campbellsville, Ky. (Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Criminal Justice Administration)
Shuichi Kitajima of Campbellsville, Ky. (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Design Area with Animation Emphasis; Briana Alaura Mardis of Campbellsville, Ky. (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting); and Makenna Marie Meeks of Russell Springs, Ky. (Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration).
Campbell Hays Sims, of Hodgenville, Ky., who received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting, was salutatorian.
Ashley Fox, director of alumni relations, welcomed the graduates on Friday to the Campbellsville University Alumni Association, saying, “Being part of this alumni community is not just about where you’ve been—it’s about where you’re going. It’s about staying connected, giving back, and lifting others as you climb. As alumni, you have access to resources, mentorship, and support from fellow graduates who are invested in your success.”
Michaela Jarman, assistant director of alumni relations and athletic alumni coordinator, told the graduates on Saturday that, “Your journey to this milestone has been filled with challenges, learning experiences, and countless memories.
“You have worked hard, persevered, and embraced the opportunities that came your way. But beyond the knowledge and skills you have gained, your time here has shaped your character, strengthened your sense of purpose, and prepared you to make a difference in the world.”
Jarman also encouraged graduates to stay connected with their alma mater.
“As alumni, you have the opportunity to give back in meaningful ways, whether by mentoring students, supporting university initiatives, or simply sharing your experiences,” Jarman said. “Your continued involvement helps ensure that future generations of students have the same opportunities that you did.”
Of the 1,776 student receiving degrees, 12 received doctorate degrees, 1,416 received master’s degrees, 322 received bachelor’s degrees and 26 received associate’s degrees. Candidates for graduation receive their degrees on the recommendation of the faculty and the approval of the Board of Trustees.
Photo 1: During his commencement address on Saturday, Dr. Ryan Coffey told Campbellsville University graduates that they can find greatness when they choose to serve.
Photo/ Brandon Roberts
Photo 2: Francisco Montenegro smiles prior to his commencement ceremony on Saturday. Montenegro, of San Salvador, El Salvador, received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Sociology.
Photo/ Leinner Corrales
Photo 3: Lori Rogers of Campbellsville, who works in the Office of Enrollment at Campbellsville University, celebrates with colleagues after receiving her Master of Theology.
Photo/ Brandon Roberts
Photo 4: The first class of graduates from Campbellsville University’s School of Chiropractic celebrates with their professors prior to their commencement ceremony on Friday.
Photo/ Brandon Roberts
Photo 5: Tim Judd, center, receives the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Community Award. Campbellsville University President Dr. Joseph Hopkins, center, and Dr. Jeanette Parker, provost and vice president for academic affairs, made the presentation.
Photo/ Brandon Roberts
Photo 6: Rylee Thomas, center, and her father, Brian Thomas, pose for a photo after graduating from Campbellsville University on Friday. Rylee, of Fort Thomas, Ky., received a Master of Arts in Sport Management, while Brian, also of Fort Thomas, earned his Master of Arts in Education School Counseling.
Photo/ Brandon Roberts
Photo 7: Samuel Bennett, center, receives the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Student Award. Dr. Jeanette Parker, provost and vice president for academic affairs, center, and Campbellsville University President Dr. Joseph Hopkins, made the presentation.
Photo/ Brandon Roberts
Photo 8: Jeian Hayes, of Shelbyville, Ky., celebrates with family and friends after graduating with her Master of Social Work.
Photo/ Brandon Roberts
Photo 9: Oriana Espinoza, second from right, poses with her family following her commencement. From left are Yajaira Mendoza (Espinoza’s mother); Frank Espinoza (Espinoza’s father); Espinoza; and Jesus Espinoza (Espinoza’s brother). Espinoza, of Cornelius, N.C., received a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication Area.
Photo/Gerard Flanagan
Photo 10: Brandon Hatmaker celebrates with his parents, Randy and Maureen Hatmaker, and his daughter, Elsie Hatmaker, after his commencement ceremony. Hatmaker, of White Bluff, Tenn., received a Bachelor of Science.
Photo/Gerard Flanagan
Photo 11: Daesean VanCleave of Campbellsville celebrates with his son, Shae, after receiving his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration.
Photo/Gerard Flanagan
For additional commencement photos, visit Campbellsville University’s Flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/campbellsvilleedu/albums.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.
(Gerard Flanagan, Lead Writer and Communications Specialist – Office of Marketing and Communications)