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CMU celebrates the Class of 2025: a landmark year in the CMU story
Under the vaulted arched ceilings of the historic Knox United Church in downtown Winnipeg, Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) celebrated its 25th graduating class on April 26, 2025. This landmark year for the university saw 97 graduates receive their diplomas in front of a large gathering of family, friends, CMU faculty, and staff.
CMU President Cheryl Pauls opened the ceremony by saying, "As a university moved and transformed by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, CMU is gifted by the diverse range of people and communities who entrust themselves to learn together."
"As people of bold courage, curiosity, wisdom, wonder, and skilled discipline, we trust how they give shape to the very condition of life," continued Pauls.
Elder in Residence at CMU, Vince Solomon, led an Indigenous prayer song, welcoming guests and "God, our creator, into our midst."
This year's President's Medals were awarded to Hannah Peters (BA, Four-year, Political Studies) and Philemon Waldner (BA, Three-year, English) in recognition of their scholarship, leadership, and service qualities.
2025 Presidents Medal recipients Hannah Peters and Philemon Walder with CMU President Cheryl Pauls
The Bible verse chosen by this year's graduating class was John 14:27– "An intelligent mind acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge."
Tying into those biblical themes, undergraduate valedictorian Tai Linklater (BA, Honours, Four-year, Ecology Pacifism) said, "(We graduates) have dedicated countless hours towards amplifying our intelligence through the acquisition of knowledge here at CMU."
Linklater said that a CMU degree represents the various ways of knowing across a broad range of academic disciplines that have shaped students into rounded graduates.
The degree, Linklater says, "Also represents the people and place who have been foundational to the experiences outside the classroom."
Through a humorous joke about begrudgingly taking a required math course and one about coming to terms with the high standards for reading requirements in political science courses, Linklater said that even in the rough times, their "education served them well."
Graduate valedictorian Shantelle Morrison (MA, Peacebuilding and Collaborative Development) focused on the close relationships and community foundational to the CMU experience.
"This institution welcomed our traditions, embraced our dreams, and gave us a place to belong," Morrison said.
She talked about the communal act of sharing in graduate student lunches, working on papers together, and late-night study sessions.
"I have witnessed the spirit of community in countless ways, and over time, those moments multiplied," she said.
She says the caring support of the faculty pushed her to think critically and live compassionately. "We found professors with open doors that welcomed us with smiles."
Morrison ended her speech by encouraging graduates to "build bridges, where walls may exist."
Bob Haverluck recieves the 2025 CMU PAX Award from CMU President Cheryl Pauls
The CMU PAX Award, presented annually at the graduation ceremony, was awarded to Bob Haverluck, who also gave the convocation address.
Haverluck is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and theologian from Manitoba. As a community leader, Haverluck has encouraged wonder and passion for environmentalism and driven us to care for our neighbours in big and small ways. His dedication to social transformation embodies the foundational cornerstone of CMU's mission.
In his address, Haverluck reminded the graduating class to be grateful for all our creator has provided and use that gratitude to inspire and work for change.
His speech emphasized the importance of mending our fragile social systems and caring for our degenerating ecosystem.
"Daily venture out upon the creator's good earth to seek a more peaceful world we are gracefully given to be nurtured; held by what we behold. We are beholden to sister, Mother Earth, who we rudely overlook, rudely deny."
Haverluck called graduates to seek integrity, peace, and solidarity with their fellow humans and the environment. "Creator unifies the heart," he said.
Shortly after the speeches, the graduates each took their turn walking across the stage to receive the diplomas. Now, as CMU alumni, 97 members of the class of 2025 share in this distinct community dedicated to service, leadership, and reconciliation in church and society.
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