On Friday, May 8, 2026, Vanguard University marked one of its most cherished traditions as 593 graduates from undergraduate, graduate, and professional education programs gathered at the Mariners Church Irvine campus for two commencement ceremonies. The occasion celebrated academic achievement, faith, perseverance, and the Spirit-empowered calling at the heart of Vanguard's mission.
A Milestone Marked by Purpose
Beals also took a moment to honor the 32% of graduates who are first-generation college students, a statistic that speaks to Vanguard's commitment to access and equity. "There is a particular kind of courage and resilience needed to pave new pathways," he said. "As a first-generation college student myself, I am keenly aware of the challenges of being a trailblazer and the delight of my family at graduation."
From Preparation to Purpose
Joshua Tribble, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with an emphasis in Film and Visual Storytelling, delivered the undergraduate commencement address. A student who embodied campus engagement (serving in the Library, Academic Resource Center, and Admissions, performing in Concert Choir and theatre, and serving as Vice President of the Student Government Association), Tribble challenged his fellow graduates to step into what comes next with intention.
"My fellow graduates, today we stand in the space between the known and the unknown," he said. "We've walked through a season of training, learning, mentorship, and building deep, meaningful relationships. And now, we take everything we've been given and step into what's next. The world is waiting for us, right outside those doors. And they are watching."
Keynote: See the Seed, Trust the Growth
Commencement keynote speaker Melissa Alfaro, senior pastor of Tab Church in Houston, Texas, and a national leader in the Assemblies of God Network of Women Ministers, brought a powerful word of encouragement rooted in faith and vision. She urged graduates not to measure their opportunities by what they see in the moment.
"Look at your present situation and see more than what's right in front of you," Dr. Alfaro said. "Some of the opportunities that will come to you will begin in seed form. Do not despise small beginnings, for remember—inside of every seed lies the potential for a tree."
Grit, Grace, and Graduate Education
DeAnna Woods ‘24, a U.S. Army veteran and devoted mother of three, delivered the graduate student address after earning her Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Her remarks offered a candid and moving portrait of what it takes to persist.
"Every assignment I submitted had a story behind it," Woods shared. "Many were written after long days of school drop-offs, doctor's appointments, practices, meals, baths, and bedtime routines—written in the quiet hours of the night when my children were finally asleep." She credited grit, in the spirit of psychologist Angela Duckworth's research, as the force that carried her through: "Balancing my children's lives, my responsibilities, and graduate-level coursework required more than time management. It required choosing long-term purpose over short-term comfort, again and again."
A Road of Boundless Mercy
President Beals offered graduates a final send-off grounded in both humility and hope, drawing on the words of theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. "Only Jesus, who bids us follow Him, knows the journey's end," Beals quoted. "But we know that it will be a road of boundless mercy."
Congratulations, Class of 2026!