The Nazarene Seminary of the Americas celebrated the annual graduation on November 7th. It was a special evening where thirteen students received their diplomas along with their family, friends and the faculty of SENDAS. There were seven graduates who were unable to attend the service in Costa Rica, but who were given the opportunity to watch the service online by streaming. In addition, seventy-one students were recognized for completing the requirements of the Certificate in Youth Ministry. These students are from the countries of Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. The graduates from this year’s class represent nine countries.

The graduation was dedicated to Dr. H. Fernando Bullon and Dr. Dorothy Bullon. They arrived to the Seminary as missionaries in 1991. Dr. Bullon served as Academic Vice President for one year. They both taught classes at various levels and have continued their teaching careers until today even after retiring in 2011. We give thanks to God for the lives of the Bullons, hoping for many more years of working together with the faculty and students of SENDAS.

This year three distinguished alumni were recognized. Rene Acosta Polanco, a graduate of SENDAS last year, was the first to be recognized. Rev. Acosta passed away recently. He was a key leader in the Dominican Republic as the District Superintendent and the Coordinator of Ministries for the country, and for SENDAS in the role of the Coordinator of the Master’s Program for his country. Dr. Fernandez read the certificate sharing words of gratitude and honor in his name. This same certificate was sent to his widow, Carmen Checo.

Alumnus Mauricio Valverde was honored for his years of service in the Christian community and SENDAS. He graduated in 1984. Also, alumnus Dr. Jorge Gomez was honored, who serves as the President of the Evangelical Alliance of Costa Rica. The video of Dr. Gomez, which was shown in his absence, encouraged everyone to continue in the steps of Christ.

Two of the graduates shared words of thanks to God, to the faculty and to their families for helping them to reach this important day: Maru Eliud Castro Hernandez (undergraduate) and Ernesto Bathermy (postgraduate).

Dr. Dan Copp, the Educational Commissioner for the Church of the Nazarene, reminded the congregation that SENDAS is part of an association of 52 Nazarene institutions in the world. He shared stories of seminary and university leaders from various countries including Swaziland, Ukraine, Russia and Bangladesh. Dr. Copp stated that our first calling is to be servants and ambassadors of Christ. “I invite you to anchor yourself in your call, not only in your education, and then live as Jesus lived in this world.”

He concluded with the prayer of Saint Patrick: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ in breadth, Christ in length, Christ in height, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

Special music was provided by tenor Ivan Andres Arguedas Acuna who played and sang two selections including the song Alleluia, to which many in the congregation sang along on the chorus.

Dr. Jorge Banos and Rev. Franlym Pena presented the diplomas to the graduates. The Costa Rica Bible Society gave a Bible to each graduate.

IMG_5861

Diploma in Christian Ministry: 8 graduates.

Castro Leon, Douglas                               Costa Rica
Chaves Rivera, Erika                                Costa Rica
Magna Cum Laude
Elizondo Urena, Zoraida Maritza              Costa Rica
Summa Cum Laude
Henriquez Rivera, Dina Lianabel                  Panama
Magna Cum Laude
Mayorga Hernández, William Sebastián
Cum Laude                                                Nicaragua
Montenegro Justavino, Crispín                     Panama
Mora Sánchez, Roy Elías                         Costa Rica
Cum Laude
Solano Navarro, Guido                             Costa Rica
Cum Laude

Bachelor degree in Theology with emphasis in Pastoral Ministry: 3 graduates.

Esquivel Sandoval, Marta Eugenia          Costa Rica
Cum Laude
Peralta Benavides, Hellen Giselle           Costa Rica
Summa Cum Laude
Rey Mendez, Catalina                             Costa Rica
Cum Laude

Bachelor degree in Theology with emphasis in Holistic Child and Adolescent Development: 1 graduate.

Castro Hernandez, Mara Eliud                 Nicaragua
Magna Cum Laude

Master of Science degree in Religion with concentration in Intercultural Studies: 1 graduate.

Balbuena Bido, Dhariana          Dominican Republic
Magna Cum Laude

Master of Science degree in Religion with emphasis in Missiology: 1 graduate.

Cordero Lugo, Carlos Jose                      Venezuela
Cum Laude

Master of Science degree in Religion with concentration in Church Mission: 3 graduates.

Bathermy, Ernesto                     Dominican Republic
Cum Laude
Ortiz Columbie, Darileydis                                Cuba
Cum Laude
Rodriguez Galan, Alysney                                Cuba
Cum Laude

Master of Science degree in Religion with concentration in Family Counseling: 3 graduates.

Flores Cervantes, Rebeca Elizabeth              Mexico
Magna Cum Laude
Miranda Garcia, Esperanza                            Mexico
Perez Lopez, Fidel                                          Mexico
Magna Cum Laude

Certificate in Youth Ministry: 71 Graduates.

Mexico
Belmonte Padilla, Danton Misael
Belmonte Quinteros, Joel
Belmonte Urbe, Danton
Blas Arellano, Kress Gabriela
Briones Campos, Jose Angel
Cerdan Landa, Nimbe Itzel
Córdova Pacheco, Francisco
Cortes Vasquez, Ivan
De La Cruz Ortiz, Juana Ines
Galindo Avendaño, Nora Eddith
Garcia Lopez. Jennifer Lisbeth
Garcia Sanchez, Ricardo Alonso
Garcia Zambrano, Raquel
Gomez Navarro, Carlos Raul
Gonzalez Santiago, Fernanda
Guedimin Guerrero, Veronica Gabriela
Lira Mares, Daniela
Luna Gutierrez, America Elizabeth
Luna Gutierrez, Juan Carlos
Martinez Hernandez, Rodolfo
Peña de la Cruz, David Raul
Peralta Reyes, Leonardo
Valenzuela Acevedo, Joel
Veladez Vásquez, Nelly Belen
Zavala Medina, Patricia
Barron Slameron, Sugey Guadalupe
Bernal Costilla, Jonathan
Camou Fuentes, Alfonso Isaac
Covian Escobedo, Adriana
Covian Lopez, Andres Isaac
Escobar Rizo, Ana Lidia
Fajardo Espinosa, Leonor
Garcia Huerta, Silvia Abigail
Garzas Casas, Neyda Iliana
Jimenez Gonzalez, Eduardo
Jimenez Gonzalez, Josue
Medellin Gonzalez, Adan
Moreno Sepulveda Araga, Daniel Alberto
Ortega Arreola, Dora Alicia
Sanchez de La Cruz, Fabiola
Serna Hinojosa, Adbeelh Abizait
Valverde Diaz, Ana Karla
Vega Rodriguez, Hazael
Maldonado Valdez, Sandra Azeneth

El Salvador
Flores Moz Jazmin Elena
Hernandez, María Verónica
Carias Duarte, Oscar Alexander
Puente Valdez Gloria Elizabeth
Vivas Alfaro Jose Samuel

Guatemala
Canahui de Leon, Walter Otoniel
Cordova Velazquez, Abner David
Guzmán Perez, Abner Antonio
Hernandez Ixpcopal, Daysi Marylin
Ismalej Cahuec, Ana Maria
Ixtecoc Mendoza, Dario Alexander
Laj Juarez, Miguel Angel Matias
Ixtapaac, Aana Leticia
Perez Tatul, Cesar Augusto
Rodriguez Alvarado, Marleny Aracely
Xitimul, Coloch, Josue Abel

Nicaragua
Martinez Martha Delia
Desbas Mondragon Francisco Javier
Guzman Castellon Francis Thamara
Meneses Blanca Rosa
Melendez Cordero Joel Ivan
Obando Norman Jose
Anton Sanchez Maria Mayela
Romero Duarte Mara Jessica
Cruz Blandino Vanessa Elena
Suarez Manzanares Ader
Rojas Blandon Yessia Carolina

Rev. Miguel Garita Murillo led the consecration prayer for the new graduates.

The graduates and faculty enjoyed a beautiful reception at SENDAS to celebrate their achievements and their future plans.

If you would like to view more photos from Graduation 2015, you may find them in SENDAS’ Facebook page.