Concordia University Wisconsin will honor 575 graduates on December 14 at its mid-year commencement ceremony. Here are some details about this exciting event!
On Saturday, CUW will celebrate the achievements of its latest cohort of graduates. A total of 575 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees will be conferred across all six schools.
Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, December 14 | 1:30 p.m. CST
R. John Buuck Fieldhouse or via livestream
Tickets are required for in-person attendance.
Baccalaureate Ceremony
Saturday, December 14 | 10:00 a.m. CST
Chapel of Christ Triumphant or via livestream
Graduation Celebration
New this year, CUW President Erik Ankerberg invites all graduating students and their guests to stop in and celebrate their special day with members of CUW Administration. Light refreshments will be served.
Saturday, December 14 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CST
Luptak Terrace Room (AL114)
Commencement Speaker: Val Keiper, PhD
Professor, School of Education
Dr. Val Keiper is the director of the Graduate Family Life Education program as well as a professor in Education at Concordia University Wisconsin. He pursued his PhD in early childhood literacy and family studies after coming to CUW more than 40 years ago. Dr. Keiper started the early childhood program in 1983 and has been instrumental in making it into what it is today, working tirelessly to develop relationships with the students, faculty, and staff God places around him.
Dr. Keiper earned his BA in Elementary Education from Concordia College in 1980, the last connection between the old Concordia campus near downtown Milwaukee and the current Mequon campus. He received an MA degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 1984, and earned his PhD, also in Early Childhood Education, from the University of Missouri in 1993. His areas of interest include culturally relevant literature, literacy, and teaching of writing with young learners.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Keiper served as head baseball coach for the Concordia Falcons from 1982 through 2013, helping restart a program that had been defunct since 1928. In 30 seasons as head coach, Keiper amassed 436 victories, a pair of Lake Michigan Conference titles, and one trip to the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament.
He has been married to Karen for 41 years. They are parents to three boys—all of whom have graduated from CUW—and grandparents to two grandchildren.
Student Speaker: Steve Anschutz, EdD
Doctor of Education: Leadership, Innovation, and Continuous Improvement
This year’s student speaker will be Steve Anschutz, who will be receiving his EdD degree. Anschutz has been the women’s tennis head coach at CUW since the spring of the 2012 season and took over the men’s program in 2015. In that time his teams have posted a combined 159-22 conference record, with eight total NACC Championships—six for the women and two for the men.
Anschutz is a 2010 graduate of Concordia University Wisconsin, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and Teaching. He also received an MBA in Sports and Entertainment Management from CUW in 2016.
Other details, policies, and FAQs
For complete information about the CUW December Commencement Ceremony, click HERE.
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Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body, and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world.