WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.听(April 30, 2026) 鈥� On Friday, May 8,听750听students will celebrate the听completion of their听studies听at听麻豆传媒 (PBA).听听
The University听will host three ceremonies to celebrate the remarkable achievements of its Class of 2026.听听Scheduled for 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Rubin Arena, Greene Complex for Sports and Recreation at the听University鈥檚 West Palm Beach campus, the ceremonies will celebrate graduates earning bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚, and doctorate听degrees. The day鈥檚 activities will also feature an听open听house from noon听to 7听p.m.听so听graduates can听celebrate听the occasion with fellow students, faculty, families,听and friends.听听听
This year鈥檚听keynote speaker听is听PBA听alumna听Michele Rigby Assad, who听served as an听undercover officer in the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Specializing in counterterrorism, Michele served for听10听years in the Middle East and currently uses her听expertise听to aid in relief efforts for persecuted Christians. She is the winner of the 2026 PBA Women of Distinction Humanitarian Award.听听
Assad is also an accomplished author, and her experiences inform her ability to deal with the most challenging people, including terrorists and insurgents, which are highlighted in her bestselling memoir,鈥�淏reaking Cover: My Secret Life in the CIA and What it Taught Me鈥痑bout What鈥檚 Worth Fighting For.鈥� Her second book,鈥�淕et Off the X: CIA Secrets for Conquering Obstacles and Achieving Your Life鈥檚 Mission,鈥� encourages readers to move beyond fear and comfort zones to take decisive action in pursuit of their purpose.鈥�听
鈥淧BA continues to build on the dreams and faith of its founders, and we send our graduates forward to build on the foundation they have received here,鈥� said PBA听President听Dr. Debra A. Schwinn. 鈥淲e are sending into our community, our nation,听and the world,听future听pharmacists, nurses,听teachers,听journalists,听politicians,听and听lawyers鈥� they leave equipped to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction, and serve God boldly鈥攏ot only with a degree, but with a deep sense of purpose.鈥�听听
The Class of 2026听includes听10 active-duty members听and听two听ROTC members. Over听500听graduates听have听earned听bachelor鈥檚 degrees across various disciplines;听over听200听students听have earned听master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees.听Among the graduates are the听initial听cohort of students completing a major in Entrepreneurship and Franchising and the first student to complete PBA鈥檚 Bachelor of听Science in Engineering.听
听The听University will also recognize Outstanding Graduates from each School (College of the Arts, Marshall E. Rinker, Sr.听College听of Business, School of Education and Behavioral Studies, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Catherine T. MacArthur School, School of Ministry, School of Nursing and the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy).听
Ceremony听details are as follows:听
11 a.m. Commencement Ceremony听
College of the Arts听
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences听
2 p.m. Commencement Ceremony听
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. College of Business听
School of Ministry听
5 p.m. Commencement Ceremony听
School of Education and Behavioral Studies听
School of Nursing听
Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy听
If you are interested in interviewing one of this year鈥檚听Outstanding Graduates, please听contact:听Brigitte_Sylvestre@pba.edu听or 561-803-2079.听听
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麻豆传媒,听founded in 1968, is a private, Christian university, offering 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate degrees, graduate鈥痙egrees听and professional degrees. The University has two campuses in West Palm Beach, Florida鈥�19鈥痑cres鈥痙owntown鈥痑nd the 76-acre Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus provides facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate sports. Sailfish athletes compete in 18 NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference varsity sports. PBA affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system. The University is dedicated to equipping students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction, and serve God boldly. For more information about future events, please visit鈥�.
