Graduation Barbeque

Graduation Barbeque

Continuing the tradition of the past few years the Unification Campus Ministry, Young Adult Ministry and CARP teamed up to hold our annual “Graduation Barbeque” the Friday before commencement to honor those connected to the Ministries and their families. The steering committee was made up of members from YAM, Kent Hoffman, Hitoka Sato and Yuji Torikai, CARP, Ricky deSena, Ruta Smith, Lilly Shapiro and Dante Jean and from Unification Campus Ministry, Greg and Keiko Breland.

Hitoka organized the food which was fabulous consisting of hot dogs and hamburgers and all the fixings plus potato chips and an unexpected addition of 2 large cases of sushi provided by Atsuko Giampaoli. Our two cooks were Andrew Stewart and Cordero who did a great job.

Before and after the meal there were spirited matches of badminton and volleyball. 

This was followed by the cutting of the “Happy Graduation” Cake and testimonies by three of the graduates.

Jonathan Stupple a graduating senior in the International Political Economy and Development program related how he transferred to the University of Bridgeport (UB) after hearing such good reports from his friends who formerly attended Barrytown College. It felt great to come to a place where he already had so many friends. He shared how touched he was by the material presented in his classes and the caring attitude expressed by many of his professors. He mentioned that even though he may leave Bridgeport, it will always be in his heart and in one way or another he feels he will be drawn back to experience it again.

Doha Sabbagh, a grad student in the College of Public and International Affairs from Lebanon and a Fulbright Scholar, related how this community (FFWPU) made her feel accepted and loved in such a deep way she could hardly believe it. Being from a part of the world that is sometimes belittled in America, she found that UB and our community welcomed her. She expressed her deep gratitude at getting to know us and that the experiences she had at UB would never leave her.

Finally, Sanjay Robin, a grad student from India in Biology, expressed his deep thanks to the community and the friends he had make for being there for him. He could really connect to many in our community and felt those relationships will last way beyond graduation. He said he was sad to have to leave UB and all his friends but hoped they would never really lose touch with each other.

After the cake all there was left to do was converse with old and young and do some dancing. Ruta and Krista Smith and Sanjay and Ricky deSena gladly obliged as they showed their moves from the many nights participating in the Ballroom Dance Club.

Japanese students were well represented.

Pastors Abe and Mika and family and friends enjoyed the event.

Lucas contemplates what his graduation barbeque will be like in a few years!

Do you see a “family resemblance” between Lily and Jonathan? You should!

Yuji and Ben dig the food, oh year!

Lily and her parents Frank and Linda Zochol

Dads catch up, Smith and Stupple.

Doha and Ruta, Friends Forever.

Thank you everyone for a great time.