On August 29th, Harvest University celebrated a historic milestone, holding its first graduation for the class of 2025. Families, graduates, and members of the Fort Morgan community gathered for the first recipients of the Master of Divinity degree. Dr. Joseph Tallman, the Chancellor, delivered the invocation prayer.
The ceremony featured a powerful commencement address by former mayor of Fort Morgan and local historian, Lyn Deal. She shared the building’s local history, explaining that it was built in the early 1900s as the town’s first high school. Later, when the new high school was built, it became a junior high. When the school was eventually closed and the building faced potential abandonment, Deal, who was deeply involved in advocating for preserving Fort Morgan’s historic buildings, worried for its fate. However, Harvest University’s establishment of the building gave new life to the structure, giving hope to Deal and the community.
“Today, nearly 100 years later, 1926 to 2025, we are celebrating the first graduation ceremony for you, the Harvest University students,” Deal said. She gave thanks for God’s perfect timing in leading Harvest to occupy the beautiful historic building, reminding everyone that they are now part of the history and will be warmly welcomed in the community for years to come.
The event marks a major milestone for the university. In her welcoming message, University President Dr. Joanna Shih recounted Harvest’s remarkable growth, from developing the building’s infrastructure to becoming fully accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS). The University serves students across the United States and abroad, offering a Master of Divinity program to train missionaries, ministry leaders and pastors for the harvest field.
Following the commencement address, the university’s first graduates received their diplomas. Student speakers Jacob Mak and Daniella Li shared personal testimonies about their paths to ministry and their educational journeys at the university. They both expressed hope for their future roles in what they described as fulfilling their part in the Kingdom of God.
The ceremony concluded with a celebration of the graduates, their families, and the faculty who supported them.
