UTS Commencement: Bill Gertz to receive honorary doctorate

Barrytown, NY – Bestselling author and national security reporter Bill Gertz will give a message to the graduating class of the Unification Theological Seminary where he will be awarded an honorary doctorate on Saturday, May 23, 2015. The commencement ceremony, beginning at 3:00 p.m., will see 21 students receive their degrees, ranging from the Bachelor of Arts in World Religions and Philosophy to the Doctor of Ministry degree at the school founded by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon 40 years ago in Barrytown, New York. The public is welcome to attend the ceremony.

Mr. Gertz, who grew up in Long Island, is a columnist and reporter for The Washington Free Beacon and The Washington Times. He is the author of six books and writes a weekly column on the Pentagon and national security issues called “Inside the Ring”. During the Administration of President Bill Clinton, Gertz gained a reputation for investigative stories exposing sales of dual-use technology to foreign Best selling author, Bill Gertz governments.

Dr. Michael Balcomb, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, USA and chair of the UTS Board of Trustees will give the commencement address to students and alumni gathering to celebrate UTS’ 40th anniversary. A reception will follow the graduation ceremonies.

The UTS graduating class in 2008

Long known for its international student body, the graduating class of post-graduates will see several from the United States as well as some from Japan, Korea, the Philippines, India, and Nigeria. Barrytown College of UTS, the newly opened undergraduate degree program of the Unification Theological Seminary, will graduate its first three students on Saturday.

Visitors to the UTS Chapel will notice a new look and atmosphere as a result of 16 brand new windows. The historic stained-glass windows were recently installed courtesy of a special arrangement with the Christian Brothers religious order. With interfaith banners representing the world’s religious traditions, the chapel will be attractive as a venue for interfaith organizations, according to UTS staff.

On Sunday May 24th and Monday May 25th alumni and friends will take part in a conference on such wide-ranging topics as education, leadership and personal development, church governance and interreligious dialogue. There will also be a discussion with Dr. Hugh Spurgin, president of the Unification Theological Seminary who will answer questions and discuss the future of UTS and of the Barrytown property.

Trailhead plaque on the grounds of the Unification Theological Seminary