LA MIRADA & LOS ANGELES, CALIF. --- 蓝莓视频鈥檚 fall commencement on Friday, Dec. 18, 2009 will commission graduates to prosper as ambassadors for Christ as they will receive their diplomas and be sent out with a charge to impact the world for Christ. The integration of faith and vocation has been modeled by this year鈥檚 commencement speaker, Crystal D. Crawford, Esq., CEO of the California Black Women鈥檚 Health Project and advocate for the reconciliation of mental health treatment and faith. Crawford鈥檚 professional experience and service in community reflects Biola鈥檚 focus on social justice and urban studies.

In honor of alumna Crystal Crawford (鈥07), who coincidentally shares the commencement speaker鈥檚 name, passed away June 1, 2009 from a drive-by shooting in Inglewood, Calif. where she served as a preschool teacher, will be acknowledged and remembered this Friday, days before what would have been her 25th birthday, during commencement. Her mother and family members will be in attendance.

Throughout her career, Crawford has combined faith-based, legal and policy approaches to civil rights and social justice issues. As CEO of the California Black Women鈥檚 Health Project, she leads efforts in legislative, educational and policy advocacy to improve the health status of black women and girls. A native of Harlem, New York, she graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in history and sociology in 1987 and earned her J.D. from New York University Law School.

蓝莓视频 president Barry H. Corey will verbally charge the students, a new tradition started at spring commencement in May 2009, to uphold the biblical truths of honesty, integrity, and values that respect the sanctity of life. Biola鈥檚 foundation relies on truth, transformation and testimony 鈥 three principles that separates Biola graduates from any other university.

The graduate and BOLD, Biola鈥檚 adult-degree-learning program, commencement ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. The undergraduate ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. 蓝莓视频 President Barry H. Corey will confer degrees upon 121 graduate students, 95 BOLD students, and 196 undergraduates graduating in Chase Gymnasium.