The University of Redlands San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS) celebrated both the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 on Saturday, May 22, 2021.

More than 50 graduate degrees, diplomas, and fellowships were conferred at the ceremony on the Geneva Terrace, located on the University’s Marin Campus. The in-person celebration marked one of the few opportunities that graduates have had together, due to COVID restrictions.

“During this past year of challenges, our graduates have remained dedicated and resilient in their journey of faith and learning,” said Rev. Dr. Jana Childers, Dean of the San Francisco Theological Seminary. “Commencement is an important part of that journey — an acknowledgment and affirmation of the students’ significant accomplishments to date and the beginning of their next adventure. Congratulations to the Classes of 2020 and 2021.”

Graduates attending the in-person celebration were allowed to bring one guest, and those unable to travel could view the ceremony via live-stream at redlands.edu/commencement/gst.

The Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to The Reverend Dr. Jorge William de Castro Abdala, D.Min.’16. As pastor of two congregations in San Mateo, California, Rev. Dr. Jorge Abdala is an experienced minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). His inspired leadership in the Reformed Hispanic, Latino, and Brazilian communities is known locally and throughout the world.

SFTS, which has been a standalone institution since its establishment in the Bay Area in 1871, became part of the University of Redlands in 2019. The seminary is currently celebrating 150 years of preparing students for purposeful leadership and transformational ministries of justice, peace, and healing to advance a more hopeful, loving engagement with the world. For more information on commencement, please visit: redlands.edu/commencement/gst or to learn more about University of Redlands San Francisco Theological Seminary, visit: https://www.redlands.edu/study/schools-and-centers/gst/