Doctor duo to speak at Westminster convocation

Submitted by Westminster College
Submitted by Westminster College

Westminster College's upcoming convocation is slated to feature an alumni couple duo of physicians from Columbia.

Dr. Matthew Roehrs and his wife, Dr. Misty Todd, both graduates of Westminster's class of 2013, will address new students and transfers Saturday, Aug. 17.

Along with Roehrs and Todd, convocation speakers will include Westminster President Fletcher Lamkin and Ted Kulawiak, vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Financial Services. The ceremony will start at 3 p.m. with the Columns Ceremony.

Roehrs' clinic is located at the South Providence Medical Park in Columbia, and Todd's clinic is at Callaway Physicians in Fulton.

"(Westminster) thought it would be very inspiring to see two people that are two role models from Westminster in both their careers and their relationships," said Rob Crouse, Westminster's director of media and public relations.

Crouse said the college has never had a "tag-team" duo speak at convocation before. He described the doctor duo as being "very inspirational alums."

"It shows the students how highly successful they can be if they apply what they're hearing to the new world they'll be walking into," Crouse explained.

The convocation ceremony will begin with the traditional Columns Ceremony. The ceremony features new students being welcomed into the community by walking onto campus through the schools "sacred columns," which are all that remain of the original administration building that was destroyed by a fire in 1909.

"(Convocation is) more or less their rite of passage entering into Westminster," Crouse said.

He said he's while he's not sure what the duo will speak on, he anticipates an "inspiring afternoon" for all in attendance.

"I think they will talk about their experiences at Westminster, what a transformational journey it has been for them and what lessons they can pass onto the new students," he explained.

He said Westminster traditionally picks successful alumni as convocation speakers.

"The significance is that (the speakers) prepare the students for what education at Westminster is going to be like and what a unique experience it is," Crouse said