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Home E News E Life Pacific University Announces 2026 Commencement Ceremony Honorees and Keynote Speaker

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Life Pacific University Announces 2026 Commencement Ceremony Honorees and Keynote Speaker

January 9

Life Pacific University is pleased to announce details for its 2026 Commencement Ceremony, a meaningful day of celebration honoring the academic achievements and faithful calling of the Class of 2026.

The ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) at Patria Church, located at 10900 Civic Center Drive in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The event will also be available via livestream for those unable to attend in person.

Keynote Speaker and Distinguished Award Recipient

LPU is honored to welcome Rev. Samuel Rodriguez as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Commencement Ceremony.

Rev. Rodriguez will also receive the Distinguished Award for Extraordinary Kingdom Leadership & Cultural Impact, recognizing his lifelong commitment to advancing the Gospel while engaging culture with conviction, courage, and grace.

A nationally and globally recognized faith leader, Rev. Rodriguez serves as Lead Pastor of New Season Church in Sacramento, California, and as President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), representing tens of thousands of churches worldwide. He has been widely recognized by major media outlets as one of America’s most influential Latino faith leaders and has advised multiple U.S. presidents.

A #1 best-selling author and executive producer of Academy Award–nominated films, Rev. Rodriguez is known for boldly bridging revival and reformation, righteousness and justice, consistently pointing people to the name of Jesus.

Honoring Distinguished Leaders

In addition to the keynote address, Life Pacific University will honor two distinguished leaders whose lives and work reflect extraordinary faith, influence, and service.

Rev. Misael Argeñal Rodríguez is a Honduran pastor, evangelist, author, and educator whose 51-year ministerial journey has significantly shaped Christian leadership in Honduras and beyond. He is the founder of the Universidad Cristiana de Honduras, the nation’s first Christian university, established in 2004, and founder of the radio station Stereo Fiel. Alongside his wife, Pastor María Elena de Argeñal, he has served as a spiritual parent to multitudes and currently provides pastoral oversight to more than 150 churches across Honduras and internationally.

Rick Rekedal is an award-winning storyteller with a three-decade career bringing truth, meaning, and hope through creative expression. He spent more than 20 years at DreamWorks Studios in senior creative leadership roles, contributing to beloved franchises including How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Trolls, and The Prince of Egypt. His work has earned numerous industry honors, including Annie Awards and Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. Rick currently serves as Chief Creative Officer at Belmont University and Senior Fellow for Storytelling. He is also the founder of StoryCrate and an accomplished author, with a new young adult novel, The Cry of Ramah, releasing in 2026.

Celebrating the Class of 2026

As Life Pacific University celebrates its graduates, the 2026 Commencement Ceremony will stand as a moment to honor academic excellence, spiritual formation, and faithful leadership. LPU is grateful to recognize leaders whose lives exemplify enduring Kingdom impact and whose stories inspire the next generation to serve God in the Church, the workplace, and the world.

Watch Online: A livestream link will be available on the Life Pacific University website closer to the event.

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