At 19, when most teenagers are graduating from high school, Viviene Dyer was just beginning her studies.
Financial hardship and periods of homelessness delayed her education, but they never defeated her determination. Fueled by faith and hard work, she not only completed high school in two years but did so with honors.
Life would later cause her to pause again, but Dyer never lost sight of the dream God had planted in her heart. Four years after high school, she enrolled in college.
A single mother, hit hard by divorce and illness, Dyer earned her bachelor’s degree the same day as her daughter. Balancing coursework with a full-time job once again, she went on to earn an MBA and a post-graduate diploma.
But on Sabbath, May 9, that dream came full circle.
Standing before the congregation at All Nations church in Berrien Springs, Dyer testified to God’s faithfulness — a journey that culminated in one of the greatest milestones of her life: a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education administration from Andrews University. Across five grueling years as an international student, the Jamaican native maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA, supported by sponsors, mentors, friends and family.
“The journey didn’t begin with an acceptance letter,” said Dyer, “but with a barefoot girl who walked to elementary school hungry. A girl who took 12 years to complete a bachelor’s degree, not because I lacked ability, but because life demanded perseverance … But God had already gone ahead of me.”
Dyer was one of more than 20 students celebrated during the church’s first-of-its-kind graduation ceremony. Rather than honoring only the graduating Class of 2026, leaders also presented certificates of academic engagement to continuing students at every stage, from cradle roll (the youngest, less than 18 months) to doctoral studies. They chose this structure to recognize the proven benefits of staying educationally engaged.
Recognition was not restricted to church membership but included students from the wider community, reinforcing All Nations’ mission of inclusion and community building, and its belief that education is a transformative force that nurtures spiritual growth, strengthens families, and contributes to economically thriving communities.
Four students were recognized for membership in the National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society, organizations that honor scholarship, leadership, character and service: Gabrielle Gittens, Felicity Lall, Samuel Howell and Micaiah Shimpano.
During the recognition ceremony, Joseth Howell, joined by her husband, Orville Howell, reminded the congregation that excellence is rooted in the very character of God. She pointed to the biblical account of Daniel and the three Hebrew boys, who were found to be “ten times better” than their Babylonian counterparts because of their faithfulness to God.
“Because God is a God of excellence,” she said, “He desires His children to pursue excellence in every area of life.”
Gittens’ achievements, in particular, have garnered widespread attention. The Berrien Springs High School graduate became the first in her school’s history to be accepted into four Ivy League universities — Yale, Princeton, Brown and Columbia. A former vice president of the National Honor Society, she was one of only 150 students nationwide, selected from more than 107,000 applicants, to receive the highly competitive $20,000 Coca-Cola Scholars Scholarship. She is now studying mechanical engineering at Yale on a full scholarship.
Lead pastor Martin Hanna pointed the congregation toward what he called the greatest graduation of all. Preaching from 1 Corinthians 15:51–54, he described the moment believers will be transformed “in the twinkling of an eye” and urged worshippers to live with eternity in view, anticipating Christ’s return, when suffering and death will be no more.
Later that afternoon, Andrews University Seminary professor Hyveth Williams reminded graduates that education isn’t meant for personal gain alone, but as a vehicle to serve God and humanity.
From Viviene Dyer’s journey out of homelessness to a doctorate, to Gabrielle Gittens’ historic path to Yale, the day’s celebration underscored one message: Education means living a life of excellence and service today, while looking ahead to the greatest commencement of all, the graduation from earth to eternity in heaven.
Joseth Howell is public relations officer for the All Nations Church.