FINALLY - Dr. Kaemingk!!!!

I have been waiting a long time to see this boy get his Doctorate. When we first met at Whitworth, I don't think that either of us realized what a long road it would be. Four years of undergrad at Whitworth College in Spokane, three years at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey, five years of PhD study at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena and a year of Fulbright research in Amsterdam. It's been a long road. I've been so proud of Matthew's perseverance and clarity of calling through it all. The last few years of research and writing have been particularly demanding. This boy worked his little butt off and wrote a dissertation that is super solid and respected and passed through his dissertation defense with high honors. I am SO proud of him and was so thrilled to be able to be a part of this special day. 

Handsome boy in his new suit! So, the way the defense works is that anyone can attend, but the only people allowed to speak are Matthew and his two advisors which for him was Dr. Mouw, President of Fuller Seminary and Dr. George Harinck, his Professor from the VU in Amsterdam. They spend 90 minutes asking questions that Matt answers and then they step out, talk, and come back in and tell Matt if he passed (which of course he did!)

Dr. Mouw with his signature Splenda Diet Coke - as a side note, I tried to sit in the very back corner because I had a cold. Dr. Mouw arrived and told me to come sit by him so I am in this chair just to his left leaning way over to the other side apparently. I think half way through the defense he was rethinking his invitation when I had an allergy attack and sneezed like, 8 times. Sheesh. 

George Harinck 

PhD friends

Gideon Strauss, Director of the DePree Center and a friend of Matt's

Dr. Mouw and George 

Dr. Mouw congratulating Matthew on passing!!! 

Chatting afterwards

The best part of the day was the party at a local restaurant that the Mouw's hosted for Matthew and his friend, Kyle, who defended that day as well in the evening. There were about 20 people there - PhD friends, mentors, etc. It was a WONDERFUL evening of just celebrating Matthew and Kyle and their accomplishment. What a great day!

So, Matthew will be receiving two PhD's - one from Fuller and one from the Vrije Universiteit (Free University) in Amsterdam. It is the same dissertation, for the most part, but he does have to defend at both universities. His defense in Amsterdam is September 10. But he is now officially Dr. Kaemingk! Congrats honey!!!