Lake Forest College to Award Honorary Doctorate to First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest Pastor

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - May 7, 2014 - PRLog -- Rev. Dr. Christine Chakoian, senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, will be one of three honorands at Lake Forest College’s 136^th Commencement Ceremony on May 10 at Ravinia Park in Highland Park. She will be presented with the honorary degree, Doctor of Letters.

“I am deeply grateful to have been chosen for this award and am honored to join an esteemed group of recipients,” Rev. Dr. Chakoian said.

She will be joined by Kelly Leonard, executive vice president of Second City and 136^th Commencement speaker; and Rabiah Mayas, Ph.D., director of science and integrated strategies for the Museum of Science and Industry as the other honorary degree recipients.

“I look forward to honoring these three impressive individuals at Commencement 2014,” Stephen D. Schutt, president of Lake Forest College, said in a statement.

Rev. Dr. Chakoian is the first woman to head First Presbyterian and is credited with uncovering previously unknown history of the church and its relationship with Lake Forest College and the City of Lake Forest in her book, “Worship, Fellowship, and the Work of the Kingdom.” She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, her Masters of Divinity from Yale University and her Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary.

“We are thrilled that Rev. Chakoian will join us for Commencement Saturday and receive an honorary degree,” said Liz Libby, associate vice president of Communications and Marketing at Lake Forest College. “She is a dedicated friend to Lake Forest College, and we deeply appreciate our close relationship with her and First Presbyterian Church.”

About First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest

First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest strives to send people out into the world who live its core values of worshipping, learning, connecting, serving and inviting. Worship is at the heart of the organization and its mission outreach, study groups, faith formation programs and fellowship opportunities grow out of the desire to love and serve the Lord together. Since its founding in 1859, the church continues to reflect the goals of its forefathers—to live together as a community dedicated to Christian life and to betterment through education and benevolences—while growing with the needs of its congregation. For more information, visit its website at www.firstchurchlf.org.

About Lake Forest College

Lake Forest College is a nationally recognized liberal arts college with students from nearly all 50 states and 81 countries around the world. More information about Lake Forest College can be found at www.lakeforest.edu.