Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson are the headliners for Saturday’s commencement ceremony at Liberty University, which is expected to draw some 50,000 guests.

Saturday’s events will mark the university’s 46th commencement. Close to 20,000 graduates are expected to receive their diplomas at the commencement exercise, which begins at 10 a.m. at the university’s Williams Stadium. The processional will begin at 8 a.m.

Former GOP Rep. Dave Brat, the dean of Liberty University’s business school, noted that the commencement marks a new highpoint for the university that the late Rev. Jerry Falwell founded with the goal of “training champions for Christ” to improve the world.

Falwell envisioned creating a world-class educational institution that would ably represent the Protestant-evangelical community the way the University of Notre Dame had for Catholics.

The reverend’s son, Jerry Falwell Jr., has shepherded the university’s rise to national prominence. Like Pence, Jerry Falwell Jr. has been a frequent target for a national media frustrated by the unwavering loyalty of the president’s social-conservative base.

Liberty has emerged as the largest, private non-profit university in America, with over 110,000 students. About 90,000 of those students primarily matriculate online, although the university prides itself on engaging the online student with campus-based visits and programs.

Pence’s commencement address will mark his second visit to the university. In October 2016, the then-Indiana governor spoke at the university’s convocation.

His appearance comes as Liberty seems to be advancing in every direction. The University’s men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Tournament this year. The University is unveiling a new 80,000 square foot business school on Saturday. Work on a new engineering school is underway as well.

Business-school Dean Brat tells Newsmax: “We’ll have the formal ceremonies in the morning for everyone, and then we’ll break out by school. … It’s just a great celebration. Our online students come from all over the country, and we get to celebrate with everybody on our campus. So it’s just a great day.”

“I don’t think people will appreciate how great this university is until they see it with their own eyes, and what we have to offer,” he says. “… It’s just an exciting place to be.”

He adds: “The key to it is Jerry Falwell Sr. and Jerry Falwell Jr., who dedicated the school to training champions for Christ. And when you come on the campus, you’ll just feel this total positive energy that has made this place special for God.

“Everybody feels it. And once you feel that energy, people just love the place.”