Rep. Gabe Evans is PHC's first alumnus commencement speaker!

Patrick Henry College's 2025 Commencement address will be delivered by Colorado Representative and PHC alumnus Gabe Evans (GOV: Strategic Intelligence, ’09)! 

President Jack Haye said, "There are two 'PHC firsts' related to our commencement speaker for 2025. Our speaker is PHC’s first graduate to give a commencement address. He is also Patrick Henry College’s first graduate to be elected to the United States Congress."

Rep. Evans is proudly serving Colorado’s 8^th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He comes to Congress eager to make Colorado the best possible place to live and raise a family.

Prior to serving in public office, Gabe served his country in the U.S. Army, the Colorado Army National Guard as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot and company commander, and as an Arvada police officer.

Gabe spent twelve years in the Army, where he completed a combat deployment to the Middle East and served in Operation Enduring Freedom, ultimately reaching the rank of Captain. 

In the Colorado Army National Guard, Gabe was stationed at Buckley Air Force Base, where he served as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot and company commander responding to wildfires and search and rescue throughout Colorado. In 2011, Gabe joined the Arvada Police Department, where he reached the rank of Lieutenant before retiring to run for public office in 2022.

In 2022, he was elected to serve Colorado House District 48, which he faithfully served before being elected to Congress in 2024.

Gabe and his wife, Anne (CLA, '09), own and operate a family farm in southern Weld County, CO,  where they raise their two boys. The grandson of Mexican immigrants, Gabe is a Colorado native who truly understands the beauty and responsibility of the American Dream.

Preserving that sacred ideal for his community and children is why he served in the military, raised his hand for law enforcement, was elected to the Colorado State House, and now works to represent Colorado’s 8^th Congressional District  in Washington, D.C.

PHC's first alumnus commencement speaker coincides with the college's 25^th anniversary. President Haye said, "We stand in awe of God’s faithfulness and anticipation of even more amazing stories ahead as the Lord continues to write the pages of Patrick Henry College’s rich legacy."

Evans credits PHC with preparing him for public service. "What Patrick Henry College did was build a very cohesive and robust worldview,” Evans said, “PHC provided an education that focused on practical wisdom."

PHC is thrilled to reunite with Gabe Evans. "We look forward to welcoming Gabe back to campus to celebrate with the graduating Class of 2025," said President Haye.

Read an interview with Rep. Gabe Evans by PHC alumna Evie Solheim (Journalism, '19) in The American Conservative.

----------