U.N. secretary-general to address UofSC graduates
Posted on: April 24, 2017; Updated on: April 24, 2017
By Jeff Stensland, stenslan@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-3686
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will receive an honorary degree and deliver special remarks to graduates as part of the University of South Carolina’s commencement ceremony on May 6 at the Colonial Life Arena.
Guterres will receive his degree and deliver remarks at the 3 p.m. ceremony, which includes the College of Education; College of Engineering and Computing; College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management; Interdisciplinary Programs; Palmetto College; School of Music and College of Social Work.
Other baccalaureate and master’s commencement ceremonies in May include:
- 3 p.m., May 5, for graduates of the Darla Moore School of Business, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, and the Arnold School of Public Health. Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York, will receive an honorary degree.
- 9:30 a.m., May 6, for the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Information and Communications and South Carolina Honors College. Barry Zegel, senior vice president and general manager for CBS Television City, will receive an honorary degree.
The university announced in August that guest commencement speakers would not be used at most ceremonies at Colonial Life Arena, with the exception of unique occasions when a highly distinguished speaker may be available to address students.
“We are honored that the U.N. secretary-general has decided to visit Columbia and speak to our graduates,” said university President Harris Pastides. “This is a rare opportunity for students to hear from a consummate diplomat, civil servant and human rights advocate who is immersed on a daily basis in the most critical issues facing our world today.”
The School of Law ceremony takes place at 9 a.m., May 5, on the historic Horseshoe. J. Michael Luttig, former U.S. Circuit Court judge and executive vice president and general counsel of The Boeing Co., will receive an honorary degree and address graduates.
The School of Medicine commencement ceremony will take place at noon, May 5, in the Koger Center. Dr. Lois Margaret Nora, president and CEO of the American Board of Medical Specialties will address graduates.
The doctoral hooding ceremony takes place at 1 p.m., May 6, in the Koger Center.
Overall, more than 6,800 students will be graduating from the Columbia campus this May and nearly 8,500 from the entire University of South Carolina system.
Commencement schedule for USC campuses
USC Salkehatchie: 12 p.m., April 28. Speaker: Tommy D. Preston Jr., director, national strategy and engagement at The Boeing Co. and president of the My Carolina Alumni Association.
USC Beaufort: 6 p.m., April 28. Speaker: Belle S. Wheelan, president, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
USC Lancaster: Saturday, April 29, 2:30 p.m. Speaker: Former South Carolina First Lady Rachel Hodges.
USC Union: Saturday, April 29, 6 p.m. Speaker: Bobby Gist, former executive assistant to USC president for Equal Opportunity programs.
USC Upstate: 6:00 p.m., May 2. Speaker: William R. Cobb, retired chairman and CEO of JM Smith Corp. Spartanburg businessman Thomas Rudolph Young III will receive an honorary degree.
USC Sumter: 11 a.m., May 3. Speaker: Beverly Gagne, retired president and CEO of SAFE Federal Credit Union.
USC Aiken: 6 p.m., May 3. Speaker and honorary degree recipient: Monica Regalbuto, assistant secretary for environmental management at the U.S. Department of Energy.
For more information, visit the commemcement website.
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