UofSC celebrates newest crop of graduating students
Posted on: April 26, 2022; Updated on: April 26, 2022
By Dana Woodward, ddhaesel@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-3691
The University of South Carolina will welcome thousands of new alumni from across the system in a series of commencement ceremonies, which conclude with three Columbia campus events at the Colonial Life Arena. The ceremonies will recognize bachelor’s, master’s and professional degree recipients.
At 3 p.m. Friday (May 6), 2,172 graduates of the College of Pharmacy, Darla Moore School of Business, College of Nursing and Arnold School of Public Health will be joined by honorary degree recipient Judge L. Casey Manning. Manning is a South Carolina circuit court judge and was the first Black student-athlete scholarship recipient at the university.
A 9:30 a.m. ceremony on Saturday (May 7) will include 1,945 graduates of the South Carolina Honors College, College of Arts and Sciences and College of Information and Communications. Honorary degrees will be awarded to Allan Goodman, president and chief executive officer of the Institute of International Education, and Trey Gowdy, a lawyer and former U.S. Congressman.
The final ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday (May 7) for 1,608 graduates of the College of Education, Interdisciplinary Studies, College of Engineering and Computing, College of Social Work, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, School of Music and Palmetto College. Bobby Richardson, a former Major League Baseball player and baseball coach for the university, will receive an honorary degree, as will Craig Melvin, weekday news anchor for NBC’s Today show. Melvin will also deliver a commencement address.
Other Columbia campus activities include:
- The School of Law commencement ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday (May 6) at the historic Horseshoe. Carolyn Lamm, a lawyer and former president of the American Bar Association, will receive an honorary degree. Kenneth Frazier, a pharmaceutical executive, will make remarks and receive an honorary degree.
- The commencement ceremony for both Schools of Medicine at noon Friday (May 6) at the Koger Center. Dr. Franklin Oscar Smith, senior vice president for hematology/oncology at Medpace and professor of medicine and pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, will speak.
- The doctoral hooding ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday (May 7) at the Koger Center. Sharon DeWitte, South Carolina professor of anthropology and graduate director, will speak.
Other system commencements include:
- USC Salkehatchie: 10:30 a.m. Friday (April 29). Speaker is Interim President Harris Pastides.
- USC Beaufort: 5:30 p.m. Friday (April 29). Speaker is Coleman Peterson and Representative William “Bill” G. Herbkersman will receive an honorary degree.
- USC Lancaster: 2:30 p.m. Saturday (April 30). Speaker is Chief William “Bill” Harris of the Catawba Nation.
- USC Union: 6 p.m. Saturday (April 30). Speaker is Andrena Powell-Baker.
- USC Upstate: 6 p.m. Tuesday (May 3). Speakers are Chancellor Bennie Harris and Interim President Pastides.
- USC Sumter: 10 a.m. Wednesday (May 4). Speaker is Senator Thomas J. McElveen III.
- USC Aiken: 6 p.m. Wednesday (May 4). Speaker and honorary degree recipient is James Bennett. Dan Brouillette will also receive an honorary degree.
Overall, more than 8,000 students will graduate from the University of South Carolina system.
South Carolina graduates by the numbers:
- Columbia – 6,351
- Aiken – 402
- Beaufort – 239
- Upstate – 682
- Lancaster – 138
- Salkehatchie – 104
- Sumter – 83
- Union – 55
For more information visit the university’s commencement website.
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