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[00:00:01]

CLOSE CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY.

PERFECT.

WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT 2021 COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES FOR YOUR SAFETY AND COMFORT.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, EXIT DOORS ARE LOCATED IN THE CORNERS OF THE RECREATION CENTER ALONG WITH THE MAIN DOORS.

PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF THE CLOSEST EXIT DOOR TO YOUR SEAT.

TODAY'S EVENT IS A FORMAL CONVOCATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO ENHANCE THE CEREMONY FOR ALL GUESTS, PLEASE CHECK TO BE SURE YOU HAVE SILENCED YOUR CELL PHONES.

BEFORE WE BEGIN THE CEREMONY, GUESTS ARE ASKED TO REMAIN IN THEIR SEATED AREAS DURING THE CEREMONY TO ENSURE PROPER SOCIAL DISTANCING.

GUESTS ARE ALSO ASKED TO MAINTAIN A FACE COVERING AT ALL TIMES WHILE INSIDE THE RECREATION CENTER, WHILE ON CAMPUS DO NOT APPROACH THE PONDS WHICH CONTAIN ACTIVE FAMILIES OF ALLIGATORS.

WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU BE MINDFUL OF THE NATURAL WILDLIFE AROUND US.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO THANK THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CHANNEL FOR FILMING THE 2021 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES.

GUESTS MAY VIEW THE CEREMONY STREAMED LIVE WITH CLOSED CAPTIONS ON THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CHANNEL.

VIDEOS MAY BE PURCHASED FROM THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CHANNEL WEBSITE.

THERE ARE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO WILL CAPTURE GRADUATES PHOTOS AS THEY WALK ACROSS THE STAGE AND AFTER THEY HAVE WALKED ACROSS THE STAGE.

AFTER THE CEREMONY, GUESTS AND GRADUATES WILL BE DISMISSED ONE ROW AT A TIME.

TO ENSURE SOCIAL DISTANCING AS WE EXIT THE BUILDING, PLEASE REMAIN SEATED UNTIL YOU ARE CALLED UPON TO STAND AND EXIT.

WE ASK GUESTS AND GRADUATES TO PROCEED FROM THE EXIT TO YOUR VEHICLES IN AN EXPEDITIOUS MANNER.

AGAIN, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU JOIN US FOR COMMENCEMENT 2021.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE FOR THE ENTRANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY MACE, THE UNIVERSITY MACE PARTY, THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY REPRESENTED BY THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, DR.

CHARLES SPEARSON, UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS AND GUESTS, THE TRUSTEES OF THE COLLEGE OF BEAUFORT, 1795, THE BEAUFORT, JASPER HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT, DR.

AL MNU, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, ROBERT KALAN.

PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE NATIONAL

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ANTHEM AND AS REVEREND DR.

BLACK DELIVERS THE INVOCATION, LET US PRAY.

ETERNAL GOD, WE HAVE GATHERED TODAY TO MARK AND CELEBRATE A PIVOTAL DAY IN THE LIVES OF OUR GRADUATES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THIS CLASS, THE CLASS OF 2021, HAS BEEN TRIUMPHANT IN PURSUING AND OBTAINING THEIR VARIOUS DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES FOR ANYONE.

THIS WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS ACHIEVEMENT.

HOWEVER, IN THE FACE OF A PANDEMIC, SOCIAL UPHEAVAL, POLITICAL PARTISANISM, AND CHAOTIC FINANCIAL MARKETS, THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS APPEAR TO BE MIRACULOUS.

HISTORY WILL RECORD THIS DAY AND THIS CLASS AS A WITNESS TO THE COURAGE, TENACITY, AND FAITH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT AGAINST TREMENDOUS ODDS.

THEY WROTE PAPERS, COMPLETED ASSIGNMENTS, AND EMBRACED NEW TECHNOLOGY, ADOPTED NEW NORMS OF SOCIAL INTERACTING, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY GOT THE JOB DONE.

I PRAY THAT THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THEY FACED AND CONQUERED WILL BE SEEDS FOR THEIR LIVES, WHICH WILL BRING FORTH A GREAT HARVEST OF EXCELLENCE WITHOUT EXCUSE.

AS WE MARK THIS PIVOTAL DATE, WE INVITE YOU, THE ETERNAL GOD INTO OUR MIDST.

COLLECTIVELY LET THE WORDS OF OUR MOUTHS AND THE MEDITATION OF OUR HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT.

IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

AMEN.

PLEASE BE SEATED.

GREETINGS TO THE CLASS OF 2021 AND TO YOUR PARENTS, YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS WONDERFUL MILESTONE IN YOUR LIVES.

I BRING SPECIAL HEARTFELT GREETINGS ALSO TO MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2020 AND TO YOUR PARENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS.

YOU HAVE WAITED AN EXTRA 360 DAYS FOR THIS MOMENT AND WE ARE OVERJOYED TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU AND TO RECOGNIZE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, OUR SPEAKER, THE HONORABLE THOMAS DAVIS, DR.

C DAWN SMITH, CHAIR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, FELLOW TRUSTEES, MILES, LORD HOLD, AND ROSE NEWTON, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S SYSTEM PRESIDENT ROBERT KALAN AND MRS. SHELLY KALAN AND MY DEAR WIFE JUDITH.

OUR WELL WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE LAW COUNTRY AND PROUDLY

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INTRODUCE YOU TO THIS REGION'S CROWN JEWELS, THE AMAZING STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

BEAUFORD, OFTEN COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY THAT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE MADE TO REACH THIS DAY.

BUT FOR EACH OF YOU, THE HARDSHIP HAS BEEN TRULY UNPRECEDENTED.

WHEN I THINK OF YOU AND ALL YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, THE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED WITH COURAGE, FORTITUDE, AND GRACE.

I'M REMINDED OF AN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL FIGURE IN GREEK AND ROMAN AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY.

YOU LIKELY KNOW HERCULES, THE SON OF ZEUS, WHO IS IMBUED WITH GREAT PHYSICAL STATURE AND STRENGTH.

BUT WHAT YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IS THAT HIS GREATEST STRENGTH WAS WITHOUT DOUBT.

STRENGTH OF CHARACTER FROM HERCULES FIRST DAYS HERE ARE GODDESS OF BIRTH AND MOTHERHOOD, AND THEREFORE A METAPHOR FOR LIFE ITSELF WAS DETERMINED THAT HIS LIFE WOULD BE FRAUGHT WITH HARDSHIP, SUFFERING, AND DANGER.

SHE SENT POISONOUS SNAKES TO HIS CRIB, BUT WITH NO FEAR.

THE INFANT HERCULES OVERTOOK THE SERPENT AND LEFT BY YOUR AGE YOUNG OUT OF ADULTHOOD.

HE HAD SURVIVED MANY CONFLICTS WITH HERRA AND WAS GIVEN A CHOICE CONFRONTED BY TWO GODDESSES, VICE AND VIRTUE, A YOUNG BATTLE WEARY.

HERCULES WAS ASKED TO DECIDE WHICH GODDESS TO EMBRACE AND TO FOLLOW FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

VICE A GREAT BEAUTY WHO TOLD HIM THAT HER NICKNAME WAS HAPPINESS, PROMISED HIM A LIFE OF COMFORT.

SHE SAID TO HIM, BE MY FRIEND AND FOLLOW ME.

I WILL LEAD YOU INTO THE POSSESSION OF PLEASURE AND OUT OF THE REACH OF PAIN, THEN VIRTUE, WHOSE APPEARANCE WAS PLAIN BY COMPARISON? CONTED.

HERCULES.

BEFORE I INVITE YOU TO MY FRIENDSHIP, I MUST LAY DOWN THIS ESTABLISHED TRUTH THAT NOTHING TRULY VALUABLE CAN BE PURCHASED WITHOUT PAINS AND LABOR.

IF YOU WOULD BE EMINENT, YOU MUST BECOME MASTER OF ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT MAKE YOU SO.

THESE ARE THE ONLY TERMS AND CONDITIONS UPON WHICH I CAN PROPOSE HAPPINESS.

HERCULES CHOSE VIRTUE, CHOSE A PATH THAT WOULD NOT BE PAVED WITH GOLD, BUT INSTEAD WOULD HAVE POTHOLES, DITCHES, AND SPEED BUMPS BY HIS CHOICE.

HE ENSURED THAT HERE, THAT LIFE WOULD CONTINUE TO TEST HIM, TO THROW OBSTACLES IN HIS PATHWAY, BUT HIS CHOICE ENSURED SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS INFINITELY MORE IMPORTANT.

DESPITE ANY FEAR, ANXIETY, OR AWARENESS BY FINDING THE COURAGE TO FACE HARDSHIP, STRUGGLES AND PAIN, HERCULES ENSURED A LIFE OF GROWTH AND OF GREATNESS.

MY DEAR SAINT SHARKS, AS YOUR CHANCELLOR AND AS A PARENT OF THREE WONDERFUL CHILDREN, I AM PAIN AT THE THOUGHT OF A MOMENT SUFFERING FOR YOU, BUT IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

LIFE WILL BE HARD AND THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO GREATNESS.

YOU KNOW THIS ALREADY BECAUSE OVER THE LAST 13 MONTHS YOU HAVE SHOWN THAT YOU HAVE EVERY OUNCE OF

[00:15:01]

COURAGE NEEDED TO TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY.

I KNOW THAT YOU ARE BATTLE WEARY BET IF YOU WOULD BE EMINENT.

DO NOT LOOK FOR THE EASY ROAD.

YOU MUST CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO GROW INTO GREATNESS.

YOU ARE READY.

THE SKILLS YOU HAVE ACQUIRED AT U S C B ALONG WITH YOUR DEMONSTRATED STRENGTH OF CHARACTER AND PERSEVERANCE WILL BRING YOU TO SUCCESS AND YOUR SUCCESS WILL NOT BE MYTHICAL.

IT WILL BE REAL, IT WILL BE MOMENTOUS.

IT WILL CHANGE LIVES.

ON BEHALF OF THE FULL FACULTY AND STAFF OF THIS UNIVERSITY, I TELL YOU ALL HOW OUR HEARTS ARE BURSTING WITH PRIDE.

AS YOU WALK FORWARD INTO THE NEXT PHASE OF LIFE, KNOW THAT WE BELIEVE IN YOU, THAT WE WALK WITH YOU, AND THAT WE WISH YOU EVERY HAPPINESS AND TO YOUR AMAZING PARENTS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND SACRIFICES ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THIS DAY WITH GREAT ADMIRATION.

WE CELEBRATE YOU AND WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT OUR GRADUATES DREAMS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

IN CLOSING OUR OFFER, THIS LAST COUNCIL TO THE HER KILLIAN CLASSES OF 2020 AND 2021, YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE.

HOLD YOUR HEADS HIGH AND THROUGH ALL OF LIFE'S ADVERSITIES, CHINS UP FILLS UP.

CONGRATULATIONS.

IT IS INDEED A PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY'S SPECIAL GUESTS AS YOUR NAME IS CALLED.

PLEASE STAND.

PLEASE HOLD THE APPLAUSE UNTIL ALL GUESTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE HONORABLE DAWN SMITH FROM TURBEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, THE HONORABLE MILES, LORD HOL FROM BARNWELL, THE HONORABLE ROSE BIKE, NEWTON FROM BLUFFTON, DR.

LUTHER CAMERON HOWELL, ACTING SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FROM THE BEAUFORT JASPER HIGH EDUCATION COMMISSION.

DR.

TIM PIERCE, CHAIRMAN DR.

ROLAND.

OKAY, NOT HERE, SORRY.

FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE 112 DISTRICT THE HONORABLE WILLIAM WEST.

NO, HE'S NOT HERE.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT, DR.

ERIC SKIPPER, PROVOST EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, DR.

CHARLES SPEARSON, DEAN, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES.

AND LET ME ALSO ADD THAT SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY IS A TEAM EFFORT, SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING MS. SHELLY COLIN, THE FIRST LADY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND MY WIFE, MS. JUDITH PANU, THE FIRST LADY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

BEAUFORT, U S C B HAS AN EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF TEACHER SCHOLARS WHO ARE COMMITTED FIRST TO TEACHING AND THEN TO RESEARCH AND SERVICE.

THEY INSPIRE, MOTIVATE, AND LEAD OUR STUDENTS TO DISCOVER

[00:20:01]

POWERFUL FUTURES ON THIS EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY DEANS DEPARTMENT, CHAIRS AND ALL FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT FOR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THESE GRADUATES EDUCATION.

WHETHER YOU ARE HERE OR WATCHING ON LIVESTREAM, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR GRADUATES TODAY REFLECT THE SACRIFICES IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE THIS MILESTONE, BUT THOSE SACRIFICES ARE NOT THEIRS ALONE.

THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS HAVE ALSO MADE GREAT SACRIFICES FOR THE GRADUATES TO REACH THIS DAY.

MANY ARE HERE WITH US IN THE AUDITORIUM, OTHERS ARE JOINING US VIA LIVESTREAM.

FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN, WOULD ALL OF THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? PLEASE STAND.

CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU.

FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS SERVED AS A FATEFUL INDEX OF THE AMBITIONS AND FORTUNES OF THE STATE.

WE WELCOME THE 29TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA PRESIDENT ROBERT KALAN.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHANCELLOR .

IT WAS, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THIS GREAT ASSEMBLAGE OF OUR STUDENTS FROM THE CLASS OF 2021 AND 2020, THE FACULTY, MOMS AND DADS AND FRIENDS AND RELATIVES THAT ARE HERE.

I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE, THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE RECOGNIZED ON THE DIAS.

UH, IT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOU ARE ALL HERE AND WE CAN'T WAIT, UH, SENATOR DAVIS TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS, SO I PROMISE I WILL BE SHORT SO THAT WE CAN, UH, REALLY LISTEN TO WHAT'S, UH, WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO OFFER US.

A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY BOSS, THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR BOARD, UH, THE HONORABLE DOCTOR DORN, UH, SMITH, SIR, GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US AS WELL.

SO, UM, IT'S REALLY MY PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO THIS REALLY MILESTONE MOMENT FOR THE CLASS OF 2021 AND THOSE OF YOU FROM 2020 AS WELL.

UM, I, I DO ALSO WANT TO DO A SHOUTOUT TO YOUR FACULTY AND I KNOW YOUR FACULTY IS, UH, HERE AS WELL, SITTING ON THE SIDE OVER THERE, BUT YOU KNOW, NONE OF US WOULD BE HERE.

WERE NOT FOR A FACULTY THAT TOOK A SPECIAL INTEREST IN US AND GOT US TO A POINT TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE THIS PARTICULAR ACCOMPLISHMENT.

AND I KNOW ALL THE STUDENTS IN THE ROOM FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT THEIR FACULTY.

SO LET ME JUST SAY TO THE FACULTY THAT'S IN HERE, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR COMMITMENT, PARTICULARLY THROUGH THESE TOUGH TIMES OVER THIS PAST YEAR.

UH, IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE TO OUR GRADUATES, YOURS AS A LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENT WORTH CELEBRATING AND CHERISHING FOR SURE.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A DEEP SENSE OF PRIDE IN ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO EARNING YOUR DEGREE AND I COMMEND YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE PERSEVERANCE AND RESILIENCE THAT YOU'VE DEMONSTRATED TO GET HERE.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED OVERNIGHT IN RESPONSE TO COVID 19.

SINCE THEN, SINCE THEN, LIFE HAS LOOKED DIFFERENT FOR ALL OF US.

CLASSES AND MEETINGS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED.

VIRTUALLY NO ONE LEAVES HOME WITHOUT A MASK AND TESTING IS A REGULAR ITEM ON OUR TO-DO LIST.

AND AS PRESIDENT OF THE STATE'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, I AM PROUD OF THE CHARACTER YOUR UNIVERSITY COM COMMUNITY DISPLAYED AS YOU ALL ROSE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF A YEAR UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

YOU WENT TO CLASS AND YOU CONDUCTED RESEARCH, YOU OPENED NEW CLASSROOMS AND LABORATORIES AND YOU MADE LASTING MEMORIES TOGETHER.

YOU DELIVERED ON YOUR ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH MISSION WHILE KEEPING YOUR CAMPUS OPEN AND ENSURING THE SAFETY AND HEALTH AND THE WELLBEING OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

EVEN DURING THIS GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS, YOU WERE PRESENTED

[00:25:01]

WITH MANY OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE YOUR PRIORITIES AND REFLECT ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS AT THIS UNIVERSITY AND IN YOUR OWN LIVES.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU LEARNED THAT WHEN YOU WORK TOGETHER THERE IS NO CHALLENGE, SO GREAT THAT YOU CANNOT OVERCOME IT.

AND AS WE REFLECT TOGETHER ON WHAT MATTERS, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND ASK YOU TO HELP ME ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY PEOPLE THAT GOT YOU HERE TODAY.

NEVER FORGET THE PEOPLE MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR INSTILLING IN YOU THE VALUES THAT DEFINE YOUR CHARACTER, THE PEOPLE WHO CHEERED YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WE'RE THERE TO PICK YOU UP WHEN YOU STUMBLED.

THE PEOPLE SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO YOU RIGHT NOW, YOUR PARENTS, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, AND YOUR LOVED ONES.

SO CLASS OF 2021 AND CLASS OF 20.

I KNOW WE RECOGNIZED YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS ALREADY, BUT PLEASE ONE MORE TIME, JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES WHO GOT YOU HERE TODAY KNOWING WE WOULD NOT BE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR THEIR IMPACT THAT THEY'VE HAD ON OUR LIVES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.

HOW ABOUT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEM ONE MORE TIME.

AS A FATHER OF THREE COLLEGE STUDENTS, I OFFER MY OWN THANKS TO THESE WONDERFUL SUPPORTERS AND SHARE WITH YOU THE PRIDE THAT ACCOMPANIES THE CELEBRATION.

SO BETWEEN YOUR CHANCELLOR AND OUR GUEST SPEAKER AND MYSELF, YOU'RE GONNA GET A TON OF ADVICE THIS EVENING AND I KNOW A YEAR FROM NOW YOU MAY NOT EVEN REMEMBER WHO SPOKE MUCH LESS OF WHAT WE SAY, SO I'LL BE BRIEF SO WE CAN SAVE THE BEST FOR OUR GUEST SPEAKER SENATOR DAVIS.

BUT I WOULD JUST OFFER THIS THAT IF I WAS ASKED WHAT WAS THE ONE THING THAT I LEARNED IN LIFE OVER THE 46 YEARS SINCE I GRADUATED, IT IS SIMPLY TO BE A MAN AND WOMAN OF CHARACTER.

CHARACTER IS SIMPLY THE SET OF VALUES THAT EMBRACES AND DEFINES WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR.

VALUES LIKE HONOR, LOYALTY, RESPECT, SELFLESS SERVICE AND INTEGRITY, RESILIENCE AND PERSONAL COURAGE.

WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT? QUITE SIMPLY BECAUSE CHARACTER BUILDS TRUST RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU RELATE WITH.

I'VE SEEN IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

BRILLIANT MEN AND WOMEN FALL BECAUSE OF MORAL INEPTITUDE.

AND WHY WAS THAT? BECAUSE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE WAS LOST.

YOU CAN BE NUMBER ONE IN YOUR CLASS, BUT IF YOU FAIL IN CHARACTER, YOU FAIL IN LEADERSHIP.

CHARACTER FORCES YOU TO LISTEN, TO UNDERSTAND, TO EMPATHIZE AND TO FIND COMMON GROUND.

IT ENABLES YOU TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER RATHER THAN AT THE EXPENSE OF ONE ANOTHER.

PEOPLE MAY FORGET HOW SMART YOU ARE OR HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE, BUT THEY WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU TREATED THEM AND WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

SO IF YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING I SAY THIS EVENING, REMEMBER TO LIVE A LIFE OF CHARACTER.

IT'S NOW MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO OFFICIALLY CONGRATULATE YOU AS THE NEWEST ALUMNI FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN BUFORD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU BACK HOME TO YOUR GREAT UNIVERSITY.

CONGRATULATIONS DR.

PINAL.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE A CANDIDATE FOR AN HONORARY DEGREE.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

FIVE.

OKAY? YEAH, YEAH.

THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT.

I HAVE A CANDIDATE FOR THE HONORARY DEGREE DOCTOR OF PUBLIC SE OF PUBLIC SERVICE SENATOR THOMAS DAVIS, AN ADVOCATE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND A COMPASSIONATE LEADER.

SENATOR DAVIS HAS DISPLAYED AN INTEGRAL, HAS PLAYED AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN INCREASING FUNDING FOR ALL THREE U F C SYSTEM COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITIES INCLUDING U USC

[00:30:02]

BEAUFORT.

WE ARE SO VERY THANKFUL FOR HIS EFFORTS TO HAVE HELPED MAKE THIS DAY POSSIBLE.

WE PAY TRIBUTE TO SENATOR DAVIS FOR HIS TENACITY IN ADVOCATING FOR U S C B, HIS GENEROSITY WITH HIS TIME AND TALENT AND HIS LONG-TERM SERVICE TO THE LAW COUNTRY FOR HIS GENEROUS SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND FOR HIS STORE SUPPORT OF EDUCATION AND HIGHER EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, WITH THE APPROVAL OF ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

NOW PRESENT THOMAS C. DAVIS FOR THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

SENATOR DAVIS BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE.

I HEREBY DO CONFER UPON YOU THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, HONORS PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO THAT DEGREE AT PERTAINING.

CONGRATULATIONS, SENATOR DAVIS.

YEP, IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKER FOR THIS AFTERNOON, THOMAS C. DAVIS.

SENATOR DAVIS IS A MEMBER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE WHO HAS REPRESENTED THE 46TH DISTRICT SINCE JANUARY, 2009.

THE DISTRICT ENCOMPASSES PORTIONS OF BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTIES.

SENATOR DAVIS WAS BORN IN NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, THE ELDEST CHILD OF G THOMAS DAVIS, A CHEMIST AND YVONNE C DAVIS, A SCHOOLTEACHER TURNED HOMEMAKER WHO RAISED THEIR SIX CHILDREN.

SENATOR DAVIS GRADUATED MAGNA KAMAL FROM, UH, FROM FURMAN UNIVERSITY WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE IN 1982 AND WAS INDUCTED IN PHI BETA KAPPA.

HE EARNED A JURIS DOCTOR FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF LAW IN 1984, GRADUATING WITH HIGHEST HONORS.

HE EARNED MEMBERSHIP IN THE ORDER OF DE COIF, SIGNIFYING HIS POSITION IN THE TOP 10% OF THE CLASS.

IN 1985, HE JOINED THE BEAUFORT LAW FIRM OF HARVEY AND BY INBODY AS AN ATTORNEY AND TODAY HE IS MANAGING PARTNER OF THE FIRM'S REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT.

SENATOR DAVIS COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE EXTENDS BACK MANY YEARS.

HE SERVED ON THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS FOR THE GREATER BEAUFORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE BEAUFORT JASPER WATER AND SEWARD AUTHORITY, THE LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA PORTS AUTHORITY.

IN ADDITION, HE WAS MEMBER OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY PLANNING BOARD AND THE HISTORIC BEAUFORT FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES, SENATOR DAVIS FORAY INTO POLITICS BEGAN IN 2002 WHEN HE SERVED AS CO CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR MARK STANFORD'S GU GOVERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN.

HE REPRISED THAT ROLE IN 2006.

FROM 2003 TO 2008, HE WAS SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR TO THE SANFORD ADMINISTRATION, THEN CO-CHAIR OF STAFF, THEN DEPUTY CHIEF

[00:35:01]

OF STAFF, AND FINALLY CHIEF OF STAFF.

DURING THIS PERIOD HE LED THE GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVE TO PASS SOUTH CAROLINA'S CHARTER SCHOOL REFORM BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE AND SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BI STATE JASPER PORT NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE THAT REACHED AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF GEORGIA TO BUILD THE JASPER OCEAN TERMINAL, A DEEP WATER CONTAINER PORT IN HIS FIRST RUN FOR PILOT FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

IN 2008, SENATOR DAVIS DEFEATED THE INCUMBENT IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION FOR THE DISTRICT 46 SENATE SEAT.

THEN WENT ON TO OUTPA HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IN 2012 AND 2016 HE RAN UNOPPOSED AND WON REELECTION BOTH TIMES.

DAVIS IS KNOWN FOR ADVOCATING INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMIC FREEDOM IN A STATE ASSOCIATED WITH BIG BUSINESSES.

HE STANDS OUT FOR HIS UNSHAKEABLE SUPPORT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

HE OPPOSES OFFSHORE DRILLING, OIL DRILLING, PROMOTES SOLAR ENERGY EXPANSION, SUPPORTS LOCAL BAN ON PLASTIC BAGS, AND BELIEVES THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEWER A COMPANY THAT HARMS THE ENVIRONMENT FOR HIS EFFORTS.

HE RECEIVED THE 2019 GREEN TIE AWARD FROM THE CONSERVATION VOTERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

HIS PUBLIC POLICY INTEREST INCLUDE PROTECTING AND PRESERVING COASTAL CAROLINA'S CULTURAL RESOURCES, INCREASING SALARIES FOR K THROUGH 12 TEACHERS, REFORMING THE STATE ENERGY PRODUCTION SECTOR, BUILDING THE OCEAN TERMINAL IN JASPER COUNTY, IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND MORE.

HE ALSO REPEALING SOUTH CAROLINA TERRITORIAL ASSIGNMENT ACT, WHICH GRANTS MONOPOLIES TO UTILITIES IN THE AREA THEY SERVE THAT WOULD ALLOW SOUTH CAROLINIAN THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE THEIR UTILITY AND LOWER THEIR ENERGY COST.

DAVIS EARNED THE RESPECT OF THE LOW COUNTRY BY LEADING THE PARITY FOR STUDENTS CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE ANNUAL RECURRING FUNDING FOR ALL THREE U OF S C SYSTEM COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITIES, U USC AIKEN, U USC, BEAUFORT, AND USC UPSTATE.

AS A SENIOR LEADER OF THE DELEGATION REPRESENTING BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTIES, HE PLAYED A VIRAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING SHARED MESSAGING AND STRATEGIES ACROSS THE LEGISLATURE TO BRING THE THREE INSTITUTION CLOSER TO EQUITY IN ANNUAL STATE RECURRING FUNDING VERSUS OVER REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE OVER THE PERIODS FROM 200, I MEAN 2012 TO THE PRESENT, HIS EFFORTS WERE SUCCESSFUL.

FROM 2012 TO 2019, THE LEGISLATIVE, THE LEGISLATURE INCREASED ITS ANNUAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE THREE UNIVERSITIES FROM 1.2 MILLION TO 2.9 MILLION.

THAT REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF NEAR NEARLY 29% IN ANNUAL STATE RECURRING APPROPRIATION FOR EACH SOUTH CAROLINA FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENT.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MR. TOM DAVIS.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I WANNA START BY THANKING CHANCELLOR ALOO FOR INVITING ME TO GIVE THIS PARTICULAR ADDRESS.

I'VE HAS JUST BEEN RECOUNTED, I'VE BEEN IN POLITICS FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, UM, STARTING AS A GOVERNOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF AND I'M NOW SERVING IN MY FOURTH TERM IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE REPRESENTING BEREN JASPER COUNTIES.

AND SO I SAT DOWN AND, AND KIND OF FIGURED HOW MANY TIMES I'VE GIVEN SPEECHES AND I'VE GIVEN ABOUT 50 SPEECHES A YEAR.

SO THAT MEANS OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS ABOUT A THOUSAND SPEECHES AND TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY OR PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT OR IMPROVING OUR SCHOOLS OR BUILDING AFFORDABLE

[00:40:01]

HOUSING OR REFORMING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, REPAIRING ROADS AND BRIDGES, PRETTY MUCH ANY AREA OF PUBLIC POLICY THAT YOU CAN THINK OF, UM, I'VE TALKED ABOUT, BUT I'VE NEVER GIVEN A COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AND UM, AND IT'S, IT'S A BIT INTIMIDATING TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

UM, FOR THOUGH I'M VERY COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS AND THE PROPER ROLE OF THE STATE AND SOCIETY ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE, I HAVE NEVER FELT IN ANY WAY PARTICULARLY QUALIFIED TO IMPART WISDOM ABOUT LIFE TO A CLASS OF YOUNG COLLEGE GRADUATES ABOUT TO MAKE THE WAY IN THE WORLD.

BUT AFTER THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR A YEAR, AND IT'S BEEN A YEAR CUZ IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR AGO THAT DR.

PERU ASKED ME TO GIVE THE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AND LAST YEAR'S WAS POSTPONED OR CANCELED BECAUSE OF OF COVID.

SO I'VE HAD A YEAR TO THINK ABOUT IT AND UM, I THINK I DO HAVE SOME THINGS USEFUL TO SAY OR TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL.

UM, I'M 60 YEARS OLD, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE.

UM, I'VE BEEN A LAWYER FOR OVER 36 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 35 YEARS.

I'VE RAISED THREE DAUGHTERS.

I'VE BEEN A GOVERNOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF, I'VE BEEN A STATE SENATOR.

I READ INCESSANTLY FICTION, NONFICTION, LIBERAL, CONSERVATIVE, NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL.

DOESN'T MATTER AS LONG AS IT'S WRITTEN BY SOMEBODY WITH A MIND AT WORK, IF I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO LEARN, I LOVE TO READ.

UM, AND SO I SAT DOWN AND I GAVE THIS MY BEST SHOT AND AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN TAKE SOMETHING FROM.

LET ME START BY SAYING CONGRATULATIONS.

UM, OBTAINING A DEGREE FROM THIS FINE UNIVERSITY IS TRULY SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF.

AND I REALIZED THAT IT WAS NOT EASY, ESPECIALLY THE PAST YEAR WHILE WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC AND THAT IT TOOK DEDICATION, PERSEVERANCE, AND INTELLIGENCE.

AND YOUR PRESENT HERE TODAY CONFIRMS YOU HAVE ALL THOSE THINGS AND ABUNDANCE.

NEXT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE DAYS AHEAD, EVEN THOUGH AT TIMES IT SEEMS WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT'S DOMINATED BY A LEVEL OF HATE AND DISTRUST THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERCOME.

AND JUST THIS PAST YEAR, THIS PAST YEAR ALONE, WE'VE HAD THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, THE STORMING OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL, A PANDEMIC THAT HAS TAKEN THE LIVES OF OVER 500,000 AMERICANS.

AND I I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT YOU'RE ALREADY ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S ON THE NEWS EVERY DAY AND IN THE PAPERS EVERY DAY AND ALL OF THAT OVER THIS PAST YEAR, IT'S CAUSED ME TO THINK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

MY MIND KEEPS COMING BACK TO A FAMOUS POEM CALLED THE SECOND COMING THAT WAS WRITTEN BY WILLIAM BUTLER YATES IN 1919, A POEM HE WROTE IN THE MIDST OF AN INFLUENZA PANDEMIC THAT TOOK THE LIVES OF 675,000 AMERICANS IN THE AFTERMATH OF WORLD WAR I, A WAR THAT TOOK 20 MILLION LIVES.

AND HERE ARE THE LINES FROM THAT POEM THAT I THINK ARE PARTICULARLY APROPO TO WHAT I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY.

HE WROTE, THINGS FALL APART, THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD.

MERE ANARCHY IS LOOSED UPON THE WORLD.

THE BLOOD DIM TIED IS LOOSED AND EVERYWHERE THE CEREMONY OF INNOCENCE IS DROWNED, THE BEST LACK ALL CONVICTION WHILE THE WORST ARE FULL OF PASSIONATE INTENSITY.

HERE'S THE THING THOUGH, THE CENTER CAN HOLD, AT LEAST IT CAN AND DOES IN AMERICA.

IT ALWAYS HAS.

AMERICA HAS GONE THROUGH TOUGH TIMES BEFORE SLAVERY, THE CIVIL WAR, FAMINE DISEASE, THE GREAT DEPRESSION NINE 11 TO NAME JUST A FEW.

AND EACH TIME WE EMERGE STRONGER, WISER, AND MORE PROSPEROUS BECAUSE THE NEXT GENERATION ALWAYS LEARNED FROM MISTAKES AND EXPERIENCES AND THEN FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

BUT THE LINE FROM THE YATES POEM I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON NOW IS THIS THE BEST LACK ALL CONVICTION WHILE THE WORST ARE FULL OF PASSIONATE INTENSITY.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CASE TODAY, DOESN'T IT? THAT THOSE WHO HOLD THE MOST EXTREME VIEWS ON BOTH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT ARE THE ONES WHO ARE DRIVING THE DEBATE.

THE ONES WHO DON'T, WHO THINK THAT THOSE WHO DON'T AGREE WITH THEM ARE NOT ONLY WRONG, BUT ARE TRULY EVIL.

NEVER IN MY 20 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE HAVE I SEEN PUBLIC DISCOURSE THIS POISONOUS.

AND THAT BRINGS TO MIND A QUOTE BY EDMUND BURKE, AN IRISH STATESMAN, AN ECONOMIST, A PHILOSOPHER, AND A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT BETWEEN 1766 AND 1794 AND THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF GREAT BRITAIN.

HE SAID, THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING.

IN OTHER WORDS, DON'T LET THE COURSE OF OUR SOCIETY BE DICTATED BY THE PARAPHRASE.

YATES, THE WORST OF US WHO ARE FULL OF PASSION INTENSITY, DON'T BE AMONG THE BEST OF US WHO LACK ALL CONVICTION.

BE INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, SPEAK OUT, TAKE

[00:45:01]

ACTION, BE OPTIMISTIC AND HOPEFUL AND ABOVE ALL, ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

NOW THIS IDEA THAT ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IS PROBABLY NOT UNFAMILIAR TO YOU AND IT'S PROBABLY ONE THAT YOU AGREE WITH WHEN YOU THINK OF NAMES LIKE MOTHER TERESA, MARTIN LUTHER KING, MAHA MAG, GANDHI, NELSON MANDELA, THOMAS EDISON.

THE IDEA THAT ONE PERSON CAN IMPACT SO MANY LIVES CERTAINLY STARTS TO MAKE SENSE.

BUT OUR TENDENCY OR MISTAKE IS THAT WE OFTEN THINK PEOPLE LIKE THAT ARE EXTRAORDINARY, THAT THEY ARE ISOLATED CASES WHO ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE.

WITH THE RULE BEING THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE POWERLESS TO AFFECT THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

THAT SIMPLY ISN'T TRUE.

JUST AFTER I WAS BORN IN THE 1960S, IN THE EARLY 1960S, JOHN F. KENNEDY SAID IN A TIMELESS PHRASE THAT IS AS POWERFUL AS IT IS SIMPLE, ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND EVERYONE SHOULD TRY.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY WAS RIGHT.

ONE PERSON WITH COURAGE AND DETERMINATION AND OPTIMISM CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

GOVERNMENT, SOCIETIES, INSTITUTIONS AND CORPORATIONS, THEY DON'T CHANGE THE WORLD.

THE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THOSE ENTITIES MAKE THE CHANGE.

AND I WANNA SHARE JUST TWO STORIES WITH YOU TO ILLUSTRATE THAT POINT.

ONE FROM LAST YEAR AND ONE FROM 160 YEARS AGO, THE ONE FROM LAST YEAR IS A STORY OF STACEY ABRAMS. NOW IT'S NO SECRET THAT MRS. ABRAMS AND I HAVE VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS ON WHAT CONSTITUTES GOOD PUBLIC POLICY AND THAT'S OKAY.

DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ARE HEALTHY.

IN ANY EVENT, IT CERTAINLY DOES NOT BLIND ME TO THE FACT THAT MRS. ABRAMS, MISS ABRAMS, THROUGH SHEER FORCE OF WILL AND DETERMINATION, HAS AFFECTED GREAT CHANGE IN THIS COUNTRY.

SHE GREW UP IN GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI AS PART OF WHAT SHE CALLED THE GENTILE POOR, MEANING THAT HER FAMILY DIDN'T HAVE MONEY FOR EXTRA THINGS AND THAT FOR FUN THEY READ BOOKS AND WATCHED PBS.

SHE LOVED READING THE EXCI ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR FUN.

SHE SAID HER PARENTS TOLD HER SHE COULD MISS SCHOOL ONLY IF YOU HAD A DOCTOR'S EXCUSE IN A SURGICAL SCAR.

LATER HER FAMILY MOVED TO ATLANTA AND MRS. ABRAMS, MS. ABRAMS WAS THE VALEDICTORIAN OF HER HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE THEN WENT TO SPELMAN COLLEGE AND ALL WOMEN'S H B C U IN ATLANTA.

AND DURING HER FRESHMAN YEAR IN 1992, SHE LED A PROTEST AGAINST THE RODNEY KING VERDICT AND CO-FOUNDED A GROUP CALLED STUDENTS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN EMPOWERMENT.

SHE PROTESTED ON THE STEPS OF THE GEORGIA STATE CAPITOL WHERE THEY BURNED THE STATE FLAG, WHICH AT THAT TIME WAS DOMINATED BY THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE GEORGIA STATE FLAG WAS CHANGED AND THE CONFEDERATE STARS AND BARS WERE REMOVED FROM THAT FLAG.

SHE GRADUATED FROM SPELMAN MAGNA C*M LAUDI AND THEN RECEIVED A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND THEN A LAW DEGREE FROM YALE UNIVERSITY.

IN 2006 SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND IN 2010 SHE BECAME HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO HOLD DEPOSITION IN GEORGIA.

SHE RAN FOR GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA IN 2018 WHEN SHE WON THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

IN THAT RACE, SHE BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO RECEIVE A MAJOR PARTY'S NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR AND SHE LOST THAT ELECTION RECEIVING 48.8% OF THE VOTE COMPARED TO THE 50.2% OF THE VOTE RECEIVED BY HER OPPONENT.

BUT HERE'S WHERE IT GETS INTERESTING.

MS. ABRAMS RECALL THAT AFTER LOSING THAT RACE, WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN BONE CRUSHINGLY PAINFUL TO BECOME THAT CLOSE, SHE SAID THAT SHE, SHE SAT SHIVA FOR 10 DAYS.

NOW AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, SITTING SHIVA IS A JEWISH GRIEVING RITUAL AFTER THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, A PERIOD OF DESPAIR WHEN ONE CONTEMPLATES THEIR LOSS AND ACCEPTS THE COMFORT OF OTHERS.

BUT THE INTERESTING THING IS WHAT MS. ABRAMS SAID SHE DID AFTER SITTING SHIVA, SHE SAID, THEN I STARTED PLOTTING.

SHE FOUNDED THE VOTER'S RIGHTS ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION CALLED FAIR FIGHT ACTION IN 2018 AND SHE ENDED UP REGISTERING 800,000 PEOPLE TO VOTE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

AN EFFORT THAT LOOKS LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN A KEY REASON THE STATE VOTED LAST YEAR FOR ITS FIRST DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SINCE 1992 AND EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR TWO DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

SHE MADE THAT DIFFERENCE WORKING HARD ON HER OWN THROUGH SHEER DENT OF EFFORT, THE 160 YEAR OLD STORY SHOWING HOW ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AS A STORY OF ROBERT SMALLS BORN INTO SLAVERY IN BEAUFORT, MR. SMALLS FREED HIMSELF, HIS CREW AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING THE CIVIL WAR BY COMMANDEERING A CONFEDERATE TRANSPORT SHIP IN THE CHARLESTON HARBOR IN MAY, 1862 IN SAILING IT FROM THOSE CONFEDERATE CONTROLLED WATERS TO THE UNION CONTROLLED ENCLAVE RIGHT HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY WHERE IT BECAME THE UNION WARSHIP.

HIS ACTIONS,

[00:50:01]

HIS ACTIONS, HIS PERSONAL ACTIONS CONVINCED PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO ACCEPT AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOLDIERS INTO THE UNION ARMY.

AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, ROBERT SMALLS RETURNED TO BEAUFORT AND BECAME A POLITICIAN WINNING ELECTION AS A REPUBLICAN TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

DURING THE RECONSTRUCTION ERA, HE AUTHORED STATE LEGISLATION PROVIDING FOR SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA TO HAVE THE FIRST FREE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES AND HE FOUNDED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

NOW CLEARLY STACEY ABRAMS IS AN INTELLIGENT WOMAN AND ROBERT SMALLS WAS AN INTELLIGENT MAN.

BUT WHAT REALLY STANDS OUT, AT LEAST TO ME, IS THEIR COURAGE, THEIR DETERMINATION, THEIR RELENTLESSNESS AND THE REFUSAL TO FAIL TRAITS AND QUALITIES THAT ARE WITHIN EACH OF YOU, WHICH YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY AS U S C B GRADUATES ATTESTS, YOU ONLY NEED THE WILL TO SUMMON THOSE TRAITS AND QUALITIES AS DID STACEY ABRAMS AND ROBERT SMALLS IN ORDER FOR YOU TO AFFECT PROFOUND CHANGE.

SO AS YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY, RESOLVED TO BE IN THE WORDS OF MAHA AND GANDHI, THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD.

BE COURAGEOUS, BE DETERMINED, BE RELENTLESS, REFUSE TO FAIL AND YOU WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GRADUATION FROM THIS FINE UNIVERSITY AND THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS YOU.

GO AND SHARKS.

THANK YOU SENATOR DAVIS.

WITH YOUR LIFE AND WITH YOUR WORDS YOU HAVE CHALLENGED US TO THINK DEEPLY, TO LIVE HONORABLY AND TO PURSUE OUR GOALS AND OUR LIVES WITH INTEGRITY, COMMITMENT, RELENTLESSNESS, AND SO MANY OF OUR GREAT CHARACTERISTICS.

SO PLEASE JOIN ME ONCE AGAIN IN APPLAUSE FOR SENATOR DAVIS.

IN THE NEXT PART OF THE CEREMONY, THE DEGREE CONFER EACH DEGREE RECIPIENT'S, FAMILY AND FRIENDS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THEIR GRADUATE'S NAME READ AS THEY CROSS THE STAGE.

PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THE LAST NAME IS READ.

YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO CELEBRATE YOUR GRADUATE'S ACHIEVEMENT AFTER THE LAST NAME IS CALLED DR.

ERIC SKIPPER, PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

BEAUFORT WILL NOW PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES WILL CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREES PLEASE RISE MR. PRESIDENT, ALL CANDIDATES WHO STAND BEFORE ME AND OTHERS WHO CANNOT BE PRESENT BUT WHOSE ACHIEVEMENT IS BEING RECORDED OFFICIALLY BY THE UNIVERSITY HAVING COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE DEGREES, ARE HERE WITH RECOMMENDED BY THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE CONFERRAL OF THEIR DEGREES BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE ACTING THROUGH THE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THIS INSTITUTION AND ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FACULTY THEREOF, THE UNIVERSITY CONFERS UPON YOU THE DEGREE FOR WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TOGETHER WITH ALL OF ITS RIGHTS, HONORS PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THERETO APPERTAINING, CONGRATULATIONS.

IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKER THIS MORNING.

ANTONIO QUINTER IS GRADUALLY WITH A BACHELOR'S IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

SHE WAS BORN IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA, BUT HAS LIVED IN SOUTH CAROLINA FOR MOST OF HER LIFE,

[00:55:01]

INCLUDING HILTON HEAD ISLAND.

FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS SHE HAS SERVED AS AN ORIENTATION LEADER, A STUDENT AMBASSADOR, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE SSAB B EXECUTIVE BOARD.

SHE HAS ALSO BEEN AN ACTIVE LEADER AND PARTICIPANT IN US CB'S HOUSING DEPARTMENT AS A RESIDENT, ASSISTANT AND ASSISTANT, UM, ASSISTANT RESIDENT DIRECTOR.

SHE'S ALSO SERVED AS A SENATOR AND IS THE CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION.

ANTONIO IS ALSO A PREVIOUS PARTICIPANT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA WASHINGTON SEMESTER PROGRAM WITH U OF SC FOR THE 2020 FALL SEMESTER.

AFTER GRADUATING, SHE WILL RETURN TO WASHINGTON DC TO WORK AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH CONGRESSMAN CLYBURN'S OFFICE.

HER GOAL IS TO GET WORK EXPERIENCE TO GUIDE HER IN FERVOR PURSUING HER EDUCATION.

SHE POINTS TO HER MOTHER AND YOUNGER BROTHER FOR PROVIDING HER CONSTANT SUPPORT AND MOTIVATION.

SHE ALSO CITES ALL THE PROFESSORS, ADVISORS, MENTORS, FRIENDS AND PEERS WHO HAVE IMPACTED HER TIME HERE AT U S C B.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING YOUR FELLOW CLASS OF 2021 GRADUATE ANTONIO QUINTER.

THANK YOU DR.

BEO.

GOOD MORNING FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND THE GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2021.

MY NAME IS ANTONIO QUINTERO AND I HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING AS S G I VICE PRESIDENT THIS PAST YEAR, BUT TODAY I COME TO YOU JUST AS ANTONIO QUINTERO, GRADUATING SENIOR FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT WITH A BACHELOR'S IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES THIS DAY HAS FINALLY COME AFTER GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

I'M SURE SOME OF US DIDN'T EVEN KNOW OR THINK THAT WE WOULD BE HERE TODAY GRADUATING, BUT HERE WE ARE.

SOME OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED THE VIRUS ITSELF AND ALL OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED THE STRESS AND HARDSHIP THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED ON THE WORLD AND IN OUR OWN PERSONAL LIVES.

WE HAVE ALSO WITNESSED AND LIVED THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST TROUBLING SOCIAL TIMES AS HATE, RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION HAVE INCREASED WORLDWIDE AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR AND MINORITY GROUPS.

IT HAS BEEN HARD TO WATCH WHAT SEEMS TO BE OUR SOCIETY FALLING APART.

HOWEVER THINGS DO NEED TO BREAK, FALL APART AND CHANGE IN ORDER TO REGROW STRONGER AND BETTER.

IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY, BUT WE ARE HERE GRADUATING TODAY, CHANGED AND DIFFERENT AFTER THESE LAST FEW YEARS AND IT IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR STRENGTH AND OUR DETERMINATION THAT WE ARE FINISHING THIS UNDERGRADUATE JOURNEY AND CONTINUING ON TO THE NEXT CHAPTERS OF OUR LIVES.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG JOURNEY FOR SURE THAT ALSO HAS SEEMED TO FLASH RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES.

IT SEEMS ONLY YESTERDAY I WAS GRADUATING FROM FIFTH GRADE AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, AS I WAS WRITING THIS SPEECH AND TRYING TO FIND INSPIRATION, I CAME ACROSS THE SPEECH THAT I WROTE TO GIVE AT MY FIFTH GRADE GRADUATING CEREMONY.

BACK THEN, I COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED EVERYTHING I HAVE BECOME AND DONE IN THESE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT HERE WE ARE.

I'M STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY AND YOU ARE ALL MINUTES AWAY FROM GRADUATING AND PURSUING EITHER THE DREAMS THAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED OR THOSE THAT YOU COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED.

WHICHEVER IT IS, I KNOW THAT YOUR YOUNGER SELVES WOULD BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND YOU SHOULD BE AS WELL IN THIS MOMENT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH GRAD SCHOOL RESEARCH PROGRAMS, WORK EXPERIENCE OR TAKING SOME MUCH DESERVED TIME OFF TO JUST RELAX AND BREATHE.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE HERE, INCLUDING MYSELF, TO APPROACH THESE NEW ROLES AND EXPERIENCES WITH EXCITEMENT AND CURIOSITY.

AND ALTHOUGH WE MAY THINK THAT THIS IS IT, WE ARE DONE.

THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

WE WILL FIND OURSELVES CONSTANTLY CHANGING OUR IDENTITIES IN

[01:00:01]

A CONSTANT STATE OF FLUX AND THAT IS OKAY.

EACH OF US HAS A PURPOSE AND MEANING IN THIS LIFE, AND ALTHOUGH WE MIGHT NOT ALL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT MAY BE, I WANT TO REMIND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO BE PATIENT AND KIND TO YOURSELVES.

YOU WILL FIND YOUR PURPOSE OR MAYBE EVEN BETTER YET, IT WILL FIND YOU WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT.

THERE ARE NO TWO PATHS THAT LOOK ALIKE AND EACH PATH HAS ITS OWN TWISTS AND TURNS AND ONLY YOU WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE.

IN THE MEANTIME, REMEMBER THAT KID THAT YOU USED TO BE AND WHEN YOU FEEL LOST, REMEMBER THE DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS THAT YOU HAVE THAT HAVE GOTTEN YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY.

FINALLY, THE WORLD IS CHANGING EVERY DAY.

OUR SOCIETY'S IN A CONSTANT STATE OF SHIFTING AND MORPHING AS WE EXPERIENCE LIFE AT A MUCH FASTER PACE INFLUENCED BY THE INTERNET AND TECHNOLOGY.

OLD SOCIAL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS ARE BREAKING AND NEW SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS ARE SPROUTING.

I THINK FOR THE BETTER.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PAIN AND DAMAGE AND INEVITABLY THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CHOOSE WHICH SIDE OF HISTORY WE WILL BE ON THE SIDE THAT PERPETUATES THE PAIN OR THE SIDE THAT WILL STOP, TAKE A STANCE AND CALL FOR CHANGE.

I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT I AM ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT HOW YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR OWN WORLD.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A POLITICIAN, AN ACTIVIST, OR EVEN A SOCIAL INFLUENCER TO MAKE THAT CHANGE HAPPEN, BUT THIS IS THE WORLD WE LIVE IN AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THAT CHANGE THAT WE WISH TO SEE HAPPEN AND CHANGE HAPPENS EVERY DAY WHEN WE CHOOSE TO MAKE DELIBERATE DECISIONS TO HOLD OURSELVES AND OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY BEING KINDER, MORE AWARE, INTENTIONAL AND CONSCIOUS ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING AND THE THINGS THAT WE ARE SAYING EVERY DAY IN PERSON AND ONLINE.

IT IS NOT HARD, BUT IT TAKES WILLINGNESS AND DETERMINATION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND I KNOW THAT IT IS WITHIN US TO DO THAT AND MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE MAKE WILL THEN CREATE RIPPLES AND IT IS ON US TO KEEP ON TRYING AND DOING SO.

AND BEFORE WE GRADUATE, BEFORE YOU GRADUATE TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THE FOLLOWING WORDS TO INSPIRE YOU ALL TO CONTINUE MAKING THAT CHANGE AND FINDING PASSION AND PURPOSE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

DON'T JUST LEARN BUT EXPERIENCE.

DON'T JUST READ ABSORB.

DON'T JUST CHANGE.

TRANSFORM.

DON'T JUST RELATE, BUT ADVOCATE.

DON'T JUST PROMISE, PROVE.

DON'T JUST CRITICIZE, ENCOURAGE, DON'T JUST THINK, PONDER, DON'T JUST TAKE BUT GIVE.

DON'T JUST SEE BUT FEEL.

DON'T JUST DREAM, BUT DO.

DON'T JUST HEAR.

LISTEN.

DON'T JUST TALK, ACT.

DON'T JUST TELL SHOW.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, DON'T JUST EXIST BUT LIVE.

LIVE BOLDLY AND SPREAD LOVE AND KINDNESS ALWAYS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FINS UP FOREVER.

SAND SHARKS.

IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKER THIS AFTERNOON.

DREW BEIER WILL BE GRADUATING WITH A DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY AND A MINOR IN EDUCATION.

HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A VARIETY OF POSITIONS ON CAMPUS, INCLUDING AN ORIENTATION LEADER, A FORMER MARKETING CHAIR FOR THE ACTIVITY BOARDS BOARD, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE, AND A FORMER SENATOR IN THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION.

HE HAS ALSO BEEN A RESIDENT ASSISTANT FOR THREE YEARS IN THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND JUDICIAL AFFAIRS, ALONG WITH BEING US C B'S CURRENT STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT.

AFTER GRADUATING DUE, DREW WILL BE PURSUING A MASTER'S DEGREE IN HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN

[01:05:01]

WELCOMING YOUR FELLOW CLASS OF 2021 GRADUATE DREW BUTER.

THANK YOU DR.

PANU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND THE GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2021.

MY NAME IS DREW BEIER AND I HAVE HAD THE IMMENSE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THIS YEAR'S STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, WHICH HAS BEEN AN UNFORGETTABLE, SOMETIMES STRESSFUL, YET AMAZINGLY WORTHY EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS HERE AT U S C B.

YOU BELIEVED IN ME IN WAYS I DID NOT BELIEVE IN MYSELF, AND I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE YOUR VOICE AND ADVOCATE THIS PAST YEAR.

I DID MY BEST TO DO RIGHT BY YOU ALL AND FULFILL THE PROMISES I MADE WHEN I RAN FOR THIS POSITION.

AS I REFLECT ON MY TIME HERE AT U S C B, I REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES, THE HARD TIMES, AND THE INEVITABLE WEEKLY POSTS ABOUT THE CALF FOOD ON THE U S C B STUDENTS PAGE, AND WE ALL KNOW HOW THOSE GO .

BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, WHEN I CAME DOWN HERE FROM CONNECTICUT IN THE FALL OF 2017, I INSTANTLY FELT LIKE I DIDN'T BELONG BECAUSE I WASN'T FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

I HAD NO FRIENDS AND I WAS COOPED UP IN MY ROOM.

I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT I NEEDED TO GO GET OUT AND FIND OUT WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

CONNECTIONS, GROWTH, BELONGING, AND PURPOSE.

EVENTUALLY I TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH AND THE PEERS, FACULTY AND STAFF OF U S C B, THE ONES THAT HELPED ME GET TO THIS STAGE, CAUGHT ME, UPLIFTED ME, AND INTRODUCED ME TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT I WOULD NEVER IMAGINE LITTLE OLD ME FROM CONNECTICUT WOULD COME ACROSS.

PURPOSE IS WHAT THIS UNIVERSITY HAS GIVEN ME, AND THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED.

MY FIRST EVER EXPERIENCE OF MEANINGFUL INVOLVEMENT THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET WAS WITH US CB'S HOUSING OF OFFICE OF HOUSING AND JUDICIAL AFFAIRS.

THE ICONIC MISS AMBER WING HAD FAITH IN ME AND PUSHED ME TO NEW HEIGHTS TO ENSURE I KNEW I WAS A RESIDENT ASSISTANT FOR A REASON AND BELONGED ON THE HOUSING TEAM.

BEING AN RA FOR THREE YEARS OPENED MANY OTHER DOORS IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF CAMPUS FROM BEING AN ORIENTATION LEADER AND ON THE ACTIVITIES BOARD TO BEING AN INTRAMURAL VOLLEYBALL REFEREE AND THE PRESIDENT OF OUR GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE.

THESE EXPERIENCES EVENTUALLY LED ME TO ONE OF MY MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT.

AS MOST COLLEGE STUDENTS WOULD SAY, I HAD MANY ACADEMIC CHALLENGES.

THERE WERE TIMES I WAS UP UNTIL 5:00 AM STUDYING AND OTHER TIMES I SLEPT THROUGH MY 8:00 AM CLASS WITH NO REGRET.

SORRY, MOM .

THROUGH THE MANY MAJOR CHANGES AND WHAT FELT LIKE ENDLESS CLASSES IN THE UNCERTAINTY OF MY FUTURE AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO IN LIFE.

IT IS MY INVOLVEMENT, THE LIFELONG AND I MEAN LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS THAT I HAVE MADE AND THE FACULTY AND STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL IN HELPING ME FIND WHAT IS FOR ME.

WITH ALL OF THIS, I WANT TO SAY I BELONG AT U S C B AND YOU DO TOO.

THIS WILL BE OUR HOME FOREVER.

I HOPE YOU WALK AWAY FROM HERE RAVING ABOUT HOW VITAL U S C B WAS TO FINDING YOUR PURPOSE AND BELONGING.

WE ALL ARE WALKING DIFFERENT PATHS OF LIFE AFTER WE LEAVE HERE, BUT WE HAVE WALKED THE SIDEWALKS OF U S C B, THE SIDEWALKS OF OUR PURPOSE THROUGH THESE TOUGH, UNPRECEDENTED TIMES OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND AN INCREASE IN RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO GOOD IN THE WORLD AND BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE, NOT BY SIMPLY SHARING POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT BY ACTIVELY ADVOCATING, EDUCATING, AND PUTTING YOUR WORDS INTO ACTIONS.

USE THE PURPOSE U S C V HAS GIVEN YOU.

TRUST ME, IT WILL TAKE YOU FAR TODAY.

I LEAVE YOU WITH THE WORDS FROM THE LATE, GREAT AND FOREVER INSPIRATIONAL CHADWICK BOZEMAN.

FIND PURPOSE.

YOU WOULD RATHER FIND A PURPOSE THAN A JOB OR CAREER.

PURPOSE CROSSES DISCIPLINES.

PURPOSE IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF YOU.

WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE AS A CAREER PATH.

REMEMBER, THE STRUGGLES ALONG THE WAY ARE ONLY MEANT TO SHAPE YOU FOR YOUR PURPOSE.

I HAVE FAITH THAT YOU ALL THE INTELLIGENT, RESILIENT CHANGE MAKERS OF THE CLASS OF 2021 WILL USE OR FIND YOUR PURPOSE WITH WHAT U S C B HAS GIVEN YOU AND I DURING OUR YEARS HERE TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE.

[01:10:01]

I THANK GOD FOR MY STRENGTH AND FOR GIVING ME DIRECTION, MY FAMILY, FOR THE ENDLESS SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO NEVER STOP GOING AFTER MY DREAMS AND MY FRIENDS, FOR LOVING ME FOR ME, AND ALWAYS GIVING ME CONSTANT GOOD ENERGY.

REMEMBER TO SPREAD LOVE AND KINDNESS ALWAYS.

LET'S GO OUT AND BE GREAT.

FINS UP FOREVER.

SAND SHARKS.

.

THANK YOU.

IN THE NEXT PART OF OUR CEREMONY, THE DEGREE CONFER EACH DEGREE RECIPIENTS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE GRADUATE'S NAME READ AS THEY CROSSED THE STAGE.

SO PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THE LAST NAME IS RED.

YOU'LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO CELEBRATE YOUR GRADUATES ACHIEVEMENT AFTER THE LAST NAME IS CALLED DR.

ERIC SKIPPER, PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

BEAUFORT WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATE FOR DEGREES, WILL CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREES PLEASE RISE.

MR. CHANCELLOR, ALL CANDIDATES WHO STAND BEFORE ME AND OTHERS WHO CANNOT BE PRESENT, BUT WHOSE ACHIEVEMENT IS BEING RECORDED OFFICIALLY BY THE UNIVERSITY HAVING COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE DEGREES, ARE HERE WITH RECOMMENDED BY THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE CONFERRAL OF THEIR DEGREES.

MY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY BASED VESTED IN THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE ACTING THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THIS INSTITUTION.

AND ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FACULTY MEMBER THEREOF, THE UNIVERSITY CONFERS UPON YOU THE DEGREE FOR WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TOGETHER WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, HONORS, PRIVILEGES, AND RESPONSIBILITY.

DEAR TO PERTAINING CONGRATULATIONS AS THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREES COME FORWARD, PLEASE NOTE THAT SOMEWHERE GOLD CHORDS ON THEIR SHOULDERS, THE COURT SIGNIFIED DEGREES EARNED WITH ACADEMIC HONORS.

THESE HONORS ARE ANNOUNCED, LISTED IN THE PROGRAM AND NOTED ON THE GRADUATES DIPLOMA.

DR.

PANU WILL NOW GREET THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT DEGREE RECIPIENTS.

NIKKI CRISTAL, GRACE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

ANDREW PHILLIP SMITH, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COM.

IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE, RYAN RICHARD CESSNA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MAGNA C*M LARE, EMILY ELIZABETH SIEGFRIED, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MAGNA K*M LARE.

LANDON MATTHEW CRUZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

K*M LA EMILY, CHEYENNE PHILLIPS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, SUMMA C*M LARE.

[01:15:01]

HEATHER CAROLINE JONES, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, MAGNA C*M LA MALLORY, FAITH CHAVIS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

SHANIA E DOMINIQUE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MAGNA C*M.

LARE.

AMANDA JOY RUTHERFORD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MAGNA C*M LARE.

ANDREW PARNELL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

DANIEL JOSEPH LAWLER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

BACHELOR.

ALEXIS ELIZABETH ANDREAS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.

MAGNA K*M LARE.

KYLIE NOEL, PEOPLES BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

K*M LA MELISSA LYNN GIBBONS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BU IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

SUMMA LAUDE.

SHELBY TAYLOR, TROUBLE FIELD, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

HANNAH ELLEN LINDER, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

SUMMA C*M.

LARE.

JASON.

RODNEY.

CRYSTAL, JR.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

ALEXA RAY, HOUSE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

WILLIAM REESE PENFIELD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

KEELY.

LEONA YOUNG BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

JONAH.

ETHAN.

MICAH KINSMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

CULLEN JAMES HASLAM, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

ZARIA.

ALEXIS HARRIS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

KUMALA .

ARANTA.

MONT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

AARON K DOVES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

K*M LA JESSICA MICHELLE SHIPLEY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

CONGRATULATIONS, CAITLIN.

EMMA SCHINDLER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

MADISON MURRAY RILEY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH WITH SECONDARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS LICENSURE, MAGNA C*M LARE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

ALISON REED, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

SUMMA C*M LARE.

CONGRATULATIONS, CAMERON.

AUGUST HORN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

MAGDA K*M.

LARE MADISON.

[01:20:01]

CAROLINE GABLE, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

K*M LARE.

ALEXANDRA NICOLE GALLO, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

HUNTER, BRYCE LAIRD, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ELEMENTARY.

IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, MAGNA C*M, LA BACHELOR.

JENNA LEE BRAGG, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

MATTHEW JOSEPH MALAD.

MALTA, PARDON ME.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

JUSTIN MILES, DOLA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

K*M JARVIS, ZION, BESS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.

KASHIF.

ANTHONY HAMILTON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

WESLEY MARY MARTIN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.

S MARIA HERNDON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS, MAGNA C*M.

LA JACQUELINE.

KATE MCBRIDE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

AARON SHAQUILLE DAVIS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

GABRIELLE FAYE JONES, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.

MAGNA C*M LARE.

OLIVIA G. SANDERS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

TOM TREL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

PREY WILSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

K*M LARE.

RICHARD CARTER FREEMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.

MAGNA C*M.

LA MARIA ASHLEY MASU, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.

SUMMA C*M LA ABRAHAM GARZA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

ALICIA JASMINE REYES GUSTESON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

JUSTIN PAUL OWEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

DANIEL PRENTICE.

GREGORY SEARLS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

CONGRATULATIONS.

DAVID HAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

RACHEL MORGAN.

FRANK HAUSER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

MARTY ELIZABETH GAVINS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

ALI ALYSSA.

MARIE MCCAIN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

CONGRATULATIONS.

[01:25:04]

CHASE LITCHFIELD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MAGNA C*M LARE.

EMILY ROSE ALINGER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

KALIL CHARLES MARSHBURN ROBINSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

BRIDGET DARLENE CONNOLLY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING GRADUATES.

PLEASE BE SEATED.

AS THE CANDIDATES FOR THEIR DEGREES COME FORWARD.

PLEASE NOTE THAT SOMEWHERE GOLD CHORDS ON THEIR SHOULDERS, THE COURTS SIGNIFY DEGREES, EARN WITH ACADEMIC HONORS.

THESE HONORS ARE ANNOUNCED.

LISTED IN THE PROGRAM AND NOTED ON THE GRADUATE'S DIPLOMA.

DR.

PANU WILL NOW GREET THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT DEGREE RECIPIENTS.

LAUREN VICTORIA HENDERSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

ZOE LOUISE REYNOLDS, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

MAGNA K*M.

LARE GRIFFIN.

ALLEN CASTLE, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

K*M MCKAYLA, ROSETTA BING, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

INFINITY FAULK, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS, DREW.

ANTHONY BUDER, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

AND TONY QUINTERO, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

SUMMA CUMLAUDE.

SARAH ELIZABETH LINDER, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND SOCIOLOGY, MAGNA C*M LA JAMIE MARIE ROBINETTE, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

BRIANNA MARIE BOWLES, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES, MAGNA C*M LAUDE.

SABRINA ANN MAY, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

MAGNA CUMLAUDE.

WOO IMELDA.

JASMINE GOLDEN BACHELOR OF ARTS AND STUDIES.

CHRISTOPHER CATALAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

REBECCA ABIGAIL HERNANDEZ, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND SOCIOLOGY IN PSYCHOLOGY.

PARDON ME? MAGNA C*M LARE.

CONGRATULATIONS, EMERSON KENNEDY DAY, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

[01:30:06]

CONGRATULATIONS, ALLIE.

JULIA DEBBIN, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS, CASSANDRA MARIE BLAND, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

EDUARDO LAVA, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

TYLER JACOB, BRIAN CUNNINGHAM, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

CHELSEA NICOLE EDWARDS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN IN PSYCHOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS, JOY.

ANDRE BENTON, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

CASSANDRA, LEANNE HEADEN, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES, MAGNA C*M LAUDE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

JORDAN NOLL, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND SOCIOLOGY.

SELEMA JANIS LAZARUS, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND SOCIOLOGY, MAGNA C*M LAUDE.

ANNA CLAIRE LEE, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

DEHA.

LAUREN CAMPBELL, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

KAYLEE FERISH, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

BRIANNE AND DUNN, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

BACHELOR.

SARAH CATHERINE DUBAY, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

SUMMA CMLA.

DEQUAN CORTEZ KINSEY, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

BACHELOR, ROBERT XAVIER, DENT, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES, MAGNA C*M LAUDE.

JULIA.

ALEXANDRA, CELESTE FLEMING, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

ALEXIS DOMINIQUE SHAW, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

K*M LAUDE.

PHILLIP NATHANIEL BRUNSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

JARED SCOTT BAILEY, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

K*M.

LARE WILSON.

KEN MCLARNEY, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

CONGRATULATIONS, ANSLEY ROSE, HARDER BAR, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

MARK HARRIS.

ENTR, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

[01:35:11]

MORGAN LANIER, MOODY, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

K*M LAUDE.

RACHEL, JANE BUCKHOLTZ, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

SKYLAR MOON LADSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

TORI JORDAN SMITH, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY.

SUMMA .

SARAH B LAUER, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SO IN PSYCHOLOGY.

CAITLIN HALEY CAMPBELL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

DANISHA MONET, LEBRON RUM, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS, JACK DAVID SLAVIN, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

BACHELOR SEALY, MARIE WYNN, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

BACHELOR, SHAIRA ROCHE NIPPLE, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY, MAGNA K*M LARE.

CONGRATULATIONS, EMILY MARIE CONTRERAS, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND IN PSYCHOLOGY.

K*M KIRA, MANZA AND MAYOR'S, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND PSYCHOLOGY.

SELENA GIN DIAMOND, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

CHEYENNE AUBREY ROBY, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

TAMIA.

ANTRICE NAISHA.

MICHELLE THOMPSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

VACCINATION.

RYAN ALEXANDER DUNCAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND SOCIOLOGY.

ANDREW GARRETT FRICKS, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES, MAGNA C*M LAUDE.

GABRIELLE DIAMOND GILMORE, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO, ART MAXWELL.

JEFFREY KREPPS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS,

[01:40:02]

DESTINY.

NICOLE MCNEIL, BACHELOR OF ARTS AND INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.

CONGRATULATIONS, TANISHA.

ROCHELLE THOMAS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES, BACHELOR OF NACE.

COOPER GRAHAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ART.

CONGRATULATIONS, CALEB RODOLFO TAYLOR, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO, ART CONGRAT.

FRANK ERIC BIRD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

WILLIAMS, MATTHEW BRYAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ART, K*M LOUDY.

CONGRATULATIONS, JESSICA CHERYL MUELLER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, MAGNA K*M LOUDY.

CONGRATULATIONS SO MUCH.

MAYA KADIJA FRAZIER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.

MARGARET ELIZABETH HILL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.

DANIKA STRAIN, QUBA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES, MAGNA K*M LADI.

CRYSTAL.

JANELLE BONAPARTE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.

DIMITRI VANAYA BRIGMAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ART.

MADELINE ROSE DURHAM, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.

ARIANA ELENA RENZ ESPINOZA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

SUMA K*M LADI.

OKAY, DEVIN DANE EDEDIE, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ART.

TANNER LEE ANFIELD, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ART, ALEXANDER MACK JACOBS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

ANDREA JANAYA MCBRIDE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.

ANDREW MICHELLE BALDINO, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

K*M LADI.

ALEX LINWOOD ALTMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS, BRIDGET DOHERTY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, K*M LOUDY.

CONGRATULATIONS, TAYLOR BARRY ROBERTS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS, MATTHEW CHARLES MORGAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

CHARLOTTE, A LYNCH BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.

[01:45:06]

CAMERON ROBERT SMITH, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS, SAMANTHA AND MOORE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

SUMA K*M LADI.

CONGRATULATIONS, CHRISTIANA.

REBECCA, HUFF MAKER BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, MAGNA K*M LADI.

CONGRATULATIONS, CASEY.

BRIANNA GODLEY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.

CONGRATULATIONS, BRIANNA KAZIMIR SMITH, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.

JAMILA CHEYENNE HOGAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.

MARIANA DESHAUN CURRY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

ASHLEY ANN IN ABK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS, BRIAN MITCHELL.

MYRICK JR.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

MAGNA.

K*M LADI.

CONGRAT CAMERON.

LEANNE HILL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

MAGNA K*M.

LADI.

CONGRAT.

JILLIAN MARY VANONI, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

JACKSON FRANCIS GOMES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

K*M LADI.

CONGRATULATIONS.

ALEXANDRA.

SAMANTHA SCHMIDTZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

BACHELOR, TAYLOR CAT HALL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT'S.

AMANDA HOPE SMITH, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH.

K*M LAK, NIA AND JOHA BLOCKER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.

SARAH NICOLE MCCOLLUM, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ART, MAGNA K*M LADI.

HI, CONGRATULATIONS.

TAVARES KEITH TERRELL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

JARED SELINA, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.

GRAYSON AUBREY MULKEY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH.

CONGRATULATIONS, GRETA ELENA LAISHA ROBINSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.

CONGRATULATIONS, DESTINY.

LYNN RAINS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.

MAGNA K*M LADI.

CONGRATULATIONS.

BRIANNA MARIE SCHWAB, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

IANI AJA SHRILLS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HUMAN SERVICES.

K*M LADI.

ASHLEY ESTHER LOCKARD, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH.

MAGDA K*M.

LADI.

COURTNEY DANIELLE, BLACK

[01:50:01]

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES.

CONGRATULATIONS.

JOSEPH J. KEITH, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ART MAGNA K*M LADI.

JAMES BRUCE CHEATHAM, THE FOURTH MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE.

SCIENCE.

.

ZACHARY SCOTT SCHAFFER, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE.

BRANTLEY.

ADAM WALLING, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE.

ALYSSA NICOLE, PASTOR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.

K*M LOUDY.

KELLY ELIZABETH TOLLESON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.

AND BACHELOR OF OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS, VERONICA FAIR, MCLEOD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE.

SUMMA K*M LOUDY.

EVAN BOWMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.

K*M LOUDY.

EMMA K LEFTWICH, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.

K*M LADI BACHELOR.

KRISTIN REBECCA, EDGE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.

K*M LADI.

KEVIN.

KEVIN GIOVANNI.

BALDERAS ROQUE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

MAGNA K*M LADI.

ABIGAIL ELIZABETH AERS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

GABRIELA M WOODRUM, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

EILEEN NICOLE SIL RYO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

MAGNA K*M LADI.

JOLANDA LA CHANEL DUNBAR, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

CHEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE.

SUMMA K*M.

LADI

[01:55:04]

STAR.

BRIANNE MCNEIL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE.

SARAH AND NICOLE KIRKHAM, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

K*M LAK.

CONGRATULATIONS, MELINDA SUE BAYNEY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY, MAGNA K*M LATI.

CONGRATULATIONS, KARENNA.

MICHELLE CUNNINGHAM, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

ANTHONY CONNOR HAROLD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

ANTOINETTE JOANNA GIBBS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

RICK PRISCILLA.

JAMES BINDS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE.

MAGNA K*M LADI.

KIMBERLY NICOLE OVIEDO, A MCGUIRE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

MAGNA K*M LAUDI BACHELOR.

KAYLA MARIE CHANDLER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS, RYAN KYLE REYNOLDS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

K*M LAUDY MACKENZIE INMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

BRYCE TURNER ADKINS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MATHEMATICS.

MAGNA K*M LADI.

BRENNA K DICKERSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

TORI MADISON KING, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS, MOLLY JANE HOFFMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS, KERSEY CAL.

WE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY, K*M LADI.

JAMES JANSSEN SMITH, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

DEJAK DESANA LITMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

GABRIELLE MARY URE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

JARED VALVO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE, SUMMA K*M LADI.

CONGRATULATIONS, KYLE JAMES BILAC, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS, ALISON TAYLOR DAVIS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY, MAGNA K*M LADI.

LILLY MADISON KUTU, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

K*M LOUDY BACHELOR, CAEN, FAITH LANIER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

K*M LOUDY.

GABRIELLE, NICOLE MARUCCI, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

[02:00:07]

MARINO PASQUA SOBAR, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS, KATHERINE NICOLE MOLINA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY, K*M LAK.

KAREN GABRIELA CHAVA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

BROOKE CHEYENNE ANGUIANO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

KATHERINE A. MEDINA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

MCC COLE GOMES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE.

CONGRATULATIONS, FRANK.

KEVIN ZALES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE.

K*M LADI, PEYTON ELIZABETH RILEY SMITH, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.

K*M LADI BACHELOR.

HAILEY NICOLE TERAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY AND BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY HAS A Z JORDAN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

KENDRA CHEYENNE KERR, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

A TAYLOR MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY.

YOU WAITING FOR THIS? LET'S CLAP FOR THEM.

SO WILL THE GRADUATE PLEASE RISE.

YOU ARE NOW GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT.

YOUR STATUS MUST BE MADE KNOWN TO THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY.

PLEASE JOIN TOGETHER AND MOVE YOUR TASSELS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR MOTOR BOARD TO THE LEFT SIDE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S GIVE OUR NEW GRADUATES ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

I'M DR.

ANNA PONDER US CB'S VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ADVANCEMENT.

AND IT IS MY GREAT HONOR, MY GREAT JOY TO INDUCT YOU INTO THE SAND SHARK SOCIETY, US CB'S ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.

AS YOU TAKE YOUR PLACES IN THE BELOVED COMMUNITY OF U S C B ALUMNI, I ASK NOW TO READ THE ALUMNI PLEDGE.

IF YOU UNROLL YOUR SCROLL, YOU'LL FIND THE PLEDGE INSIDE.

SINCE THIS IS OUR THIRD COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY TODAY, WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE TAPE WE USED IS INCREDIBLY STRONG.

SO THIS MAY TAKE A MOMENT, AND

[02:05:01]

SINCE I ROLLED MANY OF THESE MYSELF, I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW THAT HAPPENED, BUT ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

PLEASE READ ALONG WITH ME.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE THE U S C B EXPERIENCE.

WE COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AS WE WORK TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS AND NAVIGATE THE WORLD.

WE CELEBRATE THE BOND.

WE SHARE US CB'S ENDURING POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR LIVES.

WE PROUDLY CARRY OUR EDUCATION AND VALUES WITH US IN EVERYTHING WE DO.

WE DEMONSTRATE THROUGH OUR EVERY INTERACTION HOW U S C B ELEVATES OUR LIVES.

WE STRIVE TO INFORM, INSPIRE, AND LIFT UP FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SAND SHARKS.

WE GIVE BACK TO KEEP DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY, OPEN WIDE INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR REGION, AND THE WORLD.

AND MOST OF ALL, WE REMEMBER THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES THAT WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE.

WE ARE CALLED TO LIFT UP.

WE ARE CALLED TO LEAD.

THIS IS HOW AND WHY WE ARE CALLED SAND SHARKS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU.

YOU WILL BELONG TO THE U S C B FAMILY FOREVER.

WELCOME TO THE SAND SHARK SOCIETY.

WE WILL BE IN TOUCH AND PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE STAY IN TOUCH WITH US.

CONGRATULATIONS.

OKAY, EVERYONE, PLEASE STAND AS REVEREND BLACK LEADS US IN THE BENEDICTION, FOLLOWED BY THE FIRST VERSE OF THE CAROLINA ALMA MATER.

THE WORDS ARE FOUND ON THE LAST PAGE OF YOUR PROGRAM.

THE ALMA MATER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY GUESTS AND GRADUATES BEING DISMISSED ONE ROW AT A TIME TO ENSURE SOCIAL DISTANCING AS WE EXIT THE BUILDING, PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR SEATED SECTION UNTIL YOU ARE CALLED UPON BY OUR ALS TO EXIT.

WE ASK GUESTS AND GRADUATES TO PROCEED FROM EXIT THAN TO YOUR VEHICLES.

RECEIVE GOD'S BLESSING.

MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU.

MAY THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU.

MAY THE LORD BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU AND LIFT UP HIS CONTINENTS UPON YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE BOTH NOW AND FOREVER.

AMEN.

[02:11:09]

GOOD MORNING.

IT IS MY SINCERE PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE FIRST SHANKIN ROAD EMS STATION THAT WE BUILT.

UM, WE ARE HOPING TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND RESPONSE TIMES IN THIS AREA BY HAVING THE STATION HERE.

AND WE JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING.

THIS WILL BETTER.

THE RESPONSE TIMES WILL BE REDUCED.

WE'RE RUNNING ABOUT 16,000 CALLS A YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 325 CALLS A WEEK.

SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO ADD STATIONS AND PERSONNEL IS GONNA MAKE BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY HAVING US TO WHERE WE CAN GET TO, UH, PEOPLE'S HOUSES AND CRISIS, YOU KNOW, QUICKER RESPONSE TIME.

UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK COUNTY COUNCIL FOR, UM, THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT AND PHIL FOOT BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULD'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROJECT COME OFF THE GROUND.

SO AGAIN, WE WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE CEREMONY COMING OUT.

AND WE KNEW IT WAS A RAINING, WE WEREN'T SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO COME OUT, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT IN THE WEATHER AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO SEE OUR NEW STATION.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE PHIL FOOT, WHO'S THE, UM, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

PHIL.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, DONNA.

THANK YOU FOR STOPPING THE RAIN LIKE I ORDERED.

, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TODAY.

UM, THIS IS A BIG DAY FOR US IN BEFOR COUNTY.

IT'S A BIG DAY FOR EVERYBODY.

UH, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS IN GETTING US TO THIS POINT.

UH, WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT THE HELP OF EVERYBODY THAT ACTUALLY IS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW STANDING OUT THERE, UH, THAT IS WATCHING ON LIVE STREAM ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL, UH, THAT WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT HERE TODAY IN PERSON.

SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE THANK EVERYBODY THAT HAD A HAND IN PUTTING THIS STATION TOGETHER AND GETTING US TO THIS POINT RIGHT NOW.

UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN UP.

UH, THAT'S, THAT'S GREAT SUPPORT OUT HERE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

UH, I'M THANKFUL FOR EVERYBODY THAT HAS SHOWN UP.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERS OUT THERE, UH, THAT PARTNER UP WITH US AT BURE COUNTY EMS. UH, OUR PERSONNEL, OUR EMTS AND PARAMEDICS ARE, UH, OUTSTANDING PARAMEDICS AND EMTS.

THEY SERVE THE COMMUNITY WELL AND WE'RE SO VERY PROUD OF THEM.

AND WITHOUT OUR TEAM, AND I MEAN, OUR TEAM IS OUR PARTNERS.

THAT'S EVERYBODY THAT'S STANDING OUT HERE RIGHT NOW AND EVERYBODY THAT'S WATCHING.

UH, I LOOK OUT AND I SEE, UH, OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT WORK CLOSELY WITH US ON OUR MISSION, ALONG WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE I WANT TO, UH, THANK ALSO IS SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT SEEN AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE TEAM.

AND, UH, THAT'S OUR DISPATCHERS.

THEY TAKE ALL THE CALLS, BUT, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T GET TO SEE THEM.

AND, UH, THEY'RE OUT THERE HELPING US EVERY DAY WITH THESE CALLS FOR SERVICE.

SO THEY'RE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS TEAM TOO.

AND SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO EVERY DAY.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T, UH, POINT OUT A FEW PEOPLE OUT HERE, UH, ESPECIALLY MY SUPERVISOR.

UH, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

SO, UH, MY INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS MY SUPERVISOR, ERIC GREENWAY.

UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND OUR INTERIM DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, ROBERT BETZHOLD, WHO, UH, WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, WE WOULDN'T GET THESE THINGS DONE EVERY DAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ALSO, WE HAVE SOME CELEBRITIES

[02:15:01]

OUT HERE.

UM, ONE OF 'EM IS A FORMER DIRECTOR OF EMS, RUSTY HOLLINGSWORTH.

I'D LIKE TO THANK HIM, UH, FOR HELPING GET THIS SYSTEM TO WHERE IT'S AT AND WITHOUT ANOTHER SPECIAL PERSON.

UH, ED ALLEN, WHO WAS OUR FORMER EMS DIRECTOR WHO IS THE FORMER CORONER OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.

UH, I DON'T THINK THE EMS SYSTEM WOULD BE WHAT IT IS TODAY IF IT WAS NOT FOR HIM.

SO IF EVERYBODY WOULD GIVE, UH, ED A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE, HE, HE GOT US TO WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

UH, I SEE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

I WISH I COULD HAVE TIME TO THANK EVERYBODY, BUT I DON'T WANT TO KEEP EVERYBODY BACK.

UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DO SEE REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE OUT HERE, UH, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY AND, AND SUPPORTING US.

AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US EVERY DAY AS WE DO OUR JOBS EVERY DAY.

IT'S, IT'S A TOUGH BUSINESS AND, UH, WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE TEAMWORK THAT WE HAVE WITH EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY.

AND SO THIS IS REALLY A STATION FOR EVERYBODY.

AND, UH, THIS STATION IS NOT JUST A STATION.

IT'S A TESTAMENT TO BURE COUNTY COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS AND VISITORS OF BEFOR COUNTY, UH, THAT THEY WANT US TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS.

AND WE COULDN'T DO THAT WITHOUT GETTING STATIONS LIKE THIS ONLINE AND HAVING EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

SO I, I'D REALLY LIKE TO THANK COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THEIR EVERYDAY SUPPORT, UH, ALWAYS HAVING PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION, UH, HELPFUL WHEN WE GO THROUGH OUR COUNTY COUNCIL AND, AND ASK FOR FUNDING.

UH, THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE TO SUPPORT US AND, AND WE THANK THEM FOR THAT.

AND BEFORE I RELINQUISH, I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO, UM, OUR COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE, WHICH THIS STATION IS IN.

UM, SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, AND SOME OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW, COUNCILMAN DAWSON WAS A PARAMEDIC FOR BEAUFORD COUNTY EMS. AND SO, UM, HE DOES HAVE A SPECIAL TIE WITH US AND, AND THAT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT.

AND SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL THAT HE'S HERE, UH, TO BE PART OF THIS GRAND OPENING.

AND, AND SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL THAT, UH, HE'S GONNA SPEAK AND I'M GONNA GET OUT OF THE WAY.

SO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR COMING TODAY, AND, UH, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMAN GERALD DAWSON OF DISTRICT ONE.

GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE THIS MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

AS THE, UH, CON COUNTY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT ONE, UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR BEING IN ATTENDANCE THIS MORNING, UH, AS WE, UH, CELEBRATE THE GRAND OPENING OF THE SHANKLIN EMS, UH, STATION.

DUE TO THE CONTINUED GROWTH IN THE COUNTY, PLANNING FOR THIS NEW FACILITY STARTED IN 2014, UH, FOR ONE OF THE NEW STATIONS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY, AND ONE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.

UH, THIS FACILITY HAS BEEN, UH, COMPLETED FIRST WITH THE OTHER IN THE SOUTHERN COUNTY TO COME ON LATER IN THE FALL OF THIS YEAR.

THE STATION WAS DESIGNED BY COURT ATKINS AND CONSTRUCTED BY, UH, FRAZIER CONSTRUCTION, THE BEAU COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT PROVIDED FOR, UH, PROJECT MANAGEMENT.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, ANDREA, UH, AHAN AND WES CAMPBELL AND, UH, BRITTANY FIELDS.

LET'S GET THEM A HAND, IF YOU WILL.

THIS STATION WILL BE MANNED 24 HOURS, UM, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR.

UH, IT WILL HOUSE ONE AMBULANCE, UH, WITH TWO CREW MEMBERS AND A QUICK RESPONSE, UH, VEHICLE, UH, BETTER KNOWN AS, UH, Q R V, AND THERE WILL BE ONE CREW MEMBER TO THAT.

UH, UH, Q R V, THE FACILITY AND THE CREWS WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION FOR RESPONDING TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES FOR ALL CITIZENS AND VISITORS OF BEAUFORT, UH, COUNTY.

THIS STATION WILL PROVIDE SERVICE TO MEDICAL 9 1 9 1 1 CALLS FROM HIGHWAY 21, UH, TO THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 17, UH, ONE 70 TO JOE FRAZIER, UH, ALL THE WAY OUT TO LAUREL BAY, AND FROM HIGHWAY 21 TO BRUCE K SMALLS

[02:20:01]

DRIVE.

ON BEHALF OF BU COUNTY COUNCIL, MYSELF INCLUDED, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY, UH, STAFF MEMBER OF EMS AND EVERY EMS PERSONNEL FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO TO SAVE LIVES EVERY DAY, AND PROVIDE THE BEST MEDICAL SERVICE TO ALL THE CITIZENS AND VISITORS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK, UH, OUR DIRECTOR OF EMS, UH, MS. DONNA OWENBY FOR HER LEADERSHIP.

LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A HAND IF YOU WANT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ON A HISTORICAL NOTE, UM, THIS FACILITY HAS BEEN BUILT NEAR THE GROUNDS OF, UH, WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE PORT ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, LATER RENAMED AS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY TRAINING SCHOOL, BUT CURRENTLY KNOWN AS THE OLD SHANKLIN SCHOOL.

THIS AREA REPRESENTS THE RISK HISTORY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND ITS RESIDENCE, THE HISTORICAL MARKER, WHICH IS OUT FRONT OVER HERE, UH, UH, HISTORICAL MARKER NUMBER 50, UH, DEDICATING THIS AREA AS A SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL MARKER.

UM, AS I SAID, IT'S LOCATED OUT FRONT FOR ALL THE CITIZENS AND VISITORS TO READ OF THE HISTORY AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE OLD SHANKLIN SCHOOL THAT WAS, UH, ON THE SITE NEAR HERE.

BEAUFORT COUNTY E M S BEGAN IN 1974.

IT WAS HOUSED AT BURE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SERVING THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF BURET COUNTY.

AS THE POPULATION GREW, SO DID EMS, ADDING MORE EMPLOYEES AND AMBULANCES STRATEGICALLY PLACED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, HOUSED WITHIN LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.

HOWEVER, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS, UH, DAY IS THAT WE ARE HERE CELEBRATING THE GRAND OPENING OF THIS NEW FACILITY, WHICH IS THE FIRST STANDALONE EMS STATION IN THE COUNTY THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SAID.

LET US PREPARE NOW FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING AND OFFICIALLY OPENED THIS NEW AS, UH, NEW EMS STATION.

BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, LET ME SAY A PRAYER BLESSING, THE FACILITY AND THE, UH, EMPLOYEES THAT WILL HOUSE THIS.

LET US PRAY IF YOU WILL.

MOST HOLY AND EVERLASTING.

GOD.

FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND KINDNESS.

WE THANK YOU GOD FOR YOUR SAVING GRACE THROUGH YOUR BELOVED SON, JESUS TO CHRIST.

WE THANK YOU FOR AWAKENING US THIS MORNING AND ALLOWING US TO ASSEMBLE HERE THIS MORNING TO CELEBRATE THE GRAND OPENING OF THIS SHANKLIN EMS STATION.

WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS NOW AND UPON THIS STATION AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT WILL BE HOUSED IN HERE, THAT YOU OR FATHER GOD WILL PROVIDE SAFETY AND, UH, FELLOWSHIP AND COMMUNION AMONGST THE EMPLOYEES THAT THEY OR FATHER GOD WILL BE STRENGTHENED AND ENCOURAGED TO GO FORTH AND DO THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO DO.

IN JESUS NAME I PRAY, AMEN.

AMEN.

RIBBON CUTTING TIME.

1, 2, 3.

HI, I'M VIRGINIA MARSHALL.

I'M A PARAMEDIC WITH BERE COUNTY EMS, AND WE ARE AT THE NEW SHANKLIN STATION, SHANKLIN EMS STATION.

IT'S THE FIRST STATION THAT'S A STANDALONE STATION BRAND NEW FOR EMS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.

COME ON IN, WE'LL SHOW YOU AROUND.

OKAY.

SO OUR FUTURE GOAL POST COVID IS FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND HAVE WHAT WE CALL BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS AND SIMPLE MEDICAL CHECKS.

AND THIS IS WHAT THIS ROOM, ROOM WILL BE DEDICATED TO IN THE FUTURE.

IT WILL BE CLOSED OFF.

THE REST OF THE STATION WILL BE CLOSED OFF FROM THE PUBLIC BY THE STORE TO ALLOW US PRIVACY AND ALLOW US TO CONDUCT OUR, OUR BUSINESS THAT WE NEED TO AS FAR AS FINISHING REPORTS AND GETTING READY FOR, FOR TRAINING AND THAT SORT OF THING FOR OUR NEXT CALL.

SO COME TAKE A LOOK AT OUR LIVING SPACES.

SO THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS STATION IS EVERYTHING IS INDIVIDUALIZED AND THE INDIVIDUAL BUNK ROOMS, THE OLD STATIONS USED TO BE A COMBINED BUNK ROOM WHERE EVERYBODY SLEPT TOGETHER.

SO THE INDIVIDUAL BUNK ROOMS WILL GIVE US TIME TO DECOMPRESS FROM CALLS IF WE HAPPEN TO HAVE A VERY BAD CALL.

AND ALSO IT GIVES US SOME PRIVACY WITH COVID RESTRICTIONS AS WELL.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OUR SPACING HERE TO SEPARATE FROM OUR, UM, FELLOW EMPLOYEES AT NIGHTTIME TO SLEEP GOING GREEN.

WE HAVE A BOTTLE THAT REFILLS AT THE WATER STATION HERE.

I ALWAYS SAY THAT'S NEAT.

SO WE'RE ALWAYS ABOUT RECYCLING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

AND THEN THIS IS OUR COMMON AREA HERE WHERE WE SIT DOWN, WE HAVE OUR TV, UM, FOR STAYING UP TO DATE ON THE NEWS AND TRAINING VIDEOS THAT WE CAN DO.

AND THEN WE HAVE

[02:25:01]

A COMMON KITCHEN AREA IN HERE.

UH, PART OF FIRE STATION EMS LIFE IS THAT WE SIT DOWN AND WE HAVE MEALS TOGETHER, WE COOK TOGETHER.

AND SO THIS SPACE ALLOWS US TO DO THIS.

LUNAR ECLIPSES OCCUR WHEN THE MOON IS IN THE OPPOSITE POSITION OF WHERE IT IS LOCATED WHEN A SOLAR ECLIPSE OCCURS.

SO LUNAR ECLIPSES HAPPEN AT NIGHT DURING A FULL MOON.

WHILE SOLAR ECLIPSES HAPPEN DURING THE DAY WHEN WE HAVE A NEW MOON, THERE ARE A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE LUNAR ECLIPSES THEN THERE ARE SOLAR ECLIPSES BECAUSE EVERYONE ON THE NIGHTTIME SIDE OF THE EARTH GETS TO SEE LUNAR ECLIPSE WHEN IT HAPPENS.

A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE ALSO LASTS A LOT LONGER THAN A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE BECAUSE THE SIZE OF THE EARTH SHADOW FALLING ON THE MOON IS COMPARATIVELY MUCH LARGER THAN THE MOON DURING A SOLAR ECLIPSE.

THE MOON SHADOW, WHICH BLOCKS OUT THE SUN, IS JUST ABOUT THE EXACT SAME SIZE AS THE SUN.

SO TOTALITY IS QUITE BRIEF.

IN ORDER FOR A LUNAR ECLIPSE TO OCCUR, THE MOON MUST PASS THROUGH THE EARTH SHADOW.

THE SHADOW IS MADE UP OF TWO CONES.

THE OUTER CONE IS CALLED THE PENUMBRA.

AND IN THE PENUMBRA ONLY SOME OF THE LIGHT FROM THE SUN IS BLOCKED BY THE EARTH.

THE INNER CONE IS THE UMBRA, WHICH IS THE PORTION WHERE ALL OF THE SUNLIGHT IS BLOCKED BY THE EARTH.

PENUMBRAL LUNAR ECLIPSES OCCUR WHEN THE MOON PASSES THROUGH THE EARTH'S PENUMBRAL SHADOW.

THESE TYPES OF ECLIPSES ARE ALMOST UNNOTICEABLE AND TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSES OCCUR WHEN THE MOON IS COMPLETELY OBSCURED BY THE EARTH SHADOW.

WE CAN USE THE SAME SCALE MODEL THAT WE USE TO DEMONSTRATE A SOLAR ECLIPSE TO SHOW HOW A LUNAR ECLIPSE OCCURS, EXCEPT FOR IN THIS CASE, THE EARTH IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE IN BETWEEN THE SUN AND THE MOON, AND THE LUNAR ECLIPSE IS GONNA HAPPEN AT NIGHTTIME.

SO IT'S DAYTIME ON THIS SIDE OF THE EARTH.

AND ON THIS SIDE OF THE EARTH IS NIGHTTIME AND THE SUN IS SHINING ON THE EARTH, AND THE EARTH'S SHADOW IS ACTUALLY FALLING ON THE MOON.

LUNAR ECLIPSES OF SOME SORT OCCUR FROM TWO TO FOUR TIMES PER YEAR.

THE REASON WE DON'T HAVE A LUNAR ECLIPSE EVERY TIME THERE IS A FULL MOON IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE MOON DOES NOT ORBIT THE EARTH ON THE SAME PLANE AS THE EARTH ORBITING THE SUN.

THE MOON'S ORBIT IS TILTED ABOUT FIVE DEGREES FROM THE EARTH'S ORBIT AROUND THE SUN.

SO THOSE PATHS ONLY CROSS A FEW TIMES PER YEAR.

MOST OF THE TIME THE MOON IS SLIGHTLY ABOVE OR BELOW THE SUN.

IN THIS DEMONSTRATION, THE DISTANCES ARE NOT TO SCALE AND THE ANGLE IS EXAGGERATED, BUT IT MAKES IT EASIER TO VISUALIZE WHY ECLIPSES DO NOT OCCUR EVERY MONTH DURING A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE, THE MOON APPEARS TO BE BLOOD RED.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE EARTH IS BLOCKING LIGHT FROM REACHING THE MOON, SOME INDIRECT LIGHT STILL SHINES ON IT.

THE SUNLIGHT THAT IS ABLE TO REACH THE MOON MUST FIRST PASS THROUGH THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, WHICH REFRACTS THE LIGHT AND SCATTERS THE BLUE WAVELENGTHS, LEAVING ONLY THE RED AND ORANGE WAVELENGTH TO SHINE ON THE MOON.

IF THE EARTH HAD NEW ATMOSPHERE, THE MOON WOULD APPEAR TO BE COMPLETELY BLACKED OUT DURING TOTALITY.

IF THERE ARE A LOT OF PARTICLES IN THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE DURING THE LUNAR ECLIPSE, SUCH AS FOLLOWING A MAJOR VOLCANIC ERUPTION, THE MOON MIGHT APPEAR TO BE NEARLY INVISIBLE.

LUNAR ECLIPSES ARE EASY TO VIEW, UNLIKE A SOLAR ECLIPSE WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT IN ORDER TO SEE IT, YOU CAN VIEW A LUNAR ECLIPSE WITH A NAKED EYE, AND A PAIR OF BINOCULARS REALLY ENHANCE YOUR EXPERIENCE.

SO NEXT TIME ONE OF THESE SPECIAL, ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS OCCURS, TAKE A CHANCE TO COME OUT AND OBSERVE A LUNAR ECLIPSE.