* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. CLOSED [00:00:01] CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY. PERFECT. PLEASE RISE FOR THE ENTRANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY DEGREE CANDIDATES, THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY TEAM [00:05:14] AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD. STEVES THE EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR AND PROVOST FOR U S C B, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT, DR. AL M PANNU. NEW PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND AS THE REVEREND DR. DOUGLAS FLETCHER DELIVERS THE INVOCATION, LET US PRAY. LORD, WE ARE TOO OFTEN ACCUSTOMED TO PRAYING JUST BEFORE A TEST OR IN A MOMENT OF EMERGENCY OR ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE WANT, BUT THIS IS AN OCCASION TO CELEBRATE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY AND WE ARE DRAWN INTO A LARGER STORY, A STORY THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT YOU ARE THE CREATOR OF ALL [00:10:01] AND THAT YOU CARE FOR US. WE PRAY THAT YOU HELP US TO GROW IN OUR PERSPECTIVE, PERSPECTIVE ON RELATIONSHIPS, PERSPECTIVE, ON OUR OWN LIFE PERSPECTIVE ON THIS VERY MOMENT, AND THAT WE GROW IN AN AWARENESS OF THE HOLINESS THAT SURROUNDS US, THAT WE LIVE IN A LARGER STORY AND THAT THE FREEDOM THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US IS AN EXTRAORDINARY GIFT. WE PRAY THAT YOU HELP US TO GROW IN OUR SENSE OF HOPE. FOR HOPE IS AT THE ROOT OF RESILIENCE. AND WHILE THERE ARE MANY HOPES THAT CAN BE TOO SMALL, THAT CAN BE FALSE AND MISLEADING. THERE IS A GREAT HOPE THAT YOU HAVE SET BEFORE US. HELP US, OH GOD, TO TRUST. TO TRUST OTHERS, TO TRUST YOUR LOVE FOR US, TO TRUST YOUR GOODNESS TOWARD US. WE PRAY FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN OUR LIFE. THE THINGS EVEN OF THIS DAY, THE WORRIES, THE ANXIETIES, THE CONCERNS, THE JOYS, THE CELEBRATIONS BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT US AND IT INSPIRES BOLDNESS WITHIN US. WE PRAY, OH GOD, THAT OUR LIFE WILL TOUCH AND BLESS OTHERS. THAT FORGIVENESS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE READILY SEEK AND RECEIVE AND EXTEND TO OTHERS. AND THE GENEROSITY IS A PART OF WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE LIVE. WE PRAY FOR GREATER SELF-AWARENESS IN OUR LIFE, AWARENESS OF OUR GIFTS AND STRENGTHS, AS WELL AS AWARENESS OF OUR WEAKNESSES AND LIMITATIONS SO THAT WE WILL UNDERSTAND HOW BEST TO USE OUR LIFE AND WITH AN AWARENESS OF THE GIFTS OF OTHER PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT THEIR GIFTS AS WELL. AND WE PRAY THE GRATITUDE, AN EXTRAORDINARY AND ENDURING MOTIVATION MAY SHAPE AND FILL OUR LIFE AND THAT WE MAY BE MARKED AS PEOPLE OF JOY. ALL THESE THINGS WE PRAY AS WE CELEBRATE THIS DAY IN YOUR NAME. AH AMEN. YOU MAY BE SEATED PLEASE. SO GREETINGS TO THE CLASS OF 2022 AND TO YOUR PARENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, ALL OF WHOM WHO ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS WONDERFUL MILESTONES MILESTONE IN YOUR LIVES. GREETINGS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, BEAUFORT FACULTY AND STAFF. THIS DAY IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF YOUR INCREDIBLE PROFESSIONALISM, HARD WORK, AND DEDICATION TO STUDENTS. I THANK YOU TO OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, MRS. ROSE BIKE NEWTON, MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE REVEREND DOUGLAS FLETCHER SCHOLAR, AUTHOR, PASTOR EMERITUS OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND. TO ALL OF YOU, MY DEAR WIFE JUDITH, AND I WELCOME YOU TO THE LOW COUNTRY AND PROUDLY INTRODUCED TO YOU THIS REGIONS CROWN JEWELS, THE AMAZING STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BUFE. AS I LOOK OUT AT YOUR BEAMING FACES RIGHT NOW, I [00:15:01] FEEL A SENSE OF RELIEF, A SENSE OF HOPE AND A SENSE OF GRATITUDE THAT WE ARE BACK AFTER VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENTS IN 2020 AND FIVE, INDOOR HEAVILY MASKED COMMENCEMENT IN 2021, WE MAY ALL HAVE WONDERED WHEN THIS DAY THIS WAY OF LIVING WOULD BE RETURNED TO US. MOST OF YOU IN A CLASS OF 2022 WERE SOPHOMORE. WHEN ONE WEEK SPRING BREAK BECA BECAME A DISJUNCTIVE MARKER IN WORLD HISTORY. EVERYTHING CHANGED AND YOU ADAPTED BRILLIANTLY. THERE WAS NO ROADMAP FOR NAVIGATING UNIVERSITY LIFE IN A COVID ERA, BUT OVER THESE LAST TWO YEARS, YOU HAVE MASTERED, MASTERED UNPARALLEL, INGENUITY, RESOURCEFULNESS, AND DETERMINATION TO FORGE NEW PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS. WE YOU AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU TODAY, YOU STAND ON A THRESHOLD SEEMINGLY BETWEEN TWO WORLDS. THE HARDSHIP OF FINDING YOUR WAY HERE LIES BEHIND AND THE BRILLIANT NEW FUTURE LIES AHEAD. I WISH SO MUCH THAT I COULD TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE ONLY BLUE SKIES AHEAD, THAT THE EXHAUSTING TRIALS AND HEARTBREAKING LOSSES OF THE LAST TWO YEARS ARE TRULY OVER, THAT THE PANDEMIC ITSELF IS TRULY OVER THE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD TO BREAK FREE FROM UNCERTAINTY, DISCOMFORT, AND PAIN IS ALL TOO HUMAN. YOU HAVE FOUGHT HARD TO BE HERE AND THIS TIME OF CELEBRATION IS YOUR REWARD. TODAY WE REJOICE FOCUSING ON ALL YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ALREADY AND ALL YOU WILL ACHIEVE THROUGHOUT LIVES OF MEANINGFUL LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE. NOW, AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, YOU MAY BE TEMPTED TO REMEMBER ONLY GOOD TIMES TO SIMPLY PUT TRYING TIMES BEHIND YOU. HOWEVER, FAILING TO REMEMBER, FAILING TO ACTIVELY APPLY THE LESSONS AND WISDOM OF HISTORY TO THE FUTURE HAS ITS OWN PERILS. TWO YEARS AGO, A VIRUS THAT COULD BRING THE WORLD TO ITS KNEES SEEMED POSSIBLE ONLY IN A PRIOR CENTURY, MUCH LIKE THE UNPROVOKED INVASION OF A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY IN EUROPE OR NORTH AMERICA, THREE GENERATIONS FROM THE ATROCITIES OF ADOLF HITLER. ALMOST TWO GENERATIONS FROM THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, AND NEARLY ONE GENERATIONS FROM NINE 11, EVEN AS FELLOW AMERICANS IN UNIFORM FOUGHT BRAVELY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, WE HAD THE LUXURY HERE TO EXPECT RELATIVE PEACE AND PROSPERITY. IN A WAY, WE EXPECT THE SUN TO RISE EACH MORNING AND THE MOON TO SHINE EACH NIGHT. BUT WITH THE VIOLENCE IN UKRAINE, WE HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT SHOCKED OUT OF OUR ASSUMPTIONS AND WE BEAR WITNESS NOT TOO UNPRECEDENTED SUFFERING, BUT MORE PAINFULLY TO SUFFERING, FOR WHICH THEY ARE A MULTITUDE OF TRAGIC HISTORICAL WARNINGS AND PRECURSORS. IN ANCIENT ROMAN MYTHOLOGY, JANUS WAS THE GOD OF DOORWAYS, THRESHOLDS, AND TRANSITIONS. HE WATCHED OVER BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS THE PASSING OF ONE ERA INTO THE NEXT, HENCE THE MONTH MARKING THE START OF EACH YEAR. JANUARY IS NAMED FOR HIM, BUT WHAT IS MOST INTERESTING ABOUT JANUS [00:20:01] IS THAT HE IS DEPICTED WITH TWO FACES, ONE YOUTHFUL AND FRESH THAT LOOKS FORWARD THE OTHER OLDER AND BEARDED. LOOKING BACK, THE ROMANS UNDERSTOOD THAT WE CANNOT CREATE INSPIRED, INNOVATIVE, AND SECURE FUTURES IF WE IGNORE THE LESSONS AND THE WISDOM OF THE PAST. WE CANNOT SIMPLY PUT THE PAST BEHIND US, TAKE OFF OUR MASKS AND PRETEND THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AND WE CANNOT TURN AWAY FROM SUFFERING OUR OWN OR DEAD OF PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY. LEADERSHIP REQUIRES US TO BRING THE WISDOM OF HISTORY INTO THE FUTURE. EXPERIENCE IS NEITHER QUICKSAND NOR A MUD TO DEEP TO GET THROUGH. IT IS THE RICHEST SOIL UPON WHICH TO TILL YOUR BEST LIVES. IN THESE LAST YEARS, YOU HAVE BRAVELY CONFRONTED UNTOLD CHALLENGES AND YOU STAND HERE TODAY TRIUMPHANT READY TO CROSS THIS THRESHOLD, THIS STAGE WHERE U S C B FACULTY AND STAFF AND OUR DISTINGUISHED GUEST STAND PROUDLY TO WELCOME YOU TO THE FAMILY OF BACHELORS AND MASTERS DEGREE HOLDERS AND TO THE FAMILY OF ALUMNI OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, BEAUFORT, JONAS, THE ROMAN GUARD. WE HAVE TWO FACES ALSO ALWAYS HOLD KEYS TO THE DOORWAYS BETWEEN WHAT IS AND WHAT WILL COME. THOSE KEYS ARE PLACED IN YOUR HANDS TODAY. THOSE KEYS ARE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE LEARNED IN YOUR YEARS OF STUDY. THOSE KEYS ARE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, RESOURCEFULNESS, CREATIVITY, DETERMINATION, AND CHARACTER CERTAINLY, BUT ALSO EXPERIENCE AND THEREFORE WISDOM. USE THEM THROUGHOUT YOUR LIVES TO UNLOCK DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOURSELVES AND FOR OTHERS. THERE IS ONE MORE THING. I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER A LONG LIFE'S JOURNEY. THERE WILL BE TIMES LIKE THESE LAST TWO YEARS WHEN THERE IS NO ROADMAP WHEN MOVING FORWARD SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN HAPPINESS SEEMS COMPLETELY OUT OF REACH. HERE I OFFER A CODE FROM CLASSIC SCREEN ACTOR JOHN BARRYMORE WHO SAID HAPPINESS OFTEN SNEAKS IN THROUGH A DOOR YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU LEFT OPEN. SO DON'T CLOSE YOURSELF OFF THE POSSIBILITY. DON'T DISCOUNT OR DISMISS PEOPLE OR OPPORTUNITIES OUT OF HAND. USE THE KEYS IN HAND TO KEEP DOORS OPEN, RECOGNIZING THAT HAPPINESS IS NOT ALWAYS FOUND IN GETTING SOMETHING YOU LONG FOR, BUT IN FEELING GRATITUDE FOR SOMETHING YOU ALREADY HAVE. DON'T RUN FROM CHALLENGES AND UNCERTAINTY. DON'T TURN A BLIND EYE TO SUFFERING. DON'T DREAD TRUTH. EMBRACE THEM BOLDLY, BRAVELY BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALREADY PROVEN THAT YOU HAVE THE INGENUITY, CONFIDENCE, AND GRIT TO CUT THROUGH ANY TANGLE OF CIRCUMSTANCES TO FIND OR DESIGNED ALWAYS THAT INNOVATE BASED ON EXPERIENCE. ON BEHALF OF THE FULL FACULTY AND STAFF OF OUR BELOVED U S C B, I TELL YOU THAT OUR HEARTS ARE BURSTING WITH PRIDE AND TO YOUR AMAZING PARENTS, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS, YOU ARE THE HINGES ON EACH DOOR THAT [00:25:01] OUR GRADUATE PASS THROUGH. THE STRONG SHINY SUPPORT THAT HOLDS EVERY DOOR IN PLACE AND WITHOUT WHICH NO DOOR WOULD OPEN. YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THIS DAY WITH GREAT ADMIRATION. WE CELEBRATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR YOUR GRADUATES DREAM TO BECOME A REALITY. IN CLOSING, I OFFER THIS LAST COUNCIL TO THE ENTERPRISING CLASS OF 2022. YOU ARE ARCHITECT OF YOUR UNDERWAYS AND YOU HOLD THE KEYS TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE AND A GREATER GOOD. MY DEAR SAND SHARKK, HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH AND AGAINST ANY CHALLENGE. CHINS UP THINS UP. CONGRATULATIONS. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY'S SPECIAL GUESTS AS YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE EVIL. PLEASE HOLD THE APPLAUSE UNTIL ALL GUESTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE HONORABLE ROSE BIKE, NEWTON FROM BLUFFTON, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT, DR. ERIC SKIPPER, PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, DR. ANNA PONDER, VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ADVANCEMENT. DR. BRIAN CANADA, FACULTY CENTER CHAIR PLEASE. 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 POWERFUL FUTURES ON THIS EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. WILL THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT FACULTY PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE CAN ALL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO TODAY'S GRADUATES EDUCATION? 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, OTHERS JOINING US VIA LIVESTREAM. SO FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN, WOULD YOU ALL, ALL OF FAMILY AND AND AND FRIENDS, PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU. IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE A KEYNOTE SPEAKER THIS MORNING. LEAH ALDRIDGE IS A NATIVE OF MONKA CORNER, SOUTH CAROLINA AND IS GRADUATING TODAY WITH A MAJOR IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. DURING HER FOUR YEARS AT U S C B, LEIA HAS ENGAGED WITH OUR SMALL COMMUNITY IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES INCLUDING REPRESENTING U S C B IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA WASHINGTON SEMESTER PROGRAM IN THE FALL OF 2021 WHERE SHE WORKED IN THE OFFICE OF SENATOR TIM SCOTT. LEO WAS ALSO A HOST AND PRODUCER OF OUR CAMPUS STUDENT NEWS CRUNCHTIME, AND ALSO SERVED AS PRESIDENT FOR THE SAND SHARK STUDIOS IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, [00:30:02] LEIA BECAME THE FIRST U S C B STUDENT AMY NOMINEE. SHE CURRENTLY INTERNS AS A STUDENT PRODUCER WITH DR. CAROLINE SAWYER ON HER RECENTLY AWARDED NATIONAL TELEVISION SHOW BY THE RIVER. JUST LAST WEEK, LEA WAS INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION HONOR SOCIETY, LAMBDA PA LEA ASPIRES TO WORK IN DIGITAL CREATION, PRESS OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND WASHINGTON DC. PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME LEAH TO THE PODIUM. THANK YOU DR. PANU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR ENDLESS ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE FACULTY AND STAFF FOR THEIR ENDLESS SUPPORT, ENDLESS STRENGTH AND BRAVERY PROVIDED BY MY SAVIOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR BELIEVING IN ME ALL THESE YEARS. WHEN I BEGAN MY COLLEGE SEARCH PROCESS, I HAD SEVERAL PREREQUISITES IN MIND. THE FIRST PREREQ WAS THAT I WOULD HAVE EASY ACCESS TO COMMUNICATE WITH MY PROFESSORS AND TO BE SEEN AS MORE THAN JUST A NAME ON THE ROSTER. THE SECOND WAS THAT MY SCHOOL OF CHOICE WOULD CONTAIN PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE MY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. AND FINALLY, I WANTED THE ABILITY TO LEARN THE PROCESS OF LIFE WITHOUT BEING TOO FAR FROM HOME. IT WAS DURING A SPRING CAMPUS VISIT IN 2017 WHEN I REALIZED ALL THREE PRE ALL THREE OF THESE PRE-REQS COULD BE FOUND. AT U S C B, I COULD ENVISION MYSELF PRONATING UNDER THE PALMS GROWING MY PASSION FOR DIGITAL CREATION TO ONE DAY BEING PART OF THE ALUMNI. FIVE YEARS AGO, I REALIZED I HAD A PURPOSE TO FULFILL ON THIS CAMPUS. THE JOURNEY TO FULFILLING OUR PURPOSE THOUGH IS NOT LINEAR. ALL ASPIRATIONS ARE PRONE TO CHALLENGES AND MINE WE'RE ONLY FACING THE BEGINNING. MOST UNIVERSITIES HAVE A CERTAIN EX HAVE A CERTAIN ACADEMIC EXPECTATION FOR THEIR STUDENTS. STANDARDIZED TESTS DETERMINE IF A STUDENT IS PREPARED FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. THROUGH ALL MY YEARS OF SCHOOL, THOUGH, TAKING TESTS WERE NEVER MY FORTE. IT SEEMED NO MATTER HOW MUCH I STUDIED, AS SOON AS I CAME FACE TO FACE WITH THE FIRST QUESTION, NONE OF THE INFORMATION WOULD COME TO MY RECOLLECTION. THESE WORRIES REMAINED ON MY MIND UNTIL I TOOK BOTH MY S A T AND MY A C T. AND DESPITE MY EFFORTS, THEY WERE NOT ENOUGH. TWO LOW, TWO LOW SCORES AND THE GAP BETWEEN MY CALLING AND THE ADMISSION TO U S C B NOW GROWING. BY THE DAY I SHARED THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE UNIVERSITY AS VULNERABLE AS IT WAS, AND EVEN NOW TO ADMIT I COULD NOT MEET A STANDARD THAT MOST STUDENTS COULD. I REFUSED TO ACCEPT THAT I WAS INCAPABLE OF RECEIVING MY DEGREE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL AND IN THE FALL OF 2017, I OFFICIALLY BECAME A SAND SHARK. BUT THE FOLLOWING FOUR YEARS HAD IN STORE WAS BEYOND ANYTHING I HOPED FOR AS A STUDENT HERE. I IMMERSED MYSELF IN CAMPUS LIFE, ONE EXTRACURRICULAR AFTER THE OTHER WITH THE GOAL OF DEVELOPING MY COMMUNICATION SKILLS. THIS GOAL WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT THE GUIDANCE OF MY MENTORS. IT WAS BECAUSE OF THEM THAT I WAS ABLE TO CULTIVATE MY COMPETITIVE CREDENTIALS. U S C B HAS OPPORTUNITIES GALORE. ONE OF THEM BEING THE SOUTH CAROLINA WASHINGTON SEMESTER PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ANY SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE STUDENT THE CHANCE TO LIVE IN DC, AN INTERN AT ANY CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE OR NONPROFIT. I ALWAYS DREAMT OF VISITING THE HEART OF OUR NATION, WHICH NATURALLY GRAVITATED ME TOWARDS [00:35:01] THIS PROGRAM. I FOUND MYSELF DAYDREAMING ONCE AGAIN ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT COULD BE. AFTER APPLYING IN 2020 AND GOING THROUGH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS. I WAS NOT ACCEPTED. I WAS SO SURE THIS WAS MY PURPOSE HERE AT U S C B AND THAT MY PREREQUISITE, MY PREREQUISITE FOR GROWING FOR GROWTH WAS IN THE MIDST OF THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY DETERMINATION THOUGH OVERSHADOWED MY DENIAL. AND AFTER APPLYING FOR THE SECOND TIME, I WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE SOUTH CAROLINA WASHINGTON SEMESTER PROGRAM IN MARCH OF 2021. AN EXPERIENCE THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR MY FUTURE. I COULD TELL YOU THAT THE EDUCATION I RECEIVED WAS JUST ACADEMICALLY BASED, BUT THE LESSONS I LEARNED OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM WALLS EXCEEDED EVEN THOSE. THE FIRST OF THOSE LESSONS WAS THAT ACKNOWLEDGING OUR FAILURES AND CONTINUING TO PERSEVERE IS THE TRUE DEFINITION OF COURAGE. SECONDLY, WE ARE DEFINED NOT BY THE PLETHORA OF CHAPTER STUDIED, BUT BY THE DECISION TO CHOOSE TO STUDY. FINALLY, OUR CALLING CANNOT BE FULFILLED. OUR, I'M SORRY, OUR CALLING CAN ONLY BE FULFILLED IF WE PROCEED FORWARD WITH IT. IT IS THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION, THE SCHEDULING OF AN INTERVIEW AND THE SIMPLICITY OF SAYING YES, THAT AWAITS OUR PURSUIT. THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN GIVING UP FELT MORE TANGIBLE THAN PERSEVERING, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT FAILURE WILL ONLY PREVAIL IF WE CHOOSE TO QUIT. SOME OF YOU ARE THE FIRST ONES IN YOUR WHOLE FAMILY TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. FOR OTHERS, YOU MAY BE THE ONLY ONE THAT TUCKS THEIR CHILD INTO BED OR CARES FOR THEIR ELDERS. QUITTING WOULD NOT JUST AFFECT YOU, BUT THOSE WHO NEED YOU. IT IS OUR CALLING, OUR BEAM OF HOPE, OUR SEAT OF FAITH THAT CARRIES US THROUGH BEFORE LEAVING THIS CAMPUS. I CHALLENGE YOU TODAY TO NOT FEAR FAILURE, BUT TO REFLECT ON YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. CHOOSING TO MOVE FORWARD DESPITE THE FAILURES IS THE REASON WE WILL BE CROSSING THE STAGE IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES. IT IS ALSO THE SAME REASON WE WILL BE ACCEPTED INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL OR RECEIVE A CALLBACK FROM THE JOB WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED. THE SAME DRIVE. PERSISTENCE AND DILIGENCE THAT BROUGHT YOU TO GRADUATION DAY ARE THE SAME ONES THAT WILL BRING YOU SUCCESS IN YOUR CAREERS. NEVER STOP DISCOVERING YOUR PURPOSE. NEVER STOP PURSUING YOUR DREAMS FOR TAKING THE FIRST STEPS FORWARD IS A PROCLAMATION OF VICTORY IN ITSELF. SO CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2022. LET US TAKE THOSE FIRST STEPS TOGETHER TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, LEAH, FOR INSPIRING US AND CHALLENGING US TO THINK DEEPLY AND TO EXAMINE THE PATH AHEAD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PLEASE JOIN ME ONE MORE TIME TO RECOGNIZE LEIA. 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. SO 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 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. BEAUFORT WILL NOW PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES. [00:40:09] WILL CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREES 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, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN 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 THEREOF, THE UNIVERSITY CONFERS UPON YOU THE DEGREE FOR WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TOGETHER WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, HONORS, PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. DEAR TO PERTAINING CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY, GO UP HERE AS THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREES COME FORWARD, PLEASE NOTE THAT SOMEWHERE GOLD CHORDS ON THEIR SHOULDERS, THE CHORD SIGNIFY DEGREES EARNED WITH ACADEMIC LATIN HONORS. ALSO NOTE THAT SOME DEGREE CANDIDATES WEAR A MEDALLION. THIS MEDALLION REPRESENTS THE COMPLETION OF U S CB'S BEAUFORT COLLEGE HONORS PROGRAM. DR. PANU WILL NOW GREET THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT DEGREE RECIPIENTS. LEIA VICTORIA ALDRICH, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. BRITTANY CAITLIN COXY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU, KARI DENNIS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. SLOAN SHELDON DUCEY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. K*M LOUDY. TOROS, HARVEY EPSTEIN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. TONY AND FORBES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. TYLER C. FOX, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. CADEN KEIN GEELEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. JAYDEN GREEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. JAMIE NICOLE, HARSH BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. KAYLA ELIZABETH HOLLIS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. MAGNA K*M LOUDY. WILLIAM HOLMES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. K*M LOUDY. CONNOR. MICHAEL HUDDEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. LAURA HOZINSKY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. COLTON [00:45:01] J HUGGINS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. OKAY, NIA MARIE JACKSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. JACOB JUDY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. ALEXIS NICOLE CONK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. BRANDON TAN, LONG LEE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. OLIVIA GRACE LIMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. MADISON MILLER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. THOMAS HARRY MALL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. KUN LADI. JUSTIN ANTHONY OLIVERA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. ADAM MICHAEL PARK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. MAGDA K*M. LOUDY DAWSON, DAVID PETERS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. K*M LOUDY. GRA. RICHARD DE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. ISAAC ROBINSON III, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. KYRON RUSS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. SUMMA LADI. GIANNA ASHTON SIMMONS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. LUCAS A SKINNER BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. MAGNA K*M. LADI ATHENA. DRAVEN TOWNSLEY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. SAMANTHA KIMBERLY WGAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. MAGNA K*M. LOUDY. JAY SEAN DARIENNE WILSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. BRITNEY MADELINE BEATTY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES AND STUDIO ART. BRIAN JOSEPH BROMLEY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. STACEY J CHRISTIAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. K*M LOUDY. ADASIA. JANITA HALL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. DANIELLE VERNETTA, LONG BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. ANNA ELIZABETH MERCHANT, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. K*M LADI. NICHOLAS DONALD HAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. TANYA DELAN NORTON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. SOPHIA PATRICIA PEACH, [00:50:01] BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. GEORGE RICARDO REAGANS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. SAVANNAH LYNN SHELTON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. K*M LOUDY. JEREMY MALIK SMALLS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. K*M LOUDY ELLISON COLE SMOKE, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. DANIEL PHILLIP, EUGENE WILLIAMS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. CHRISTOPHER CHARLES BURT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. ADRIANA MARIE DEO LEVY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. K*M LOUDY. ARIS E GOMEZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. JOHN WILLIAM HIRES BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. MAGNA K*M LOUDY. JONATHAN DAVID SACH, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. RUBY MALAC MENERAS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. SUMMA K*M LADI. TRAYVON DEVON ROBINSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. ROBERTO SOLARS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. JEFFREY JACOB, WONDER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. TREVOR DALTON PUTNAM, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. K*M LADI. ROBERT NICKEL. ERNEST BLI. THE FOURTH BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH. SO SAMANTHA, CHERYL DAL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH. SASHA ALEXANDRA MORENO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE. EXCUSE ME, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH. K*M LOUDY. NATALIE PAGE, PEARLSTEIN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH. SUMMA K*M LOUDY. OKAY, KIMANI. AMARI. BRENE, POLITE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH. CHAIR MACKENZIE CHADER. WEAR BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH. MAGNA C*M LOUDY HAVEN. MARIE BANKS BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. KYLIE JORDAN BLACKWELL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. SUMMA K*M LAUDI. JORDAN. ASHLEY BROWN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. BACHELOR MACKENZIE. ALEXIS EASON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. EMILY MARILYN FIRSTER, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. INDRA HEATH ILAN, GUS WARREN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. KIMMIT LABOUR, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. [00:55:02] DARELLE LADSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. CAMDEN MATHIS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. GUIDARI HARBI MITCHELL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. JENNIFER ELIZABETH NETTLES, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. ANNA LEE PATRICK, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. DESMOND LEE ARTHUR SMITH, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. LAUREN ASHLEY WOOD, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. K*M LOUDY, REBECCA LIN BALL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ART, K*M LOUDY AUBREY, CLAIRE CASSIDY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ART MAGNA K*M LOUDY. THIS ONE, SHOULD I SAY IT HERE, TONY JEAN CHAVIS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ART, K*M LOUDY. ANNA LILIA EZ, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ART. KRISTIN DE JANINE THORN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ART. NANA AK BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. KIMBERLY JONES, AIA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LADI CHRISTIAN. JAMES ANTA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LADI. JOSEPH ALAN ARNOLD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. MAGNA K*M LOUDY. MARY ELIZABETH ASHTON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY. MATTHEW GLENN BELMONT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. SUMMA K*M LADI. ABIGAIL NICOLE BRANCH, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY. JOHN LABRUCE BRIDGE, JR. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY. ARIELLE. ELIZABETH BROSNAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. SUMMA K*M LADI. HANNAH MARIE CALLAHAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. MAGNA K*M LDI. SKYLER MACKENZIE CARTER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY. ELIZABETH LEE TUNING BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY. EMILY ANN CONNORS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. MADISON TAYLOR CONRAD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. MAGNA K*M LADI. SHANIA FARRISON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. SKYLAR MICHELLE FORD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. MAGNA K*M LOUDY. BRIANNA RENEE FRAZIER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY. KENDALL ELIZABETH FULLWOOD, BACHELOR [01:00:01] OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. OLIVIA LAN GEISEL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. SARAH JACQUELINE CLANCY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. COLE TYLER, GOLDEN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY, HOLLY GRANGER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. MAGNA K*M LOUDY. ASHLEY MARIE HILL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY. MEGAN C. HUFF, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY. LINDSAY NICOLE JARRET, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. MAGNA K*M LDI NISU, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. ANNA MARIE KAMEY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. MAGNA K*M. LOUDY BRADEN. KERRY KESSLER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING AND BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. WOO. MEGAN ALEXANDRA KLINGLER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. MAGNA K*M LADI. NATALIE KINDER LANDON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. ZACHARY ADAM LANGFORD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY. MELISSA GAIL LARE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LAIE, GABRIELA. EMMA LEE LAVO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. K*M LOUDY, PASSION. KIANA LLOYD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. BACHELOR MADISON LEE, LONG BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. CHRISTIAN DANIELLE DANIEL LORENZO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. MAGNA K*M LATI. MADELINE ALLISON TUSK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY. MOLLY DIANE MINY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY DARBY. ELIZABETH O'DONNELL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. BRIANNA, CAITLIN OLIVER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. CATHERINE MARY JOYCE O'NEILL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. PEYTON STORM OSBORNE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY. EMILY LAUREN PENZA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. I'M AMANDA RILEY POLLENS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY, CHEYENNE SIMONE RICE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY, MADISON PAGE, RHINE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. K*M LOUDY DESTINYS. ANDRE ROPER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. K*M LOUDY PARKER. HARRISON SEABROOK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. K*M LOUDY, [01:05:01] MCKAYLA, DAMARA SEXTON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. SUMA K*M LADI. BRIANNA, LINDA SHALOM, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING, MAGNA K*M LOUDY KINZIE MORGAN SWORDS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. MAGNA K*M LOUDY. ASHA TAVIA STEINY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING, MAGNA K*M LOUDY. CHRISTINE, MEGAN ST. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. SUMMA K*M LOUDY. DANIEL SCHMOS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. K*M LOUDY. JOHN DOUGLAS TOTZ, ZINSKY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. MAGNA K*M LADI, ARIZONA. CAITLIN VELASQUEZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. K*M LADI, HAYLEY MARIE WEBER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. MAGNA K*M LADI. CHARLIE F SHEPHERD, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. JULIANNE GARCIA, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. EXCUSE ME, SOCIOLOGY. SAVANNAH L PITTMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. NOW FOR THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR WILL THE GRADUATES PLEASE RISE YOU. YOU ARE NOW GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT. YOUR STATUS, YOUR STATUS MUST BE MADE KNOWN TO THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY. PLEASE JOIN TOGETHER AND MOVE YOUR TASSLES FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR BOARD TO THE LEFT SIDE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S GIVE OUR NEW GRADUATES ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE. GOOD MORNING AND CONGRATULATIONS. I AM DR. ANNA PONDER, USCS BE'S VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ADVANCEMENT AND , AND IT IS MY GREAT HONOR 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 YOU NOW TO READ THE ALUMNI PLEDGE. IF YOU OPEN YOUR DIPLOMA COVER, IT'S RIGHT THERE. YOU WILL FIND THE PLEDGE INSIDE. JUST PULL THE PAPER OUT. , THIS IS YOUR LAST TEST AT U S C B. THUS FAR, WE'RE PASSING WITH FLYING COLORS. OKAY? 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 [01:10:01] 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 LEAVE. THIS IS HOW AND WHY WE ARE CALLED SAND SHARKS. YOU WILL BELONG TO THE U S C B FAMILY FOREVER. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU. WELCOME TO THE SAND SHARK SOCIETY. WE WILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOU. PLEASE STAY IN TOUCH WITH US. CONGRATULATIONS. NOW, PLEASE STAND AND REMAINING STANDING AS DR. FLETCHER 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 THE RECESSIONAL OF THE PLATFORM PARTY, AND THEN THE GUESTS AND GRADUATES. PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR SEAT, UH, IN YOUR SEATED AREA THROUGHOUT THE RECESSIONAL, AND PLEASE JOIN YOUR GRADUATE ON THE NORTH AND WEST LAWN OF THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUILDING AFTER THE RECESSIONAL ENDS TO VISIT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CELEBRATING WITH US THIS MORNING. MAY THE BLESSING OF GOD TOUCH AND DEEPEN YOUR LIFE, GIVING YOU FREEDOM, GIVING YOU A SENSE OF PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE, GIVING YOU CONFIDENCE AND BOLDNESS, HELPING YOUR LIFE TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE WORLD AND ON OTHERS. AND MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU WITH WISDOM AND WITH JOY. AH, AMEN. WE HUNGRY, PROUD. [01:18:21] HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BUFORD COUNTY. POOR ROYAL SOUND IS UNIQUE. THE LARGEST SHIPS IN THE WORLD COULD SAIL INTO PORT ROYAL SOUND, AND THAT'S WHAT GENRE BOAT, THE FRENCH EXPLORER SAID, SAID, ALL THE SHIPS OF FRANCE NAY, ALL THE SHIPS OF THE WORLD COULD SAFELY RIDE IN ITS MOUTHS. IT'S VERY DEEP AND VERY UNUSUAL, AND IF YOU'RE A SAILOR AND YOU GO UP AND DOWN THE COAST ON THE INLAND PASSAGE, YOU COME INTO PORT ROYAL SOUND, YOU KNOW IT'S DIFFERENT. YOU CAN SMELL IT. IT'S 60 FEET DEEP IN THE MIDDLE OF PORT ROYAL SOUND, 30 FEET DEEP OVER THE BAR. AND THE INTERESTING THING TO ME IS THAT THE SHAPE OF THE ENTRANCE HAS NOT CHANGED FOR 500 YEARS, MILLIONS OF SHELLS LEFT BY NATIVE INHABITANTS OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS ATTEST TO THE BOUNTY OF ITS WATERS. CLOVIS POINTS, WHICH ARE MORE THAN 10,000 YEARS OLD, HAVE BEEN UNEARTHED ON ITS SHORES. INEVITABLY, THE NATURAL RICHES OF THE SEA ISLAND SURROUNDING PORT ROYAL SOUND ATTRACTED THE GREAT EMPIRES OF THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES. FIRST, SPAIN ARRIVED IN 1521, THEN FRANCE CAME ASHORE IN 1562. FINALLY, THE BRITISH CLAIMED THEM AS CAROLINA. IN 1663, THE LAND OF CHARLES, AFTER BARELY [01:20:01] SURVIVING A DEADLY CLASH WITH THE NATIVE AMERICANS, THE SETTLERS DEMANDED PROTECTION FROM THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. THEIR LOG FORD IN BEAUFORT TOWN HAD BEEN BURNED. THEY FELT DEFENSELESS. AND IT WAS IN THAT EARLY PERIOD IN THIS EARLY 1720S THAT THE PEOPLE OF BEAUFORT SAID, WE NEED A FORT TO PROTECT US. AND SO THEY BUILT THIS TO PROTECT THE INLAND PASSAGE BEFORE IT GOT TO BEAUFORT, WHICH IS THE REASON FOR THE LOCATION OF WHAT EVENTUALLY BECAME FORT FREDERICK OR FORT PRINCE FREDERICK. THE NEW FORD BEGAN TO TAKE SHAPE IN 1726 AFTER THE FAMOUS SETTLER COLONEL JOHN BARNAL, BETTER KNOWN AS TUSCARORA JACK RETURNED FROM ENGLAND WITH THE INDEPENDENT COMPANY AFOOT A REGIMENT OF BRITISH REGULARS. FOR THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS, FORT PRINCE FREDERICK A SMALL STRUCTURE MEASURING JUST 125 FEET BY 75 FEET EXISTED AS A TYPICAL FRONTIER STYLE LOG AND EARTH IN FORT ARTILLERY STOOD AT THE READY TO SLOW ANY APPROACH BY THE SPANISH FLEET. AS SOON AS THE FIRST WARNINGS FROM THE WATCH CANONS AT THE MOUTH OF THE SOUND WERE FIRED, THE MILITIA WOULD BE DISPATCHED. STILL, THE SETTLERS OF THE ISLANDS ENVISIONED SOMETHING STURDIER, A STRUCTURE THAT COULD OFFER THEM REAL PROTECTION IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. BUT THE PEOPLE KEPT PETITIONING THE COMMONS HOUSE ASSEMBLY OF THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT FOR MORE MONEY TO FINISH THE FORT AND BILL IT MORE STOUTLY. IN 1773, THE FRENCH HUGO SETTLER AND CONTRACTOR, JOHN DILI BEAR WAS HIRED TO DEVISE A MORE SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURE, AND HE SAID, I'LL BUILD A FORT OF OYSTER SHELL IN LINE, WHICH IS WHAT WE SEE THERE TODAY. AND HE BUILT THE FORT, AND AS IT WAS DESCRIBED IN 1733, IT WAS FIVE FEET THICK AND FIVE FEET HIGH. THAT'S PRETTY STOUT. THE FORT WAS NAMED FOR THE ELDEST SON OF KING GEORGE THEI OF ENGLAND. SO FORT PRINCE FREDERICK, WHICH IS HIS FORMAL NAME, WAS BUILT IN 1726, COMPLETED IN 1733, PROBABLY ABANDONED BY 1740. IT HAD THAT SHORT OF HISTORY, AND FOR THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE, 1726 TO 1733, IT WAS THE SOUTHERN FRONTIER OF ENGLISH NORTH AMERICA. AND ALTHOUGH THE BRITISH OCCUPIED PORT ROYAL FOR A TIME DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THE GREATEST BATTLE WAGED BY FORT PRINCE FREDERICK OVER THE NEXT CENTURY AND A HALF WAS WON WITH THE WEEDS AND THE WEATHER. A PLANTER BY THE NAME OF JOHN JOINER SMITH CAME INTO POSSESSION OF THE LAND EARLY IN THE 18 HUNDREDS, TURNING THE EXPANSE ABOVE THE OLD FORD INTO FIELDS OF COTTON TENDED BY THE ENSLAVED. BUT ALL THAT CHANGED IN NOVEMBER OF 1861 WHEN UNION FORCES OVERCAME THE CONFEDERATE TERRITORY. WHEN THE PORT ROYAL BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL SOUND HAPPENED IN THE FALL OF 1861 AND THE PLANTERS FROM THE BEAUFORT REGION, SKEDADDLED, AS THEY CALL IT, UM, THEY LEFT BEHIND BETWEEN EIGHT AND 10,000 SLAVES. IT'S THE PEOPLE WERE SO JUBILANT, UH, WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY HEARD THE CANNONS GO OFF, BECAUSE THERE WERE ABOUT 55 SHIPS COMING INTO THAT AREA THAT THEY CALL IT BIG GUN SHOOT DAY . AND WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY HEARD THE BIG GUN SHOOT, THEY, THEY SAID, FREEDOM IS HERE. THE YANKEES ARE HERE, SO WE ARE FREE. BUT THAT AREA ON THOSE BLUFFS ABOVE FORT FREDERICK IS, UH, WHERE THERE'LL BE CAMPS AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE WAR, AND THERE'LL BE EVERYTHING FROM ARTILLERY TO INFANTRY IN CAMPED BOTH WHITE AND BLACK TROOPS THROUGHOUT AREA. THEY WILL BUILD A PIER OVER TOP OF THE WALLS OF FORT FREDERICK OUT INTO THE BEAUFORT RIVER OVER THE TOP OF OLD FORT FREDERICK STEP, THE FIRST BLACK REGIMENT MUSTARD IN AS THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA OF AFRICAN DESCENT. IT'S GONNA BE IN THE SUMMER OF 1862. EVERYTHING SORT OF BEGINS TO CHANGE AND PERMISSION IS GIVEN TO BEGIN RAISING BLACK REGIMENTS. AT THAT TIME, PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SENT A MILITARY GOVERNOR TO PORT ROYAL GENERAL RUFUS SAXTON IS GIVEN PERMISSION TO BEGIN RAISING UPWARDS OF 5,000 BLACK TROOPS. AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE DOES IS HE PORTERS THEM TO ASSEMBLE AT THE SMITH PLANTATION, AND THAT WILL BECOME THEIR CAMP, AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL BE NAMED CAMP SAXTON IN HIS HONOR, DOZENS OF MISSIONARIES, TEACHERS AND PHYSICIANS FROM THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE US ARRIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO BEGIN A PROJECT THAT WILL COME TO BE KNOWN AS THE PORT ROYAL EXPERIMENT. THEY ARE JOINED BY THE FAMED HARRIET TUBMAN, WHO BROUGHT MANY PEOPLE TO FREEDOM WITH THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. SHE [01:25:01] NURSED THE CIVIL WAR INJURED WHILE SHE SHOWED THE NEWLY FREED PEOPLE HOW TO WILLINGLY WORK IN A WAGE BASED SYSTEM RATHER THAN BEING FORCED TO LABOR UNDER THE THREAT OF THE LASH. MISS LAURA TOWN ESTABLISHED THE PENN SCHOOL ON ST. HELENA ISLAND, JUST A FERRY RIDE ACROSS THE SOUND FROM FORT FREDERICK, AN INSTITUTION THAT IS STILL IN OPERATION TODAY. LINCOLN WATCHED THE EXPERIMENT WITH GREAT INTEREST, AND DURING THE SUMMER OF 1862 ANNOUNCED THE PRELIMINARY EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. IMMEDIATELY, PLANS WERE MADE FOR AN ELABORATE CELEBRATION AT CAMP SAXTON FOR JANUARY 1ST, 1863, THE DAY THE PROCLAMATION WAS TO BE SIGNED, AND IT WAS VERY ELABORATE. UH, THEY ROASTING 10 OXEN AND, UH, PREPARING TABLES FOR FOUR OR 5,000 PEOPLE TO COME DOWN TO IT. OF COURSE, WHEN IT WAS READ AND AFTER IT WAS READ, SOMEONE SPONTANEOUSLY POPPED OUT WITH THE SONG. MY COUNTRY TEARS WITH THE, AND JUBILATION TOOK PLACE, BUT THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS A HIGH POINT IN THEIR LIVES. AT THAT TIME WHEN THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS RED, THEY USED THAT FORT AS THE BASE FOR THEIR DOCK, YOU KNOW, AND THE DOCK WAS BUILT OVER THE TOP AND THE FORT AND BOATS CAME IN. AND, BUT THERE IT WAS, I MEAN, IN GROUT AT GROUND ZERO OF THAT EVENT. AND, UH, THAT EVENT IS AS SIGNIFICANT EVENT AS EVER OCCURRED IN 500 YEARS OF HISTORY OF THIS COUNTY, CERTAINLY, AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE STATE'S HISTORY. A DEVASTATING HURRICANE SHOOK THE SEA ISLANDS IN 1893, CAUSING MASSIVE DAMAGE. MORE THAN 2000 PEOPLE DIED, YET THE STURDINESS OF THE FIVE FOOT TALL AND FIVE FOOT WIDE WALLS SAVED THE FORT FROM ANNIHILATION. TODAY, IT STILL STANDS AS THE OLDEST TABBY STRUCTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. IN THE WINTER OF 2015, ARCHEOLOGIST WORKED TO EXCAVATE THE REMAINS OF FORT FREDERICK IN PREPARATION FOR THE DAY WHEN IT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC BY LAND. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS, OLD FORT FREDERICK IS ALSO BEING GIVEN A NEW LAYER OF TABBY IN PREPARATION FOR ITS FUTURE. AS THE ONE REMAINING AMBASSADOR TO WITNESS A PIVOTAL HISTORICAL EVENT, THE FORT'S MOST IMPORTANT JOB, AS IT TURNED OUT, WAS TO SERVE AS THE ACTUAL BRIDGE FROM THE WATERS OF PORT ROYAL SOUND, SUPPORTING PEOPLE AS THEY STEP TOWARD THEIR CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM. AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BUFORD COUNTY. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.