* 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. [00:00:01] CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF YOU ARE ABLE, PLEASE RIDE FOR THE PROCESSION OF THE CLASS OF 2024. [00:05:53] THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BUFORT, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA MACE, THE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT EDUCATION FOUNDATION, THE COLLEGE TRUSTEE BEAUFORT, JASPER HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT, DR. AL M PANNU, [00:10:01] THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, DR. MICHAEL AND MARIUS. GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THE INVOCATION DELIVERED BY USCB ALUMNUS, REVEREND ALEX GLEN. MAY WE PRAY AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION OF OUR 2024 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE SUCCESS IN OUR PATHWAY. WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES, FACE OPPOSITION, AND FIND OPPORTUNITY. WE THANK YOU FOR THE FAMILIES, THE FRIENDS, THE FELLOWSHIPS THAT HAVE ENCOURAGED US TO BE SUCCESSFUL. WE THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO ATTEND A FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY THAT IS ROOTED IN GARNERING THE SUCCESS AND THE COMPLETION IN THIS CHAPTER IN OUR LIVES. GRANT US NOW THE STRENGTH AS WE EMBRACE THE FUTURE WITH COURAGE AND RESILIENCE. KNOWING THAT EACH STEP FORWARD IS EVIDENCE OF OUR PERSEVERANCE, MAY WE CARRY THE LESSONS LEARNED WITHIN THE FOUR CORNERS OF THIS CAMPUS INTO THE WORLD BEYOND [00:15:02] USING OUR SKILLS AND OUR GIFTS TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS, LEAD US AS WE NAVIGATE THE UNCERTAINTIES OF LIFE, REMINDING US THAT WITH EVERY ENDING COMES A BRAND NEW BEGINNING, HELP US AS WE APPROACH THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES AHEAD WITH OPEN MINDS AND COMPASSIONATE HEARTS, SEEKING THAT WE ALWAYS LEARN, GROW, AND SERVE. BLESS OUR PAST WITH WISDOM, WITH KINDNESS, THAT WE MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A WORLD FILLED WITH JUSTICE AND COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING. MAY WE NEVER FORGET THE VALUES INSTILLED IN US BY OUR PEERS, BY OUR FACULTY AND EVERYBODY HERE AT USC BEAUFORT, THAT WE MAY CONTINUE TO INSPIRE ALL OF US FOR THE YEARS AHEAD AS WE EMBARK ON THIS NEXT CHAPTER IN OUR LIVES. MAY WE CARRY WITH US THE MEMORIES OF THIS SPECIAL MOMENT AND THE SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO GUIDED US AND POURED INTO THE FUTURE OF OUR HOMES, THE FUTURE OF OUR JOBS, THE FUTURE OF OUR CITIES, AND THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION. MAY WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO LIVE WITH PURPOSE, WITH POWER, WITH PASSION, AND WITH PERSEVERANCE, HONORING THE GIFT OF EDUCATION AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT AFFORDS US. AND IN CLOSING, WE PRAY FOR BLESSINGS UPON EACH GRADUATE, THEIR FAMILY, THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR LOVED ONES, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US ON THIS PATH. AMEN. PLEASE BE SEATED. THANK YOU REVEREND GLENN FOR THAT INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE. PLEASE ALLOW ME TO TELL OUR GRADUATES AND GUESTS A LITTLE ABOUT YOU. THE REVEREND ALEX GLENN EARNED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES FROM US B IN 2020. HE ALSO SERVED AS CB'S STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT DURING HIS SENIOR YEAR WITH US IN 2022. ALEX EARNED A MASTER'S IN DIVINITY FROM LIBERTY UNIVERSITY AND IS ON TRACK TO EARN A DOCTORATE OF MINISTRY FROM LIBERTY THIS YEAR IN DECEMBER. BORN IN WINSTON-SALEM AND RAISED IN CHARLOTTE. ALEX CURRENTLY RESIDES IN MEMPHIS WHERE HE IS A YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT PASTOR AT NEW SALEM MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH AND A RESIDENCE LIFE COORDINATOR AT RHODES COLLEGE. ALEX, YOUR USCB FAMILY IS PROUD OF YOU AND OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT AND SERVICE NOW. WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE 64TH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT. YES TO OUR GRADUATES TODAY, I SAY, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ONE OF LIFE'S MAJOR MILESTONES. THIS IS TRULY A NEXT LEVEL ACHIEVEMENT. BY NOW, I HOPE YOU REALIZE YOU ARE WELL PREPARED TO NAVIGATE LIFE'S CHALLENGES. WE BELIEVE THAT YOUR USCB EDUCATION HAS INSTILLED IN YOU THREE CHARACTERISTICS TO HELP YOU SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE YOUR FUTURE. FIRST, USCB HAS PREPARED YOU TO BE A CRITICAL THINKER AND A PROBLEM SOLVER. YOUR PROFESSORS CHALLENGE YOU TO MOVE BEYOND MEMORIZATION AND VENTURE INTO THE REALM OF DEEP THINKING, WHICH IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION. IT SHAPES HOW WE FRAME QUESTIONS, HOW WE GATHER AND ANALYZE DATA, HOW WE DISCERN REALITY FROM FICTION AND HOW WE RESPOND TO THE TRIALS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE ALL ENCOUNTER IN LIFE. THE SECOND CHARACTERISTIC USCB HAS NURTURED IN YOU IS GOODNESS OF CHARACTER. GOODNESS IS THE FOUNDATION FOR EMPATHY, JUSTICE, PEACE, RESPECT, AND INTEGRITY. IT [00:20:01] IS THE FOUNDATION FOR A CIVIL AND FUNCTIONING SOCIETY. NOW, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN A GOOD PERSON BEFORE BECOMING A SAND SHARK, BUT HERE A GOOD PERSON, UH UH. BUT HERE, HIGH HIGHER EDUCATION PROMOTES THE DEEPER DEVELOPMENT OF THE TYPE OF GOODNESS THAT IS ESSENTIAL IN FORMING RELATIONSHIPS AND BUILDING COMMUNITY. THE THIRD CHARACTERISTIC USCB HAS INSTILLED IN YOU IS THE ABILITY TO BE A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND SKILLED PROFESSIONAL THROUGH CLASSROOM DISCUSSION, EXPERIENCE, RESEARCH, INTERNSHIP. TOGETHER WE HAVE EXPLORED AND HONED YOUR INTEREST AND SKILLS. WHILE THESE SKILLS DIFFER DEPENDING ON THE CAREER PATH YOU WILL PURSUE, THEY EMPOWER YOU FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING. OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR USCB CAREER, WE HAVE EMPHASIZED THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, THE IMPORTANCE OF HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES SUCH AS RESEARCH CLINICALS FIELDS AND LABORATORY WORK INTERNSHIPS AND STUDY ABROAD. THEY HAVE DEEPENED YOUR LEARNING EXPERIENCE HERE. NOW THE TIME HAS COME TO DRAW THIS CHAPTER OF YOUR USCB EXPERIENCE TO A CLOSE. IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, YOU ARE USCB ALUMNI AND PROUD MEMBER OF THE SAND SHARK SOCIETY. AS SUCH, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED WITH YOUR ALMA MATER, COME BACK TO CAMPUS. YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. I INVITE YOU, EACH OF YOU TO JOIN US IN THE COMING FALL TO HELP CELEBRATE USB'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF BECOMING A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE GRANTING INSTITUTION. OUR CELEBRATION KICKS OFF. KICKOFF IS ON SEPTEMBER THE 10TH, SO PLEASE SAVE THE DATE. YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE USCB STORY GRADUATES IN THE YEARS AHEAD. MAKE YOUR LIVES THE SUCCESS WE ALL HOPE THEY WILL BE. FIND LOVE AND FULFILLMENT, BE KIND TO OTHERS, BE TRUE TO YOURSELF, AND BE A SAND SHARK. THANK YOU AND ALWAYS VINCE UP. IT IS A PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY'S SPECIAL GUESTS AS YOUR NAME IS CALLED. PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE AND PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL ALL GUESTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FROM THE BEAUFORT JASPER HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION. MR. SIMON FRAZIER REPRESENTING THE BEAUFORT COLLEGE TRUSTEES, MR. CHARLES AMER JR. MR. WALLACE THOMAS, US, THE TRUSTEES ARE HERE EACH YEAR AS A SYMBOL OF OUR REGION'S LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO HIGHER EDUCATION, WHICH DATES BACK TO THE FOUNDING OF BEAUFORT COLLEGE IN 1795. FROM THE USCB EDUCATION FOUNDATION, MR. COLEMAN PETERSON FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT, DR. ERIC SKIPPER, PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, DR. MURRAY SKIS, FACULTY SENATE CHAIR, DR. BRIAN CANADA, CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS. DR. BETH HAMMOND, PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION. MR. RICHARD STEWART, VICE CHAIR OF THE USCB EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND THE REVEREND ALEX GLEN FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MR. ALEX ENGLISH, DR. HENRY JOLLY JR. MR. RICHARD JONES. MRS. ELIZABETH SCOTT MOIZ. MR. REED [00:25:01] SHARED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. MR. DURHAM COLE, VICE PRESIDENT OF SYSTEM AFFAIRS. DR. SUSAN ELKINS, CHANCELLOR OF PALMETTO COLLEGE. DR. MICHAEL AMARITA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. AND BECAUSE SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY IS A TEAM EFFORT, PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING MY DEAR WIFE, MRS. JUDITH PANNU, FIRST LADY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BUFORT AND DR. IRO ALU AITA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. USCB HAS A WORLD CLASS GROUP OF TEACHER SCHOLARS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO TEACHING, RESEARCH AND SERVICE. THEY INSPIRE, MOTIVATE, AND LEAD OUR STUDENTS TO DISCOVER POWERFUL FUTURES ON THIS EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. THEIR DEDICATION IS UNWAVERING AND A BIG PART OF OUR STUDENT SUCCESS WILL THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT FACULTY. PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. PLEASE STAND. THANK YOU. USCB IS ALSO GRACED WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY STAFF WITHOUT WHOM THIS INSTITUTION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS. THEIR DEDICATION TO STUDENT SUCCESS AND TO THE UNIVERSITY IS UNSURPASSED AND THEIR AMAZING TALENTS AND COMMITMENT CREATE THIS COMMUNITY IN WHICH OUR STUDENTS THRIVE. WILL THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT STAFF PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZE OUR GRADUATES ACCOMPLISHMENTS REFLECT THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS HAVE MADE TO REACH THIS MILESTONE. MANY FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS ARE HERE WITH US. WHILE OTHERS ARE JOINING US VIRTUALLY FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN, WOULD ALL FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. PLEASE STAND. YES, PLEASE STAND. THANK YOU. THANK 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. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, DR. MICHAEL AMARUS. THANK THANK YOU CHANCELLOR PANNU, AND GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE AND TO EXPRESS TOGETHER WITH OUR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE ENTIRE USC SYSTEM. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND OUR PRIDE OF OUR GRADUATES AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THE COMMENCEMENT DAYS, WHETHER THEY ARE IN MAY OR IN DECEMBER, ARE MY FAVORITE DAYS OF THE YEAR. THESE ARE THE DAYS WE CELEBRATE SUCCESS, WE CELEBRATE PERSEVERANCE, AND WE CELEBRATE THE END OF ONE CHAPTER IN THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ONE IN THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS. I VIEW THESE DAYS AS A PRIVILEGE AND A PLEASURE AS I SHARE THESE CELEBRATIONS WITH OUR GRADUATES, BUT ALSO WITH OUR FAMILIES AND THEIR FRIENDS. GRADUATES JUST LOOK BEHIND YOU AT THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE SITTING THERE IN THE GRASS, MOST OF THEM UNDER THE SUN BY THE WAY, AND THEY'RE ALL HERE AT YOUR PARTY TODAY AND TO OWN YOU. WE [00:30:01] OWE YOU A PARTY AND MAYBE FOR SOME OF YOU, WE OWE YOU A BIGGER PARTY BECAUSE THOSE OF YOU WHO GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 2020, YOU DIDN'T GET YOUR PARTY AT THAT TIME. YOUR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOUR UNCLES, AUNTS AND COUSINS, PARTNERS, SPOUSES, MAYBE CHILDREN FOR SOME OF YOU, YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR FRIENDS, THEY ALL HAVE COME HERE TODAY TO HONOR YOU AND TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU. AND THEY CANNOT WAIT TO SHOW THEIR EXTREME EMOTIONS OF PRIDE AND JOY FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR SUCCESS. AND IN SOME CASES, THEY WANT TO SOW THEIR JOY OF NOT HAVING TO PAY TOO TUITION ANYMORE. SO BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR FORMAL PARTS OF OUR CEREMONY, I WANT TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY WAKE UP AND SHOW HOW THEY REALLY FEEL ABOUT YOU TODAY. SO LET'S HEAR FROM OUR GUESTS. AS I SAY, CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2024. I HEAR BEFORD HAS A LOT OF SPIRIT. IS THIS ALL COME ON? CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. IN IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING, THEY'RE ALIVE. WE'RE DONE NOW. AND LET'S GET BACK TO OUR REGULAR COMMENCEMENT BEHAVIOR WITH POP CIRCUMSTANCE AND NO MORE INTENSE EMOTIONS GRADUATES. YOU HAVE COMPLETED EVERYTHING WE HAVE ASKED YOU AS STUDENTS OF USCB AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT YOU'RE WELL PREPARED FOR ANYTHING YOU PLAN TO DO NEXT. WHATEVER JOBS, CAREERS, GRADUATE OR PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS, MILITARY SERVICE OR OTHER PATHS MAY LAY AHEAD. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE READY FOR THEIR CHALLENGES WITH THE EDUCATION AND THE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS YOU HAVE RECEIVED HERE, BUT I HOPE THAT THE EDUCATION YOU HAVE RECEIVED HAS ALSO PREPARED YOU TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE. LIVING A GOOD LIFE INVOLVES FINDING A BALANCE BETWEEN THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL COMPONENTS OF WHO YOU ARE. IT ALSO MEANS YOU DO THE BEST TO MAINTAIN GOOD PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND TO DEVELOP COPING SKILLS, ESPECIALLY RESILIENCE AND ADAPTABILITY FOR YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH. MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS, NOT ONLY AS SPECTATORS, BUT ALSO AS PARTICIPANTS. DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU GET TO THE POINT OF YOUR LIFE WHEN A DOCTOR TELLS YOU TO DO IT. WE LIVE IN A PERIOD WHERE WE ARE VERY CONNECTED IN THE DIGITAL WORLD, BUT WE BECOME MORE AND MORE ISOLATED IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD. AT THE SAME TIME, WE EXPERIENCE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITH A, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTS ARE RELATED TO PRESSURE DUE TO OUR REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS AND TO ISOLATION. CONTINUING TO CREATE SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND BEING ENGAGED IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AS YOU DID DURING YOUR PERIOD HERE AT USC BUFORT WILL ALSO LEAD TO A GOOD LIFE. MAKE SURE YOU FIND THE TIME TO MAINTAIN YOUR COLLEGE FRIENDSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES. CONTINUING TO LEARN AND EXPLORE WILL ALSO AFFECT MOST OF THE COMPONENTS THAT DEFINE A GOOD LIFE. AND WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT INTENSE INTELLECTUAL GROWTH USUALLY TAKES PLACE IN OUR COLLEGE YEARS, YOU SHOULD NEVER STOP BEING CURIOUS AND CREATIVE. KEEP YOUR MIND SHARP EVEN WITHOUT HOMEWORK AND EXAMS AND ABOVE ALL OPEN AND NEVER QUILTS. CURIOSITY, THE FURTHER AWAY YOUR CURIOSITY TAKES YOU FROM YOUR DAILY ROUTINE, THE BETTER FOR YOU. AND DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE ARTS, MUSIC, DANCE THEATER IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO. AS STUDENTS OF USA BEAUFORT, YOUR LAST ASSIGNMENT FROM ME AS YOU'RE READY TO GRADUATE IS THAT WHENEVER YOU FIND YOURSELF WITH SOME FREE TIME TO SPARE, USE THAT TIME TO ENJOY THE THINGS THAT MAKE OUR LIVES GOOD LIVES. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALSO INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE ALONG YOUR WAY AND WHEN NEEDED, I HOPE YOU WILL PAUSE AND EXTEND THE HELPING HAND TO THOSE WHO STRUGGLE IN THEIR LIFE JOURNEYS. AS ALUMNI OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, NEVER FORGET THAT FOR OVER TWO CENTURIES, OUR MOTTO HAS BEEN THE SAME LEARNING HUMANIZES CHARACTER AND DOES NOT PERMIT IT TO BE CRUEL. AND IT'S THE SAME MOTTO ACROSS THE ENTIRE [00:35:01] SYSTEM. LEARNING HUMANIZES CHARACTER AND DOES NOT PERMIT IT TO BE CRUEL. YOUR UNIVERSITY IS VERY PROUD OF YOU AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOUR FAMILIES AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU. CLASS OF 2024, I WISH YOU THE BEST SUCCESS IN YOUR PROFESSIONS. I WISH YOU A GOOD LIFE. CONGRATULATIONS AND GOD SPEED. NOW WE HAVE COME TO THE PART OF THE CEREMONY WHERE THE UNIVERSITY WILL CONFER ITS HIGHEST RECOGNITION AND HONORARY DOCTORAL DEGREE, CHANCELLOR PANU WILL NOW PRESENT THE HONORARY DEGREE CANDIDATE MR. PRESIDENT. I HAVE A CANDIDATE FOR THE HONORARY DEGREE, DOCTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE FOR HIS LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING LIVES IN THE LOW COUNTRY OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR BEING A LEADING FIGURE IN THE MODERN TRANSFORMATION OF DOWNTOWN BUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA AND FOR HIS TIRELESS WORK ON BEHALF OF MAKING US USC BUFORT, A REGIONAL LEADER IN HIGHER EDUCATION, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, WITH THE APPROVAL OF ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOW PRESENTS RICHARD HERSCHEL STEWART FOR THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, UH, UH, PUBLIC SERVICE . THANK YOU. WILL THE TRUSTEES PLEASE ESCORT MR. STEWART TO THE PODIUM BY, 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 RICHARD HERSEL STEWART, THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE ON NORRIS COZA, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE RIGHTS OWNERS PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO THAT DEGREE PERTAINING. CONGRATULATIONS, DR. STEWART. YEAH, CONGRATULATIONS DR. STEWART. NOW IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, NEWLY MINTED DR. RICHARD HERSCHEL STEWART. DR. STEWART IS A DEVELOPER, ENTREPRENEUR, ENVIRONMENTALIST, PHILANTHROPIST, AND A FAMILY MAN, THE FORMER CEO OF 3 0 3 ASSOCIATES, A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN HISTORIC RENOVATION. BORN IN SAVANNAH. HE WAS A 1967 GRADUATE OF BEAUFORT COLLEGE, I MEAN BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL, AND RECEIVED A DEGREE IN EDUCATION FROM GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND AND MBA FROM THE STETSON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT MERCER UNIVERSITY. AS ONE OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS TO HELP USCB BECOME A FOUR YEAR INSTITUTION 20 YEARS AGO, AND ONE OF OUR MOST LOYAL SUPPORTER, I AM HONORED TO HAVE HIM HERE WITH US TODAY. I INVITE YOU TO READ THE FULL BIOGRAPHY FOUND IN OUR COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM AND TO LEARN ALL ABOUT HIS DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENTS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING DR. STEWART. UH, I MUST SAY BEFORE I LEAVE MY PAR REMARKS, I JUST WANNA COMMENT THAT I WAS TOLD I WOULD SEE BRIGHT SHINY FACES, ANXIOUS FOR THE CELEBRATION, BUT YOU DIDN'T TELL ME IT WAS GONNA BE SUCH A GOOD LOOKING GROUP . SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. THANK YOU, DR. PNU. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND I WANNA CONGRATULATE THE GRADUATES AND THE MOMS AND THE DADS AND THE SIBLINGS AND THE UNCLES AND THE AUNTS AND THE COUSINS AND THE OTHER THAT PEOPLE THAT MADE [00:40:01] IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO BE HERE TODAY CELEBRATING YOUR ACHIEVEMENT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL FOR INVESTING IN USCB. USCB CANNOT REACH ITS FULL POTENTIAL WITHOUT SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENT. WE'RE ALSO HERE TO CELEBRATE OUR OPTIMISM FOR YOUR FUTURE. WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF A CHILD. WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE MARRIAGE WHEN TWO PEOPLE COMMIT TO BUILDING A LIFE TOGETHER. AND WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE GRADUATION 'CAUSE JUST LIKE A BIRTH OR JUST LIKE MARRIAGE, YOUR GRADUATION SIGNIFIES THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING IMPORTANT. WE SHARE OUR GREAT OPTIMISM FOR YOUR FUTURE AND FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUTURE OF YOUR FAMILY, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NATION, AND THE WORLD. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT YOUR SUCCESSFUL, SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF YOUR COURSE OF STUDY. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT YOUR FUTURE SUCCESS, BUT WHAT DOES SUCCESS MEAN TO YOU? IS IT HELPING OTHERS? IS IT TEACHING? IS IT FINANCIAL WEALTH? IS IT HAVING A FAMILY? IS IT WORKING WITH PEOPLE YOU LIKE? IS IT DOING SOMETHING THAT MATTERS? DURING MY CAREER, I'VE INTERVIEWED, INTERVIEWED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN BUSINESS AND WITH NONPROFITS AND GOVERNMENT. I OFTEN ASK THE PERSON I'M INTERVIEWING, WHAT THEY WANT TO DO NOW AND WHAT DO THEY WANT TO TO DO IN FIVE OR 10 YEARS. HOW YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHAT YOU WANNA BE DOING IN FIVE OR 10 YEARS WILL HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH HOW YOU POSITION YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS. YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A MULTI-YEAR STUDY PROGRAM THAT EXPOSED YOU TO INFORMATION AND PEOPLE IN AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROCESS. THAT'S THE SAME PROCESS YOU'LL BE EXPERIENCING WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER THE REST OF YOUR LIVES. I HOPE YOU WILL KEEP LEARNING AND GROWING. I KNOW THAT YOU WILL. WHEN I LOOK AT YOU AND YOUR FUTURE, I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU WILL SUCCEED IN AREAS THAT DON'T EXIST TODAY. AS AN EXAMPLE, GOOGLE, APPLE, AMAZON AND FACEBOOK ARE ALL LESS THAN 30 YEARS OLD. THE INTERNET, CELLULAR TELEPHONY AND SMARTPHONES BECAME A PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES. THIS CENTURY, THESE LIFE-CHANGING BUSINESSES DID NOT EXIST WHEN YOUR PARENTS WERE BORN. BUT TODAY, THEY HAVE CREATED OVER 11 MILLION JOBS IN THE UNITED STATES, MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY JOBS AS THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. EVEN MORE RECENTLY, COMPLETELY NEW TYPES OF VACCINES WERE DEVELOPED FOR COVID AND OTHER DISEASES, AND THEY ARE SAVING MILLIONS OF LIVES. INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES LIKE CHAT, GBT, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CO QUANTUM COMPUTING ARE HERE. ADVANCES IN POWER SYSTEMS AND BIOLOGY ARE MOVING TO RAPIDLY IMPROVE THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. THE MAPPING OF THE HUMAN GENOME WAS COMPLETED IN 2003, AND THAT PRESENTS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MEDICAL TREATMENTS THAT HAVE NEVER BEFORE BEEN POSSIBLE. WE LIVE IN A TIME OF EXCITING CHANGE. IT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOU'VE LEARNED TO LEARN. YOU NOW CAN CONTINUE LEARNING AS YOU BRING YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF SOCIETY, PEOPLE, HISTORY, CULTURE, ART, RELIGION AND SCIENCE TO THE DECISIONS THAT YOU WILL BE MAKING THAT'S CHALLENGING AND IT'S LIBERATING. KEEP LEARNING. SEIZE THE DAY. YOUR FAMILY, YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR COUNTRY AND THE WORLD NEED YOU. I HAVE SPENT MY CAREER IN BUSINESS AREAS THAT DID NOT EXIST WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE. MY FRIENDS THAT ARE THE AGE OF YOUR PARENTS HAD NO WAY TO PREDICT THINGS THAT YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED TODAY. LET'S GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. WHEN CELLULAR TELEPHONES WERE FIRST AUTHORIZED, THE EXPERTS PREDICTED THAT ONE DAY THERE WOULD BE ONE CELLULAR TELEPHONE FOR EVERY 20 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES. EACH OF GO. GO THROUGH YOUR LIST OF 19 ACQUAINTANCES THAT DO NOT HAVE CELL PHONES AND IGNORE THE ONES UNDER THE AGE OF SEVEN. THEY WERE WRONG. WHAT ARE WE UNDERESTIMATING TODAY? YOU WILL SEE IT IN THE YEARS AHEAD. YOU WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN. YOU WILL BE A PART OF IT AND LEARNING TO LEARN AND HAVING THE EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE HERE POSITION YOU TO PLAY THAT ROLE. BUT EVEN WITH ALL THE CHANGES THAT I MENTIONED HERE, SOME THINGS ARE CONSTANT AND THEY DON'T CHANGE. ONE CONSONANT IS THAT PEOPLE WILL BE REQUIRED TO MANAGE ORGANIZATIONS OF PEOPLE. YOU'LL WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IN THAT FUTURE. OTHER THINGS THAT DON'T CHANGE ARE QUALITIES LIKE HONESTY, INTEGRITY, HONOR A SENSE [00:45:01] OF HUMOR, GRACE TOWARDS THOSE LESS FORTUNATE, HUMILITY, HARD WORK, GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT, SELF-DISCIPLINE AND LOYALTY. THESE QUALITIES DEFINE A SUCCESSFUL LIFE. REALITY TV AND SOCIAL MEDIA MAY NOT DISPLAY THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE QUALITIES, BUT EACH OF US CAN LOOK AT THE PEOPLE AND THE ORGANIZATIONS WE MOST ADMIRE TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE QUALITIES. HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY BEING LABELED AS PART OF LIFE IN A GREAT SHORTHAND WAY TO THINK ABOUT PEOPLE. HOWEVER, LABELS CAN BRING US TOGETHER OR THEY CAN DRIVE US APART. HOW YOU CHOOSE TO LABEL YOURSELF WILL REFLECT THOSE QUALITIES IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU MOST ADMIRE. I'VE BEEN CALLED MANY THINGS DURING MY LIFE AND I'VE BEEN ASKED WHAT LABELS I PREFER. BUSINESS, PERSON, ENTREPRENEUR, COMMUNITY, VOLUNTEER, AND FAILED. RETIREE ARE ALL SOME LABELS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED. BUT FOR ME, I CHOOSE TO LABEL MYSELF AS A FATHER BECAUSE BECOMING A FATHER TO MY DAUGHTER, LEE, WHO IS HERE TODAY, PROMPTED ME TO GROW UP TO BECOME A BETTER PROVIDER AND TO BE A BETTER PERSON. I LEAVE MYSELF AS A HUSBAND BECAUSE MY MARRIAGE TO MY WIFE, MY BEST FRIEND, MY MOST TRUSTED ADVISOR IN THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, SHARON, HAS ALLOWED ME NOT ONLY TO FEEL FAR BEYOND WHAT I IMAGINED FOR PERSONAL FULFILLMENT AND FOR ECONOMIC SUCCESS. I LABELED MYSELF A GRANDFATHER BECAUSE THE BIRTH OF MY TWO GRANDCHILDREN, ALEX AND DREW, AWAKENED IN ME A SENSE OF LOVE THAT I DID NOT THINK WAS POSSIBLE AND LED ME TO BE COMMITTED TO LEAVING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE THAN I FOUND IT. MY FAMILY AND MY COMMUNITY SHAPED MY DECISIONS EVERY DAY. FORTUNATELY, I'M SURROUNDED BY SMART PEOPLE WITH ENERGY WHOSE OPINIONS I RESPECT, AND THEY KEEP AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MY DECISIONS. I ALSO PROUDLY AND GRATEFULLY IDENTIFY AS A CITIZEN A TITLE I EMBRACE WITH HUMILITY. A CITIZEN IS A PERSON WHO HAS FULL RIGHTS AND FULL RESPONSIBILITIES AS A MEMBER OF A NATION, IN MY CASE, THE UNITED STATES. A NATION THAT LIKE EACH OF US IS NOT PERFECT, BUT A NATION THAT THROUGH THE EFFORTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF ITS CITIZENS CONTINUES TO IMPROVE. I HOPE YOU WILL ALSO HAVE THE FULL RIGHTS AND THE FULL RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE PART OF BEING A CITIZEN. I KNOW THAT MY PERSONAL SUCCESS IS AN AMERICAN STORY THAT COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT TODAY I ALSO PROUDLY LABEL MYSELF A-U-S-C-B SAND SHARK. I AM HONORED AND HUMBLED TO BE A PART OF THE SAND SHARK ALUMNI GROUP WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU AND FIN UP. THANK YOU, DR. STEWART FOR YOUR INSPIRING WORDS AND YOUR SUPPORT TO USC B'S GROWTH. LET, LET'S GIVE HIM ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE. NOW WE COME TO THE MOST SPECIAL PART OF OUR CEREMONY, THE DEGREE CONFERRAL. EVERY GRADUATE'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE GRADUATE'S NAME READ AS THEY CROSS THE STAGE MAY UH, ASK YOU TO PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE AND EXCLAMATIONS UNTIL THE LAST NAME IS READ. I PROMISE YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO CELEBRATE YOUR GRADUATE'S ACHIEVEMENT AFTER THE LAST NAME IS CALLED A CALL UPON DR. ERIC SKIPPER, PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT TO PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES. GOOD EVENING WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES PLEASE RISE. [00:50:03] PRESIDENT AMUS, 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 HEREWITH 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 THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND ON THEIR RECOMMENDATION OF THE FACULTY THEREOF. THE UNIVERSITY CONFIRMS UPON EACH OF YOU THE DEGREE FOR WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TOGETHER WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, HONOR, PRIVILEGES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES THERETO PERTAINING CONGRATULATIONS AS THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREES COME FORWARD, PLEASE NOTE THAT SOMEWHERE GOLD CORDS ON THEIR SHOULDERS, THE CORDS SIGNIFY DEGREES EARNED WITH ACADEMIC LATIN HONORS. ALSO NOTE THAT SOME DEGREE CANDIDATES WEAR A MEDALLION. THIS MEDALLION REPRESENTS COMPLETION OF USB'S BEAUFORT COLLEGE HONORS PROGRAM. OUR FIRST CANDIDATES ARE DRAPED IN THE TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC HOOD AND ARE RECEIVING MASTER'S DEGREES. DR. PANU WILL NOW GREET THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT DEGREE RECIPIENTS NMU, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE, KHI MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE, THE HAGA, BEN PANYA, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. ASHLEY ICARD, MASTER OF EDUCATION IN LITERACY. TIFFANY KING, MASTER OF EDUCATION. IN LITERACY, MADISON ATKINS, MASTER OF EDUCATION IN LITERACY. AMANI STANTON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. VAN FATIMA LOZANO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, C*M LOUDY. JACKSON ALLEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, C*M LOUDY, TRINITY BEAL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. CHRISTIAN BEAD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, SUMMA C*M LAUDE. [00:55:08] EDDIE ALBERTO BURN, DINO BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. SPENCER BLACKWELL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, C*M LAUDE. LUKE CARILLO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. ETHAN CHARLES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. CASSIDY CRAVEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. ROBERT CROSBY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. JUAN COCO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, CU LAUDE. ISABELLE DAVIS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. COURTNEY D, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. JONAS DAMONT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. SUMMA CUDI. CAMDEN NIAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. TYLER RETO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. JULIAN GLOSSY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. JAYDEN GOATEE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND RT HAR HAGA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. CUDI HAGA. JACOB HEWITT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. MAGNA C*M. LADI. MARI KAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, CU LADI. EVA CHRIS, JOHN STATIA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. CU LADI. ASHLEY MEAD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. SUMMA C*M LAUDE. GLENN MANASRA, JUNIOR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. KELLEN MOTLEY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. CHELSEA RICE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. FURMAN FITT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. MARCELLA CHARUNI, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. SUMMA CU LAUDE. SKYLAR OLI, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. HAROLD SIZEMORE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. ANGELINA SPINELLI, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. MAGNA C*M LAUDE. LEE STEGEL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. CU LAUDE. ALAN TORRES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. JOSEPH WALTERS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, CU LAUDE. JACK DALTON WOOD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. CU LADI. YEAH, CURTIS YAKI, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, CU CUDI. [01:00:03] EMILY AMONS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. ASHLEY DOVE, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES C*M LAUDE. CHASE HILLS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. HALEY MASSENBURG, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. MAGNA C*M LAUDE. PHIL MABIN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. OKAY, TEHILA. . SORRY ABOUT THAT. GO AHEAD. . MASON WILLIAMS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES. SUMMA C*M LAUDE. KAYLEE WEIN BRENNER, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES, C*M LOUDY. CASSIE COOPER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. SUMMA C*M LOUDY. RASHAD GRIFFIN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. CHRISTOPHE HAUER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. SUMMA C*M LOUDY. SAGE HOLLIS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE, MAGNA C*M LADI. KAYLA JOHNSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE, SUMMA C*M LAUDE. JONATHAN MASON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. BENJAMIN SIGMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE. ASHLEY AYERS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. MAGNA C*M LAUDE. MICHAEL CARVER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. JEREMY COE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. SUMMA CUDI. KOLBY ESCO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. DEREK FORD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. MICHAELA FOSTER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. CAMERON GIBBS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. WYATT HILL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. DANIEL IBANEZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. MAGNA C*M LAUDE. STETSON MOBLEY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. MAGNA CU LAUDE. ALEX PEREZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. MARGARET COLEMAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. JULIET TAYLOR, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. DE DEVON WELLER, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. SUMMA C*M LOUDY. CAROLYN PERRY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. SUMMA C*M LOUDY. ANTONIO O'REILLY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. SOPHIA MCKEAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH. [01:05:06] SELENA VAR, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH. VANESSA SALAZAR, OLEO, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH. CATHERINE TOVAR, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH. CU MARINA SEALY BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH WITH SECONDARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS LICENSURE. CU LADI. ALEXANDRIA CLARK, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH WITH SECONDARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS LICENSURE. MAGNA C*M LADI. KAITLYN PIERCE, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH WITH SECONDARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS LICENSURE C*M LAUDE. NAJA CAMPBELL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. MICHAEL CORRALES, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. LAUREN DIETRICH, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. ANTHONY DRISCOLL SADUSKY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. MORGAN GUNTER, BACHELOR OF ARTS. IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES, YOU LET GUTIERREZ BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES C*M LAUDE. SHANNON HALL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. MAGNA C*M LOUDY. YEAH. CASSANDRA JOHNSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. CU LAUDE. COLTON KENT, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. JORDAN KERR, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. JOHN LELAND, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. CU LOUDY. BRANDON MARTIN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. SEAN MCELROY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. RYAN MEYER, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. SADIE O'CONNOR, A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. C*M LAUDING. ASHLEY POWERS BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. JLA SMITH, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. TAYLOR WASHINGTON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. ASHLEY WATSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. BENJAMIN KELLY HERE, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN STUDIO ARTS. MELISSA KING, BACHELOR OF ARTS. IN STUDIO ART, NADIA MCKINNEY, BACHELOR OF ARTS. IN STUDIO ART. ANNA ZAL, BACHELOR OF ARTS. IN STUDIO ART, SUMMA CUDI, HAM AKAR, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. CON ANDERSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. ELIZABETH CAREY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. [01:10:02] MICHAEL KANE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. ABIGAIL MYERS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. DANIELLE PARKER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. MARK MARQUIS SPARKS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. MAGNA C*M LAUDE. CHRISTINA FABO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. JOSEPH WETSTEIN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. MAGNA C*M LOUDY. KENDRA WOODY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. C*M LOUDY. SAVANNAH ZELMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT. C*M LAUDE. ALANA DUTERTE, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY. ELIZABETH FARISH, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY. ROCHELLE MARTZ, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY. CU LOUDY. SAMANTHA MISKE, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY. MAGNA C*M LOUDY. JOHN TARINA, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY. LOUDY SIERRA WATKINS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY. SUMMA C*M LOUDY. JESUS AKINO, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. K AWA, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. MAGNA C*M LAUDE. ORA BOLDS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. MAGNA C*M LAUDE. ALAYAH BRYAN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. CARLY CIZIK, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. LILY KLU, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. MAGNA C*M LOUDY TUCKER. CHECK, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. NIA DAVENPORT, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. VERONICA DE PENTO, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. MURRAY FLOWERS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. BARBARA FOLKMAN. FARRAH, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. OH, WAIT A MINUTE. JANIAH FRANCIS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. AIA GOATEE, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. JAYLA GRANT, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. CU LAUDE. KEELY GRAY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. EMILY HALSEY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. C*M LOUDY, MASON JONES, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. JORDAN KELLER, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. C*M LAUDE. JEREMY LADAY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. C*M LAUDE. NAJA MITCHELL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. [01:15:06] STEPHANIE NEAL, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. C*M LAUDE. DANIELLE WANGER, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. SHERRY PEREZ, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. PAUL POSTON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. ALGERIA GISELLE SANCHEZ, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. ALGERIA SCOTT, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. CAROLINE SCHIFFER, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. JAMELA SMITH, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. PAID REG STEM, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. C*M LOUDY. SIDNEY TAYLOR, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. C*M LOUDY, PARKER VAUGHN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. MAGNA C*M LOUDY. BRIANNA WATSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. BRIANNA WELLS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. SUMMA C*M LAUDE. AMANI WHITE, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. STACEY WILLIAMS, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. JOSHUA WILSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. SUMMA C*M LAUDE. TALIA WILSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. ANAYA WRIGHT, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. SIA FERGUSON, BACHELOR OF ARTS. INSIDE SOCIOLOGY. WILLOW MCDANIEL, BACHELOR OF ARTS. IN SOCIOLOGY. JALEN ABRAHAM, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. LAUREN BERIO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. XAVIER DAVIS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. C*M LAUDE. VANESSA FERRELL, BACHELOR, SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY, MAGNA C*M LAUDE. ASHANTI FERGUSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. MACKENZIE FERGUSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. ANDREA GIBBS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY, MAGNA C*M LOUDY I, DANNY GONZALEZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. CU LOUDY. ZAYA TON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. ANNA HUSTED, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. ORLANDO JONES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. LAUREN KIPPAS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. MADISON KIRK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. ALICIA MECHANIC, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. [01:20:07] JENNA MCCARTY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. MAGNA C*M LAUDE. MADISON NEGRO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. JOSHUA PATTERSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. LADY ELSA RODRIGUEZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. SAVANNAH RYE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. KALIN SAMMY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN BIOLOGY. SUMMA C*M LAUDE. HALEY TRAITOR, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. AALIYAH WHITE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY. CARLY ADDIE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, CU LOUDY. ADAM BESSINGER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, MAGNA C*M LOUDY. NADIA CORNELIA BROWN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. CHONE BROWN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. EMMA CARRINGTON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, C*M LAUDE. HANNAH FLOWERS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, CU LAUDE. CAROLINE COKER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. DEBBIE COOPER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. BLAIR CORBIN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, MAGNA C*M LAUDE. WILLIAM CORLEY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. SIERRA CRAWFORD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. KEN LEE CROSBY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. C*M. LA ADDIE DAVID'S BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. NICOLE DOWELL, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. C*M LA TENAYA FELDER. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. ADAM FLORES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. MAGNA C*M LOUDY, VICTORIA FRENCH. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING C*M LAUDE. MADISON FRIPP, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING C*M LAUDE. KELSEY HAD WHEN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. C*M LOUDY. ELIZABETH HERBERT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. MAGNA C*M LOUDY. BRIANNA HOLLY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. MAGNA C*M LAUDE. ELIZABETH JACOBS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING C*M LAUDE. IDA KIRKLAND, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. MAGNA C*M LAUDE. ASHLYN LANGDALE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING C*M LAUDE. SAMANTHA LEE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. IMO [01:25:01] MACK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. CHELSEA MUSSER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. C*M LAUDE. OLIVIA PACE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. MAGNA C*M LAUDE. TANYA RAMIREZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. MAGNA C*M LOUDY. SHANNON RICHARDSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING, MAGNA C*M LAUDE. KAYLA ROBERTSON SCHAFER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING C*M LAUDE. EMILY SHANNON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. EMILY SHRIEVE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING. MAGNA C*M LAUDE. JANE SHOBERG, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND NURSING, SUMMA C*M LAUDE. ALLISON STACKS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING C*M LAUDE. SARAH TOOTIN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ME NURSING MAGNA C*M LAUDE. KAYLEE WASIK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, MAGNA C*M LAUDE. CHRISTINA WESTBERG, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. SUMMA C*M LAUDE. SYDNEY WIRICK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, MAGNA C*M LAUDE. HALEY WRIGHT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, SUMMA C*M LAUDE. FELICIA WRIGHT, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING. CATHERINE BONHAM, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. ANNA BRANDY'S, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. SUMA C*M LAUDE. KIARA BROWN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. CAROLINE DEFEO, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. IKA DUNBAR, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES, SUMMA C*M LAUDE. JESSICA ZAINA, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. JAMEA GUMS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. HANNAH HEDRICK, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. KIANA JONES, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. MADELINE KING, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. ISABEL MARTINEZ, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES, CU LOUDY. I NASIA NEWTON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. ELEANOR SAILOR, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. TIFFANY SHANNON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. NATASHA SMITH, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. KRISTEN SPRINKLE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HUMAN SERVICES. CHANTEL ALLEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. KELSEY BLACK BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH, C*M LAUDE. [01:30:03] CHRISTINA BRUNDAGE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. MCKENNA BUSCHER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. DARICE CALL BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. JC COLEMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. DAVID CRUMP, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH, MAGNA C*M LAUDE. ANA DURHAM, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. CHESNEY FARBER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH, C*M LAUDE. FRANCIS GASKIN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. SAMANTHA HUDDLESTON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. LA KENDRA JOHNSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. STASIA JOHNSON, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. JASMINE KELLY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. ALISON MCELVEEN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH, MAGNA C*M LAUDE. ELIZABETH RAMSEY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH, C*M LAUDE. HALEY WELSH, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. KIRSTEN WHITE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH TO MAYA WILLIAMS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH. ALEXIS RAY, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. NAOMI GOSDEN, BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2024. WILL THE GRADUATES PLEASE RISE YOU? YOU ARE NOW. YOU ARE NOW GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORD. NOW 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 LET US, LET US NOW GIVE OUR NEW GRADUATES ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE. OKAY, PLEASE BE SEATED. CONGRATULATIONS. CLASS OF 2024. MY NAME IS ASHTON COMBY. I'M THE ALUMNI RELATIONS AND EVENTS MANAGER FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S [01:35:01] DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. IT'S WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I OFFICIALLY INDUCT YOU INTO THE SAND SHARK SOCIETY USB'S ALUMNI ASSOCIATION INSIDE OF YOUR DIPLOMA FOLDERS YOU'LL RECEIVE. UM, YOU'LL FIND THE SAND SHARK PLEDGE AS YOU TAKE YOUR PLACE AMONGST FELLOW USCB ALUMNUS. KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOREVER. THE SAND SHARK SOCIETY WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT A SMALL GIFT FOR YOU ALL. TODAY'S GRADUATES WITH A PERSONAL VIDEO CLIP OF YOU ALL WALKING ACROSS STAGE THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO AREN'T HERE TODAY. THESE PERSONALIZED VIDEO CLIPS WILL BE EMAILED OUT TO EVERYONE NEXT WEEK. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO THE SAND SHARK SOCIETY. PLEASE STAND AS REVEREND ALEX GLENN LEADS US IN A BENEDICTION FOLLOWED BY THE FIRST VERSE OF THE CAROLINA ALMA MATER. THE WORDS ARE FOUND ON THE BACK OF THE PROGRAM HANDOUT. THE ALMA MATER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE RECESSIONAL OF THE PLATFORM PARTY AND THEN GUESTS AND GRADUATES. PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR SEATED AREA THROUGHOUT THE RECESSIONAL. PLEASE JOIN YOUR GRADUATE ON THE NORTH AND WEST LAWN OF THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUILDING AFTER THE RECESSIONAL ENDS. THAT WAY YOU CAN VISIT WITH FRIENDS AND FACULTY AND STAFF. THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING WITH US. BEFORE I DO THIS, CAN WE JUST GIVE OUR CHANCELLOR ONE BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE PLEASE. MAY WE PRAY. AS WE CONCLUDE, LET US HAVE A MOMENT AS WE REFLECT ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS MILESTONE IN OUR LIVES. MAY WE LEAVE THIS PLACE WITH OUR HEARTS FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR THE EXPERIENCES THAT WE'VE SHARED AND THE CONNECTIONS THAT WE'VE MADE. MAY THE BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP FORM HERE, MAY THEY LAST SERVING AS A SOURCE AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THAT ARE UP NEXT. MAY WE CARRY THE CONFIDENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE FOR ME WILL ALWAYS OUTWEIGH THE OPPOSITION THAT IS AGAINST ME. MAY THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE BE A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT WE ARE BEAUTIFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE AND THAT WE ARE CALLED FOR A TIME SUCH AS THIS. AS WE VENTURE FORTH FROM THIS PLACE UN TO THE NEXT MAY, WE NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF OUR ROLE IN HAVING A POSITIVE CHANGE IN THIS WORLD. REMIND US THAT EVEN THOUGH IT FEELS LIKE THE END, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING THAT IS BRAND NEW AND THIS IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF OUR LIVES. MAY WE GO FORTH WITH OUR HEADS HELD HIGH, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH THE SKILLS, THE KNOWLEDGE, AND THE VALUES NEEDED, THAT WE CAN MAKE A MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN OUR C COMMUNITIES. MAY WE USE EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE, NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR THOSE WHO WILL FOLLOW. MAY THE LIGHT OF HOPE LOVE, MAY IT LEAD OUR PAST ILLUMINATING THE WAY FORWARD, THAT EVEN WHEN WE CANNOT SEE OUR WAY, WE WILL WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT. MAY WE REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE WE FINISHED THIS, EVERYTHING THAT APPEARED AS A LOSS WAS IN REALITY A WIN. BECAUSE WE HAVE FINISHED OUR RACE. MAY THE ROAD AHEAD BE FILLED WITH EXCELLENT FULFILLMENT AND LOVE AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND LEARN AND BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES. MAY PEACE, LOVE, AND JOY BE UPON ALL OF US. HENCE FORTH NOW AND FOR EVERMORE AND EVERYBODY SAID AMEN. WE, WHEN WE CHILDREN TO BE. [01:48:23] THANKS [01:48:23] FOR WATCHING BEAUFORT COUNTY TV. HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. A FEW MILES FROM BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA. IN THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL STANDS A PROPERTY OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. IN FACT, IT'S LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, THE ONLY PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN BY WATER. SOUTH CAROLINA'S DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS WORKING TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR ALL. FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, A CULTURAL RESOURCES, INVENTORY OR ARCHEOLOGY MUST BE DONE BUILT FROM TABBY, A MIXTURE OF OYSTER SHELLS, LIME, SAND, AND WATER. SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS TO CONCRETE. FORT FREDERICK'S CONSTRUCTION WAS ORDERED IN 1726 BY THE BRITISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT TO GUARD PORT, ROYAL SOUND AND THE TOWN OF BEAUFORT FROM APPROACH BY SPANISH WARSHIPS. AN ESTIMATED 50,000 BUSHELS OF OYSTERS WERE NEEDED FOR THE FIVE FOOT HIGH, FIVE FOOT THICK TABBY WALLS. IT IS THE OLDEST TABBY STRUCTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ADJACENT PROPERTY IS THE UNITED STATES NAVAL HOSPITAL. ON THIS PROPERTY WAS THE 19TH CENTURY SMITH PLANTATION, WHICH [01:50:01] BECAME THE UNION ARMY'S CAMP SAXTON DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND HOME OF THE FIRST REGIMENT COMPRISED OF FREED SLAVES. THIS SITE IS THREE ACRES. THE OBJECT IS TO EXTRACT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE IN A GIVEN AMOUNT OF TIME. THERE IS A CERTAIN METHODOLOGY USED IN AN INVESTIGATION LIKE THIS COME ALONG AND SEE HOW IT'S DONE. THE INITIAL SHOVEL TESTS DUG RANDOMLY AROUND THE SITE, EXAMINED THE DENSITY OF ARTIFACTS AND THE PERIOD OF OCCUPATION AT FORT FREDERICK. ARTIFACTS INCLUDED 19TH CENTURY, 18TH CENTURY, AND PREHISTORIC OBJECTS. THIS IS A FLAKE, A STONE TOOL, FLAKE. IT'S A PIECE OF CHURCH FROM ALLENDALE COPPER SITE TOP OF THAT AREA. THAT'S A COOL FINE. IT'S PRETTY. IT KIND OF TELLS YOU HOW RICH IT IS OUT HERE. WITH THESE INITIAL TESTS, ARCHEOLOGISTS DETERMINE THE DEPTH REQUIRED OF THE SHOVEL TESTS IN THE NEXT PHASE. THAT DEPTH IS WHEN THEY REACH A STERILE SOIL LAYER WHERE THEY NO LONGER SEE CULTURAL MATERIAL. FOR PHASE ONE OF THIS PROJECT, A GRID IS LAID OVER THE SITE MAP. THE SCOPE OF WORK HERE CALLS FOR SHOVEL TEST PROBES EVERY 10 METERS ACROSS THE ENTIRE THREE ACRES, RIGHT? OH, USING A SURVEYING INSTRUMENT CALLED A TOTAL STATION PIN FLAGS ARE PLACED TO MATCH THE GRID MAP. EACH FLAG IS IDENTIFIED BY ITS EXACT LOCATION. NOW DIGGING BEGINS. A FIELD TEAM FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S INSTITUTE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY IS CONTRACTED TO CONDUCT THE FIELD WORK. THE DATA COLLECTED FROM THESE SHOVEL TESTS WILL GUIDE THE UPCOMING MONTH LONG EXCAVATION AS WELL AS ANY THAT MAY BE UNDERTAKEN IN YEARS TO COME. ALL THE SOILS ARE SCREENED THROUGH A QUARTER INCH MESH. ALL ARTIFACTS ARE BAGGED ACCORDING TO THEIR EXACT LOCATION AND DEPTH FOR LATER ANALYSIS FOR THE NEXT PHASE. UNITS OF TWO METERS IN DIAMETER ARE LAID OUT IN THE AREAS CONFIRMED BY THE SHOVEL TESTS. TO HAVE THE HIGHEST DENSITY OF ARTIFACTS, THE FIELD TEAM REMOVES SOIL LAYER BY LAYER. SO HOW DEEP IS EACH LEVEL? SOMETIMES A STANDARD DEPTH OF 10 CENTIMETERS IS USED AT FORT FREDERICK. THEY'LL EXCAVATE LAYERS ACCORDING TO CHANGES IN SOIL COLOR. AGAIN, ALL THE DIRT IS SCREENED AND THE ARTIFACTS BAGGED. THIS INFORMATION WILL ACCOMPANY THE ARTIFACTS THROUGHOUT THE CURATION PROCESS. THESE UNITS SHOW AN OCCUPATION FROM THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY. THIS IS STONE WEAR AMERICAN STONEWARE WITH ONLY FOUR WEEKS BUDGETED FOR THE PROJECT. THE FIELD TEAM MUST BE METICULOUS AND QUICK AT THE SAME TIME. MOTORIZED SCREENERS HELP SPEED SIFTING THROUGH LARGE VOLUMES OF SOIL. WHILE SOME TASKS REQUIRE A MORE DELICATE TOUCH LOOKING CLOSELY. SOME AREAS SHOW A COLOR CHANGE IN THE SOIL CALLED FEATURES. THESE AREAS WERE LIKELY DISTURBED BY HUMANS IN THE PAST WHERE THESE POST HOLES FOR A STRUCTURE OR HOLES WHERE ITEMS OFTEN TRASH WERE BURIED. THESE FEATURES ARE EXCAVATED FURTHER AS THEY OFTEN YIELD ARTIFACTS AND THESE FEATURES MUST BE EXCAVATED TO THEIR STERILE SOIL LAYER. WORK IN THIS AREA OF THE SITE IS PLANNED FOR TWO WEEKS. FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THIS PROJECT, THE TEAM MOVES TO THE FORD ITSELF. THE DECISION IS MADE TO LAY OUT CONTIGUOUS TWO METER UNITS THAT SPAN THE FORT'S INTERIOR WALL TO WALL. GIVEN THE DEPTH REQUIRED, THERE IS A LOT OF DIRT TO BE MOVED NEAR THE EAST WALL. THE TEAM ENCOUNTERS A RUBBLE FILLED FEATURE. THIS FEATURE IS EXCAVATED AND THE CONTENT'S BAGGED FOR THE TRIP TO THE LAB. EVERY CONCEIVABLE DATA POINT, STRATIGRAPHY SOIL COLORS, DEPTHS, AND FEATURES IS COLLECTED FOR LATER ANALYSIS. [01:55:12] THE EXCAVATION OF THE FORT'S INTERIOR HAS EXPOSED THE FULL DEPTH OF THE WALLS, YIELDING ARTIFACTS FROM PREHISTORIC TIMES THROUGH THE 19TH CENTURY. NOW, LAB ANALYSIS WILL BEGIN TO PIECE TOGETHER UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE SITE'S LONG OCCUPATION, BUT FIRST, BEFORE LEAVING THE SITE, THE UNITS ARE BACKFILLED TO PRESERVE THEIR INTEGRITY AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC WHEN THE SITE IS REOPENED. UH, WE'VE BEEN REFERRING TO IT AS THE RUBBLE. AFTER MANY MONTHS IN THE PLANNING STAGES, A WEEK OF SHOVEL TEST PROBES, A MONTH OF UNIT EXCAVATIONS WITH MOUNTAINS OF SOIL MOVED, PLUS WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC. ARCHEOLOGY AT THIS SITE IS DONE FOR NOW. . NEARLY TWO TONS OF OYSTER SHELL BRICK AND ARTIFACTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE INSTITUTE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY AT USC IN COLUMBIA FOR ANALYSIS. IT IS HERE THAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT THEY FOUND WILL BE ASSESSED AND ADDED TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE WHO OCCUPIED THE FORT FREDERICK HERITAGE PRESERVE, AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. OKAY, SO WE GOT ANOTHER ONE ON. I DON'T THINK IT'S, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE . LET'S, I'M NO EXTROVERT AT THIS. A BIG FISH, WHATEVER IT IS. RED. OH, IT'S A RED FISH. OH MY GOSH. LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS RED FISH. YOU HEAR THAT? YOU HEAR THAT DRUMMING NOISE. SEE, THESE THINGS MAKE A FABULOUS DRUMMING NOISE. ANOTHER NAME FOR IT IS RED DRUM AND YOU CAN HEAR 'EM JUST, JUST CROAKING AWAY. SO BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL, AND YOU SEE HE'S GOT THAT KIND OF REDDISH, PINKISH COLOR. THE SPOT TAIL BASS IS ANOTHER NAME FOR THIS GUY. I MEAN, FABULOUS, FABULOUS FISH. ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL LET HIM GO. I MEAN, IT IS INCREDIBLE WHAT WE HAVE HERE. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE HAVE SUCH A VARIETY OF FISH IS BECAUSE THIS AREA'S STILL STILL IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE. WE HAVE GOOD WATER QUALITY, WE HAVE DEEP WATER, WE HAVE HIGH SALINITY, HIGH TIDE AMPLITUDE, AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE A RECIPE FOR GREAT FISHING AND GREAT DIVERSITY OF LIFE AROUND HERE. JOIN ME FOR COASTAL KINGDOM ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL. * 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.