* 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. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. OKAY, ONE MORE TIME. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. I'M LYNN HUTCHINSON, CHAIR OF THE NURSING PROGRAM AND IS MY HONOR TO WELCOME YOU HERE TO THIS PINNING CEREMONY. THIS HAS BEEN A CULMINATION OF FOUR PLUS VERY HARD YEARS OF SCHOOL AND WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, BUT THEY COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR PROVOST AND OUR CHANCELLOR, THEIR FACULTY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ALL OF YOU, THE FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT GOT THEM THROUGH EVERYTHING TO BE HERE. SO LET'S DO A NICE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OUR SUPPORTS. IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE PROVOST OF USCB, DR. AL PANU. GOOD MORNING AGAIN. GOOD MORNING. YOU ARE LOOKING GOOD, . YOU REALLY ARE. THAT'S FANTASTIC. WELL, I WANT TO SAY GOOD MORNING TO OUR DEDICATED USCB FACULTY TO PROUD FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, HONORED GUESTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE IMPRESSIVE GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA NURSING PROGRAM. IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO THE 2025 NURSE SPINNING CEREMONY. TODAY WE ARE GATHERED HERE TO CELEBRATE THE INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR NURSING GRADUATES AT THE AS THEY EMBARK ON THEIR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY OF HEALING OTHERS. THE NURSE PENNING CEREMONY IS A TIME HONORED TRADITION IN A NURSING PROFESSION, SIGNIFYING THE TRANSITION FROM STUDENT TO PROFESSIONAL NURSE. IT HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE 1860S COINCIDING WITH THE EMERGENCE OF MODERN NURSING PRACTICES AND NURSING EDUCATION. OVER TIME, THE NURSING PINNING CEREMONY HAS BECOME A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR NURSING STUDENTS DURING THEIR TRANSITION FROM THE ACADEMIC REALM TO THE CLINICAL SETTING. IT IS A MOMENT OF PRIDE AND CELEBRATION FOR BOTH GRADUATES AND THEY FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, RECOGNIZING THE HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND SACRIFICES THAT HAVE LED TO THIS SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE. AS WE CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS, I AM REMINDED OF THE LIFE AND WORK OF A NURSE WHOSE LEGACY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE GENERATIONS. CLAIRE R BARTON, KNOWN AS THE ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD, CLARA BARTON, EMBODIED SELFLESSNESS AND COURAGE IN HER TIRELESS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE CARE TO WOUNDED SOLDIERS DURING THE US CIVIL WAR. SHE RISKED HER LIFE TO BRING MEDICAL ATTENTION TO SOLDIERS ON THE FRONT LINES AS BULLET WHIZZED OVERHEAD AND ARTILLERY SHELLS EXPLODED NEARBY, SHE TENDED TO THE WOUNDED FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE CONFLICT. CLAIRE MARTIN WENT ON TO ESTABLISH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IN 1881 AND LED IT FOR 23 YEARS. JUST LIKE CLAIRE BARTON, EACH OF YOU HAS CHOSEN A PATH OF SERVICE AND HEALING. WHETHER YOU FIND YOURSELVES IN HOSPITALS, CLINICS, SCHOOLS, OR ANY OTHER HEALTHCARE SETTING, YOU'LL HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF THOSE [00:05:01] ENTRUSTED TO YOUR CARE. TODAY WE ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE AND ADMIRED THE INCREDIBLE SUSTAINED EFFORT YOU SHOWED TO REACH THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION. YOU GET DEDICATED COUNTLESS HOURS TO RIGOROUS STUDIES, CLINICAL PRACTICE, ASSESSMENT, PREPARATION, AND SO MUCH MORE. YOU HAVE MISSED SOCIAL OCCASIONS AND FAMILY EVENTS, CUT SHORT VACATIONS, LOST SLEEP, AND CONQUERED STRESS AND ANXIETY. ISN'T THAT TRUE? YOU DID THIS BECAUSE YOU HAVE CHOSEN A PROFESSION THAT DEMANDS NOT ONLY INTELLECTUAL ABILITY, BUT ALSO A DEEP DEDICATION TO CARING FOR YOUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS. ALMOST ALL OF US HAVE BEEN A PATIENT AT SOME TIME IN OUR LIVES, AND MANY OF US REMEMBER WITH GREAT GRATITUDE, THE KINDNESS AND COMPETENCE OF THE NURSES WHO CARED FOR US. WHEN YOUR MENTORS BESTOW YOUR PEN, THEY ARE GIVING YOU A SYMBOL OF THE CAMARADERIE AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT CHARACTERIZES THE NURSING COMMUNITY. THIS TRADITION HONORS THE PAST, CELEBRATES THE PRESENT, AND INSPIRES THE FUTURE. IT IS A GESTURE THAT REMINDS YOU THAT YOU WILL NOT WALK ALONE IN THIS PROFESSION OF CARE, COMPASSION, INTEGRITY, AND LIFELONG LEARNING. ALSO, YOU DID NOT GET HERE ALONE. SO I WANT TO EXTEND MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE FACULTY AND STAFF OF THE NURSING PROGRAM AT USCB. YOUR DEDICATION TO NURTURING THIS NEXT GENERATION OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL IS RENOWNED DESERVEDLY SO, AND YOUR TEACHING AND MENTORING ENSURES THE FUTURE OF NURSING NOT ONLY IN OUR REGION, IN OUR COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE WORLD TO FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES GED HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. YOUR SACRIFICES HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED, AND YOUR PRESENCE IS A TESTAMENT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT ON THEIR JOURNEY TO SUCCESS. NURSING GRADUATES. AS YOU EMBARK ON THIS NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIVES, MY HEART GOES OUT WITH YOU. NO MATTER WHAT THE CHALLENGES YOU MAY BE FACING, HOW GREAT IT MAY BE, BE ALSO ASSURE THAT THE REWARDS OF KNOWING THAT YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT. SO CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT NURSING PROGRAM, THE WORLD, THE WORLD AWAITS YOUR SKILLED AND COMPASSIONATE CARE, AND I HAVE ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN YOU. THANK YOU, AND I ABSOLUTELY WISH YOU THEIR VERY BEST. CONGRATULATIONS. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE PODIUM, THE CLASS SPEAKER MR. JIM WETZEL. SHOULD HAVE HAD SOME WALKUP MUSIC . GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. MY NAME IS JIM [00:10:01] WETZEL AND ON BEHALF OF MY FELLOW GRADUATES, WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT NURSING CLASS OF 2025 PINNING CEREMONY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU TO ALL THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES HERE TODAY. YOUR SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND LOVE HAVE MADE THIS JOURNEY POSSIBLE. WITHOUT YOU, MANY OF US WOULD NOT BE HERE. TO OUR FACULTY AND STAFF AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL EVENT AND FOR STANDING BY US THROUGH EVERY CHALLENGE LESSON IN LATE NIGHT MELTDOWN, AND TO THOSE WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, WHETHER IT BE OF DISTANCE OR BECAUSE OF NO LONGER WITH US, YOUR PRESENCE HAS STILL GUIDED US AND WE THANK YOU. I'M INCREDIBLY HONORED TO BE SPEAKING TODAY, . I AM NOT A MARINE CORPS SPEECH WRITER. I AM NOT SOME POLISHED WORDSMITH. I'M JUST A NAVY BOAT GUY WHO USED TO BE A COP AND SOMEHOW FOUND HIS WAY INTO NURSING SCHOOL AND MADE IT THROUGH. SO RATHER THAN DELIVER SOME PERFECT MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW LESSONS LEARNED FROM MY LIFE, WORK AND THIS WILD JOURNEY WE'VE ALL TAKEN TOGETHER. VOLTAIRE SAID, GOD IS A COMEDIAN PLAYING TO THOSE WHO ARE TOO AFRAID TO LAUGH. NEVER BE TOO AFRAID TO LAUGH AT THE RIGHT TIME. AS NURSES, YOU WILL DEVELOP A DARK AND TWISTED SENSE OF HUMOR. IT'S PART COPING MECHANISM, PART SURVIVAL INSTINCT, AND YOU'RE GONNA WITNESS SOME OF THE WORST MOMENTS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES UNLESS YOU'RE IN LABOR AND DELIVERY AND HOPEFULLY NOT , YOU'LL LEAN ON THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH, PEOPLE WHO CAN LISTEN WITHOUT JUDGMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN THERE TOO. AND SOMETIMES YOU'RE GOING TO STAY SILENT AROUND THE ONES THAT YOU LOVE TO PROTECT THEM AND TO THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES WHO ARE HERE. IT IS NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU, IT'S TO PROTECT YOU. AND IT COMES FROM A PLACE OF LOVE. BUT TO MY FELLOW GRADUATES, ALWAYS TALK TO SOMEONE. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO LAUGH BECAUSE IT JUST MIGHT SAVE YOU. WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED TO GO OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR IT IS TO SERVE OTHERS, TO SHOW UP ON THEIR HARDEST DAYS AND TO BRING CARE AND COMPASSION WHEN IT'S NEEDED MOST. AND I'M PROUD OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT CALL AND STICKING, STICKING IT OUT THROUGH THE EXAMS, THE LONG NIGHTS ENDLESS CLINICALS. BUT A WORD OF CAUTION FOR YOU IS NURSING IS NOT WHO YOU ARE, IT IS JUST WHAT YOU DO. IT'S EASY TO GET LOST IN A PROFESSION. DON'T FORGET WHO YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF YOUR SCRUBS. WHETHER YOU'RE THE ONE WHO BOUNCED BACK FROM A 49% ON AN EXAM OR THE ONE WHO HAD A BABY MID-SEMESTER. YOU ARE MORE THAN THIS JOB BE YOU. LET NURSING BE WHAT YOU DO. NOW FOR SOME FUN ONES, DON'T BE AFRAID TO PROVE PEOPLE WRONG. MANY OF US WERE TOLD YOU ARE NOT SMART ENOUGH. MEN SHOULD NOT BE NURSES OR YOU WON'T MAKE IT, BUT HERE YOU ARE. YOU CLIMBED THIS MOUNTAIN, YOU EARNED THIS MOMENT. SO PLANT YOUR FLAG HERE. THANK THE ONES WHO BELIEVED IN YOU AND KNOW YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH 'CAUSE THAT MOTIVATION CAME FROM INSIDE OF YOU. NEXT IS STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, BUT DO IT PROFESSIONALLY. THIS TOOK ME A FEW WRITE-UPS AND SUSPENSIONS FROM A POLICE DEPARTMENT TO LEARN THAT LESSON, SO PLEASE LEARN IT FROM ME. INTEGRITY MATTERS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS LINE OF WORK. YOU OWE IT TO YOUR PATIENTS, YOUR COWORKERS, YOUR PROFESSION, AND TO YOURSELF TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. BUT WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS, DO NOT LET IT GO. IT IS EASIER TO LAY YOUR HEAD ON A PILLOW KNOWING YOU DID THE RIGHT THING. AND FINALLY, WHILE YOU SEE THE WORST OF HUMANITY, YOU WILL ALSO WITNESS THE ABSOLUTE BEST. YOU'LL SEE SELFLESS ACTS OF COURAGE, THE BEGINNING OF NEW LIFE MIRACLES THAT DEFY EXPLANATION AND ORDINARY PEOPLE RISING TO EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES. HOLD ON TO THESE MOMENTS. LET THEM BE YOUR LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS AND STRIVE TO BE SOMEONE ELSE'S LIGHT EVERY DAY. TO THE NURSING CLASS OF 2025 HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO LEARN BESIDE OF YOU, I'VE JOKED MANY TIMES THAT WE ARE NOT FRIENDS, BUT TRUTH BE TROLLED. I'M PROUD TO CALL EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU MY FRIEND. THANK YOU FOR THE LAUGHS, THE MEMORIES, THE SUPPORT, AND FOR SIMPLY BEING PRESENT THROUGH ALL OF THIS. HERE'S TO YOUR PAST, YOUR PERSEVERANCE AND YOUR BRIGHT FUTURE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, [00:15:01] YOUR NURSING CLASS OF 2025. AS A CLASS, WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE DR. JALEN MANOR SPEAK FOR US. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY AS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT NURSING PENN CEREMONY FOR THE CLASS OF 2025. CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE THEY'RE SO INCREDIBLE. THIS MOMENT IS DEEPLY PERSONAL FOR ME. TODAY'S A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT. IN 2016, I WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE NURSING GRADUATE FROM THIS VERY PROGRAM. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN NURSING PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BUFORD. I REMEMBER SITTING IN THESE VERY SEATS, EXCITED, NERVOUS, AND WONDERING IF I WAS TRULY READY TO STEP INTO THE WORLD OF NURSING. NOW, STAND HERE AS PROOF WITH DEDICATION AND PERSEVERANCE. YOU CAN GO FURTHER THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED, BUT TODAY ISN'T ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT YOU. YOU, THE CLASS OF 2025 ARE ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME BECAUSE YOU ARE MY FIRST COHORT FROM BEGINNING TO END. I'VE WATCHED YOUR TRANSFORMATION SINCE SEMESTER ONE AND YOU WATCHED ME GROW AS AN EDUCATOR I AM TODAY. WE GREW TOGETHER. IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST HONORS OF MY LIFE TO RETURN TO USCB, NOT JUST TO TEACH BUT TO INVEST IN YOU THE SAME WAY MY PROFESSORS ONCE INVESTED IN ME. TODAY'S CEREMONY IS MORE THAN A CONCLUSION. IT IS THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CALLING, A LIFELONG MISSION TO SERVE, HEAL, AND ADVOCATE. BUT BEFORE YOU FULLY STEP INTO THAT CALLING, I WANT TO SHARE WHAT IT MEANT FOR ME TO GROW ALONGSIDE YOU AS A PROFESSOR AND A FELLOW NURSE. WHEN I FIRST STEPPED INTO THE CLASSROOM, I WAS A LITTLE SCARED, BUT OVER TIME WE FOUND OUR RHYTHM. I FOUND MY CONFIDENCE AND SO DID YOU. I LEARNED HOW TO CHALLENGE YOU, HOW TO WALK THE ROOM, HOW TO EMBRACE THE POWER OF HEALTHY SILENCE, THE KIND THAT MAKES YOU THINK NOT JUST WAIT FOR MY ANSWER. I STILL REMEMBER OUR CONGEST HEART FEAR DISCUSSION WHEN I LET THE SILENCE LINGER UNTIL SOMEONE FINALLY BROKE IT, AND I WOULD REMIND YOU, YOU WOULD NEVER TAKE YOUR CARD TO A MECHANIC WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE ENGINE WORKS. SO WHILE SHOULD A PATIENT TRUST A NURSE WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE BODY FUNCTIONS, THAT WASN'T JUST ABOUT PHYSIOLOGY, IT WAS ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY. YOUR KNOWLEDGE, UM, DOESN'T JUST GET YOU THROUGH EXAMS. IT CAN LITERALLY SAVE LIVES. BUT JUST AS I CHALLENGE YOU, YOU CHALLENGE ME AND YOU REMINDED ME, THE BEST EDUCATORS NEVER STOPPED LEARNING FROM THEIR STUDENTS MOST OF ALL. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THAT MY JOB WAS TO BRING STRUCTURE AND DISCIPLINE, BUT I SOON REALIZED YOU WEREN'T JUST STUDENTS, YOU WERE DREAMERS WITH A PURPOSE. THAT REALIZATION CHANGED EVERYTHING. IT SHIFTED HOW I SAW MY ROLE AND FROM THAT MOMENT ON, EACH OF YOU BEGAN LEAVING YOUR MARK. HERE'S WHAT I'LL NEVER FORGET. MY MORNING SECTION FILLED WITH HONOR STUDENTS, HASHTAG MORNING PEOPLE. QUICKLY HELPED ME IDENTIFY THAT I STILL WAS NOT A MORNING PERSON JUST TRYING TO GET THERE ON TIME. . I REMEMBER CALLING ON LOGAN, JENNA, JIM, ASHLEY, AND EMMA REPEATEDLY, NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE ANSWER, BUT BECAUSE I WAS TOO EMBARRASSED THAT I COULDN'T REMEMBER 60 PLUS NAMES AND SUCH AS SHORT SEMESTER , [00:20:01] BUT BY PHARMACOLOGY I HAD 'EM ALL MEMORIZED. I COULDN'T INCLUDE EVERYONE, BUT IF I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. ASHLEY AND EMMA, TWO OF THE YOUNGEST STUDENTS WE EVER ADMITTED INTO INTO THE PROGRAM AT 18 YEARS OF AGE, YOU ALL, YOU ALL WERE ALWAYS MATURE AND POISED AS A SCHOLAR, DETERMINED TO BE THE BEST STUDENT TO ENSURE THAT YOU WOULD BE THE BEST NURSE. YOUR PROACTIVENESS AND DETERMINATION SHINE BRIGHTER THAN YOU EVER KNEW. WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU BOTH WILL BE NURSES THAT WILL CHANGE AND SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU TO MY GUYS, JIM BRADEN AND KYLE . TEACHING YOU WAS TRULY ONE OF THE EASIEST AND MOST REWARDING PARTS OF THIS JOB. EVEN WHEN BRADEN HAD ME STRESSED BECAUSE HE DIDN'T GET CHANCE TO STUDY FOR AN EXAM, YOU ALL HELD EACH OTHER DOWN FROM DAY ONE. YOU MADE A PACT TO FINISH THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER AND LOOK AT YOU NOW. YOU ALL DID IT. THANK YOU, JENNA . JENNA, WHAT A BLESSING TO HAVE YOU AS A STUDENT. EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU SHINED WITH EXCELLENCE AND PASSION. PASSION THAT I KNOW WILL TAKE YOU FAR IN THIS PROFESSION. I CAN SEE THE EDUCATOR IN YOU. I CAN SEE THE PRACTITIONER IN YOU. YOU HAVE A SPECIAL CALLING ON YOUR LIFE AND NURSING IS HELPING YOU ALIGN WITH THAT PURPOSE. THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE. MY AFTERNOON SECTION, MY SO-CALLED FAVORITE SECTION, , THE SECTION THAT GOT ME CONVINCED TO GET A TATTOO WITH THEM. , YOU WEREN'T ACTUALLY MY FAVORITE, BUT THE ENERGY ACTUALLY WAS DIFFERENT. , YOU WEREN'T AFRAID TO SPEAK UP EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER. YOU TRUSTED THAT WE WOULD FIGURE IT OUT TOGETHER, AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERED. YOU MADE LEARNING FUN AND SOMETIMES THAT JOY HELPED US MASTER EVEN THE TOUGHEST MATERIAL. LIV . LIV, YOU ASKED A THOUSAND QUESTIONS, AND ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT YOU HAD WHATEVER CONDITION WE WERE DISCUSSING AS MY ADVISEE AND CLOSEST STUDENT. YOU HAD A WAY OF GETTING WHAT YOU NEEDED, WHETHER IT WAS MAKING ME GO BACK THREE SLIDES OR ANSWERING YOUR CALLS AND EMAILS AT ANY HOUR, I RAN IN THE NEW YEAR'S WRITING AND RECOMMENDATION LETTER FOR YOU FOR YOUR THIRD ICU POSITION IN A WEEK'S TIME. ONLY FOR YOU TO TELL ME TWO WEEKS LATER THAT YOU NOW LOVE L AND D . THANKFULLY, YOU TOOK THAT C-V-I-C-U JOB AND I ALREADY KNOW THAT CALLS WILL BE COMING BECAUSE I KNOW IT WILL BE TOUGH. BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS. YOU CAN DO IT. YOU ALWAYS HAVE AND YOU ALWAYS WILL. THANK YOU, JALEN AND IMOGEN. JALEN, WE SHARE THE SAME NAME AND YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THE SAME AS MY SON. YOU AND IMOGEN WERE MY REALIST IN THE COHORT ON SOME OF MY TOUGHEST TEACHING DAYS. YOU BOTH SHOWED UP IN WAYS THAT MATTERED. NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE, YOU FOUND A WAY TO HELP RATHER THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT, HONESTY, OR SIMPLY SHOWING UP. THANK YOU GABBY . GABBY, THE MODEL OF THE COHORT . I KNOW YOU SAY YOU WANTED TO BE A NURSE, BUT AT THIS POINT I'M CONVINCED THAT YOU DID ALL THIS JUST TO BECOME A FIGS OR COUTURE MODEL. STILL, I BELIEVE IN YOU, SO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. JUST DON'T FORGET ABOUT US WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BILLBOARDS. . THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, JORDAN. JORDAN, YOU WERE [00:25:01] A NATURAL FROM DAY ONE AS IF NURSING HAD ALWAYS BEEN IN YOUR BLOOD. IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT I ASKED. YOU ALWAYS RESPONDED FROM A CLINICAL LENS. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT YOUR MOTHER IS A NURSE AND SUDDENLY IT ALL MADE SENSE. , WHAT I LOVE MOST IS THAT YOU NEVER ASSUME SUCCESS WOULD COME EASILY JUST BECAUSE NURSING WAS IN YOUR BLOOD. YOU WORKED FOR IT AND IT SHOWED. THANK YOU TO KYLIE AND SEAN. THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS STUDYING THE HARDEST ACING THE EXAMS. YOU ARE JUST A TRUE REPRESENTATION OF WHAT A STUDENT SHOULD BE, AND I KNOW THAT YOUR FUTURE IS GONNA BE BRIGHT. THANK YOU TO MY SALT STUDENTS. , YOU ALL CAME FROM MY NECK OF THE WOODS. I'M SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF EACH OF YOU. THIS IS NOT JUST AN UH, AN ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT A TESTAMENT TO YOUR PERSEVERANCE. MANY OF YOU WORKED FULL TIME, BECAME NEW MOMS, OR BECOMING NEW MOMS, SUPPORTED YOUR FAMILIES AND STILL MADE IT TO THIS VERY DAY. YOU PROVE THAT DESPITE LIFE'S HURDLES, YOU WILL NOT LET THEM OR WHERE WE COME FROM. DEFINE WHERE YOU'RE GOING. GETTING PINNED TODAY WILL GIVE SOMEONE THAT IS IN OUR HOMETOWNS HOPE THAT THEY TOO CAN ONE DAY TAKE THE SAME JOURNEY AND MAKE THEIR DREAMS REALITY. THANK YOU ALL AS AS YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS. IT IS NO LONGER ABOUT MEMORIZATION. IT'S ABOUT INSTINCT, AWARENESS, AND TRUST. ONE OF THE HARDEST LESSONS IN NURSING IS LEARNING TO ACCEPT, CONSTRUCT THE CRITICISM. I KNOW IT'S HARD. I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT MY ADULT HEALTH TWO INSTRUCTOR TOLD ME. IF YOU WON'T LISTEN TO ME NOW, I KNOW YOU WON'T LISTEN WHEN YOU'RE IN ICU THAT STUCK WITH ME. IN NURSING, YOUR PRECEPTORS WON'T ALWAYS HAVE A PERFECTLY POLISHED EXPLANATION FOR EVERY DECISION THEY MAKE, BUT WHEN LIVES ARE ON THE LINE, THEIR EXPERIENCE MATTERS. YOU MUST LEARN TO LISTEN, TO TRUST AND TO RESPOND WITH INTENTION AT THE SAME TIME. NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK WHY. THAT WHY IS POWERFUL. IT IS WHAT TURNS EXPERIENCE INTO UNDERSTANDING AND MOMENTS INTO LESSONS. YOU'RE ENTERING INTO A PROFESSION WHERE EVERY SECOND COUNTS AND YOUR ABILITY TO ACCEPT FEEDBACK, EVEN WHEN IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE, WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GROWTH AND STAGNATION. THAT SHARED WISDOM WILL PREPARE YOU FOR THE MOMENTS WHEN NO TEXTBOOK HAS THE ANSWER. NO PROTOCOL APPLIES. YOUR INSTINCT IS THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN YOUR PATIENT AND A POOR OUTCOME. LISTEN TO IT, TRUST IT. YOU ARE READY, BUT INSTINCT ALONE ISN'T ENOUGH. YOUR CALLING RUNS DEEPER. AS A NURSE, YOU'RE NOT JUST CAREGIVERS, YOU'RE ADVOCATES. YOU MUST SPEAK UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR PATIENT CAN'T ALWAYS UPHOLD YOUR OATH. YOU'RE ABOUT TO TAKE. TREAT EVERY PATIENT AS A HUMAN BEING FIRST WITH COMPASSION, COMPETENCE, AND WITHOUT BIAS. THERE'LL BE MOMENTS WHEN YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO SEES A CRITICAL CHANGE. THE ONLY VOICE FOR SOMEONE VULNERABLE, THE ONE WHO STANDS AGAINST INJUSTICE. HEALTH DISPARITIES ARE REAL. THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ARE REAL. SO BE THE NURSE WHO MAKES A DIFFERENCE, WHO FIGHTS FOR EVERY PATIENT WHEN NO ONE ELSE WILL. WHILE WE OFTEN SPEAK ABOUT THE PASSION OF POWER OF NURSING, WE MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS. ITS WEIGHT. BURNOUT IS REAL, BUT IT'S SURVIVABLE. HERE'S HOW YOU PROTECT YOUR FLAME. NUMBER ONE, KEEP GOD FIRST. [00:30:01] WITH WITHOUT GOD AND OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF BURNED OUT AS SOON AS YOUR CAREER STARTS. KEEP HIM FIRST AND WATCH YOUR JOURNEY FLOURISH. NUMBER TWO, BE MINDFUL OF THE SPIRIT YOU CARRY INTO WORK. A BAD SPIRIT CAN BRING A GOOD DAY TO AN END VERY QUICKLY, SO LISTEN TO SOMETHING INSPIRATIONAL PRIOR TO YOUR SHIFT. NUMBER THREE, FIND YOUR PEOPLE, COLLEAGUES WHO WILL LIFT YOU UP. I'M GRATEFUL FOR MINES . SET NUMBER FOUR, SET BOUNDARIES. YOUR JOB IS IMPORTANT, BUT SO IS YOUR PEACE. NUMBER FIVE, PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE. EAT, SLEEP, HYDRATE, AND HAVE FUN MOST OF ALL. AND NUMBER SIX, RETURN TO YOUR WHY. THAT PURPOSE WILL CARRY YOU ON THE HARD DAYS, EVEN THROUGH THE EXHAUSTION AND CHALLENGES. NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE HEART OF THIS WORK BECAUSE AT ITS CORE, NURSING IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE ABOUT HUMANITY. NURSING ISN'T JUST ABOUT SKILLS. YES, YOU WILL MISS HOLIDAYS, YOU'LL MISS COOKOUTS, YOU'LL MISS. UM, YOU'LL WORK LONG HOURS AND YES, IT WILL DRAIN YOU, BUT YOU'LL ALSO WITNESS MIRACLES. YOU'LL ALSO BRING COMFORT TO GRIEVING FAMILIES. YOU ALL WILL CHANGE LIVES EVERY DAY. THAT'S THE HUMANITY OF NURSING. THAT'S WHY IT IS WORTH IT. IN MY FINAL WORDS TO MY STUDENTS, MY FIRST CLASS, MY FUTURE COLLEAGUES, YOU'D WORK GROAN AND SACRIFICED. AND NOW YOU'RE READY AS YOU TAKE YOUR OATH TODAY. REMEMBER, THIS ISN'T JUST A CEREMONY. IT IS A PROMISE. A PROMISE TO YOUR PATIENT, YOUR PROFESSION, AND TO YOURSELF. YOU ARE THE FUTURE OF NURSING AND I COULDN'T BE PROUDER. GO FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE, LEAD WITH COMPASSION, AND ALWAYS STAY TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE. AS MAYA AN AS MAYA ANGELOU ONCE SAID, THEY MAY FORGET YOUR NAME, BUT THEY WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL. CONGRATULATIONS, NURSES FINS UP. I WOULD LIKE NOW TO CALL TO THE STAGE DR. KIM DOAS AND INSTRUC MORGAN EDMONDS TO HELP ME. IT'S THE PENNY CEREMONY. READY? SHANIA ALLEN. SHANIA WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER MOM, BOYFRIEND, FRIENDS AND PROFESSORS FOR SUPPORTING HER THROUGH THE MOST, UH, THROUGHOUT HER JOURNEY IN NURSING SCHOOL. SHE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK AND ANY EVERYONE WHO BELIEVED IN HER AND GUIDING HER THIS FAR. IMOGEN BLAIR. IMOGEN WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR ENDLESS LOVE AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. AND TO GOD FOR GIVING HER THE STRENGTH AND PERSEVERANCE TO REACH THIS MILESTONE. THIS ACHIEVEMENT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT, GUIDANCE, AND ENDLESS FAITH IN HER. SHE'S FOREVER GRATEFUL. JULIA BRANTLEY. JULIA WANTS [00:35:01] TO THANK GOD FOR GIVING HER THE STRENGTH AND PERSEVERANCE TO REACH THIS MILESTONE. SHE ALSO WANTS TO THANK HER SON, HUSBAND, AND HER WHOLE FAMILY FOR THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT THEY'VE GIVEN HER. DURING THIS TIME, SIERRA BROWN. SIERRA WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS HER HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO GOD FOR HIS UNWAVERING SUPPORT THROUGH EVERY TRIAL AND TRIBULATION. SHE ALSO WISHES TO THANK HER FAMILY WITH SPECIAL APPRECIATION TO HER MOTHER WHOSE LOVE AND PRESENCE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT SOURCE OF STRENGTH DURING MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS. DAYTONA COOPER. DAYTONA WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER HUSBAND FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE WHEN SHE NEEDED HIM, AND FOR HER FAMILY, FOR SUPPORTING HER ISABELLE DAVIS. ISABELLE WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR THEIR SUPPORT THROUGH NURSING SCHOOL. SHE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK HER MOM FOR THE COUNTLESS NIGHTS OF STUDYING AND ALWAYS BELIEVING IN HER IN THIS LONG JOURNEY. TAYLOR DAVIS. TAYLOR WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER HEAVENLY FATHER FOR PROVIDING CONSTANT GUIDANCE AND STRENGTH THROUGH THIS EVERY STEP OF THIS JOURNEY. SHE'S ALSO GRATEFUL TO HER FIANCE, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR UNWAVERING LOVE AND SUPPORT. JORDAN DINO. WOO. JORDAN WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY FOR THEIR SUPPORT DURING THIS TIME IN SCHOOL. SHE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK GOD FOR ALLOWING HER TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. TAYLOR DOWNS. TAYLOR WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS HER GRATITUDE TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT, FOR ENCOURAGEMENT AND LOVE THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. BRADEN FOWLER. BRADEN WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD AND HIS FAMILY FOR THEIR CONSTANT SUPPORT THROUGHOUT NURSING SCHOOL. HE'LL BEGIN HIS CAREER AS AN ICU NURSE AT MUSC PAIGE. FRANK PAIGE WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER MOTHER, TANYA AND HER GRANDMOTHER LINDA, FOR HER SUPPORT THROUGH NURSING SCHOOL. SHE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY AND FIANCE FOR THE LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT THAT HAS BROUGHT HER THIS FAR. GRACIE GRIFFIN. GRACIE WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER HEAVENLY FATHER FOR THE STRENGTH AND PATIENCE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS JOURNEY. SHE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY FOR THEIR LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. KYLE HAMAN. KYLE WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIS MOM, GIRLFRIEND, FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR ALL THEIR HELP ALONG THIS JOURNEY. AVERY HARRELSON. AVERY WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HER FIANCE. REAGAN, BECOMING AN RN WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT. SWAT ANN HEDLEY, BOLDEN. [00:40:05] SWAT. ANN WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY, HUSBAND AND FRIENDS SHE'S MADE THROUGHOUT HER NURSING SCHOOL JOURNEY AND FOR THEIR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT. SHE'LL BEGIN HER CAREER AS AN ICU NURSE AT CANDLER HOSPITAL IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. JALEN HOLLAND. JAYLEN WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD FOR BLESSING HER WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE HER DREAM OF BECOMING A NURSE. SHE ALSO EXTENDS A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO HER MOM AND DAD, FAMILY, BOYFRIEND, AND BEST FRIENDS FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT THROUGH THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. JORDAN HOLMES. JORDAN WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD FOR HIS PROTECTION, GRACE, AND GUIDANCE THROUGHOUT THIS CHALLENGING JOURNEY. SHE ALSO EXTENDS HEARTFELT THANKS TO OUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS WITH SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO HER PARENTS WHOSE LOVE, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND PRAYERS HAVE KEPT HER GROUNDED AND AT PEACE. BLANCA HURLEY WOO BLANCA WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER MOM, DAD, NICK AND HER BROTHERS, CHRISTOPHER, MICHAEL, AND TIMOTHY FOR THEIR CONSTANT LOVE, SUPPORT, AND ENCOURAGEMENT. THEIR BELIEF IN HER HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF STRENGTH HELPING HER ACHIEVE THIS MILESTONE. KYLIE JONES. WOO. AMEN. COLLIE WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FIANCE, FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR UNWAVERING LOVE AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT NURSING SCHOOL. SHE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK HER PROFESSORS FOR THEIR PERSISTENT ENCOURAGEMENT, MENTORSHIP, AND GUIDANCE ALONG THE WAY. OLIVIA KRAUS. OLIVIA WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR ENDLESS LOVE, PATIENCE, AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT HAS BEEN HER MOTIVATION AND SHE'S FOREVER GRATEFUL, ESPECIALLY FOR ALL OF YOU PUTTING UP WITH DIAGNOSING HERSELF WITH EVERY DISEASE THAT THEY'VE EVER LEARNED ABOUT OVER THESE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. AMBER, MASSIMO. AMBER WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER MOTHER, FATHER, SISTER, AND THE LORD ABOVE FOR THEIR CONSTANT BELIEF IN HER. SHE ALSO APPRECIATES HER FRIENDS AND PROFESSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY, SHALL SEAN SALLY MCDOUGALL. SEAN EXPRESSES HER HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND SACRIFICES DURING THIS JOURNEY. SHE ALSO EXTENDS DEEP APPRECIATION TO HER PARENTS FOR ENCOURAGING HER TO PURSUE HER DREAM AND REMINDING HER IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW. LOGAN MINA. LOGAN CREDITS ALL GLORY TO GOD. THANKING HIM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY AND FOR HIS ABUNDANT PROVISION THROUGHOUT THIS SEASON OF HER LIFE. SHE'S GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF LOVED ONES AT HOME, AS WELL AS THE LOVE OF SO MANY OTHERS SHE'S COME TO KNOW ALONG THE WAY. ASHLEY NIECE ASHLEY WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND INSTRUCTORS FOR THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. A SPECIAL DEDICATION TO HER PARENTS AND HER DAUGHTER BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, SHE WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY. EMILIO PATINO. EMILIO WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIS FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND TEACHERS FOR HELPING HIM MAKE IT THIS FAR, BUT HE OWES HIS GREATEST THANKS TO HIS MOM, ANNA, WHO HAS BEEN HIS BIGGEST SUPPORTER FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN REMEMBER. THANK YOU, MOM. I LOVE YOU. JENNA PATTERSON. JENNA WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD FOR HIS STEADY GUIDANCE THROUGHOUT NURSING SCHOOL. [00:45:01] SHE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK HER PARENTS FOR THEIR ONGOING LOVE AND SUPPORT THAT HAS BROUGHT HER THIS FAR. ASHLEY PURDUE. ASHLEY WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD HER MOTHER, HER FATHER WATCHING OVER HER, HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THE NURSING FACULTY FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT THROUGHOUT SCHOOL. SHE'S EXCITED TO BEGIN HER CAREER AS A PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE NURSE AT MUSC, SHAW JENKINS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, SARAH PUCH. SARAH WOULD LIKE TO THANK ROXANNE AND ERIC FOR THEIR LOVE, GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT, WHICH INSPIRE HER TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF HERSELF EVERY DAY. AS A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT, SHE'S FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR HER FAMILY, INSTRUCTORS, AND FOR MAKING HER ANGELS PROUD. HER DAD AND BROTHER, KNOWING THEY'VE BEEN WATCHING OVER HER WITH LOVE. LAT TARA RHODES. LAT TARA WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY AND THE FRIEND SHE'S MADE ALONG THE WAY. SHE'S EXCITED FOR HER FUTURE CAREER AS A NURSE SYDNEY SCHUELLER. SYDNEY WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COWORKERS FOR THEIR ENDLESS SUPPORT AND LOVE THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. SHE'S EXCITED TO FURTHER HER CAREER IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. KAYLEE SCOTT. KAYLEE WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY, BOYFRIEND, AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT NURSING SCHOOL. SHE'S EXCITED TO BEGIN HER CAREER AS A MED SURG NURSE AT COASTAL CAROLINA HOSPITAL. JAMIE SMITH. JAMIE WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FIANCE LANE FOR HIS ENDLESS LOVE, SUPPORT, AND SACRIFICE, AS WELL AS HER WONDERFUL FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR ALWAYS BELIEVING IN HER. THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT HAS GIVEN HER THE STRENGTH TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND PURSUE HER DREAM TO BECOME A NURSE EMMA. TROOP EMMA WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER HEAVENLY FATHER FOR GUIDING HER THROUGH EVERY CHALLENGE, HER FAMILY, FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT, AND TO HER BEST FRIEND, STUDY PARTNER AND USCB, OTHER HALF, ASHLEY PURDUE. EMMA WILL BE CONTINUING HER JOURNEY AS A LABOR AND DELIVERY NURSE AT WELLSTAR MCG BACK HOME IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. GABRIELLE WATSON. GABRIELLE WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD FOR HIS GUIDANCE AND GRACE THROUGH THIS JOURNEY, AS WELL AS HER FAMILY FOR THEIR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND SUPPORT. THIS MOMENT IS A TESTAMENT THAT YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES US STRENGTH. JIM WETZEL. JIM WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD AND HIS FAMILY, AND APPARENTLY HE'S A MAN OF LITTLE WORDS. , RAINN WILLIAMS. RAINN WOULD LIKE TO THANK THOSE WHO SUPPORTED HER THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF NURSING SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY HER CLOSEST FRIENDS. VERONICA YEZ. VERONICA WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY. IS VERONICA HERE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO OUR SATCHIE COHORT, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UH, INSTRUCTOR ANNA CAROL POTASSIUM TO PLEASE COME. UPIA BROWN. [00:50:04] SIA WOULD LIKE TO GIVE HONOR TO GOD ACCORDING TO PSALMS 46, 5 AND HER VILLAGE FOR ENCOURAGING HER FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. SHE'S EXCITED TO BEGIN HER FUTURE CAREER AT PAUL MEDICAL CENTER, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, BAILEY CROSBY. OH, BAILEY WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT HER NURSING SCHOOL JOURNEY. SHE'S EXCITED ABOUT HER FUTURE IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD. DINA HALL. DINA WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE GOOD LORD, HER TWO CHILDREN, COOPER, MAC AND MAGNOLIA, BOWEN, JENNY, AND HER DAD, RONNIE, MONIQUE, JESSICA, PROFESSOR TATEN, AND THE VILLAGE OF FAMILY, FRIENDS AND PROFESSORS AND SCHOLARS THAT HAVE PROVIDED HER SUPPORT AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE TO GET HER HERE TODAY. SHE'S EXCITED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. ONE SHIFT AT A TIME. JESSICA LAWSON. JESSICA WOULD LIKE TO THANK GOD AND HER ENTIRE FAMILY, HER HUSBAND COLE, HER CHILDREN, DAKOTA AND EASTON, THE PROFESSORS AND DINA FOR THEIR UNWAVERING LOVE AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. JESSICA'S EXCITED TO PURSUE A LONG CAREER IN IN CRITICAL CARE. SAVANNAH MEYER. SAVANNAH WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER CLASSMATES, FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR THEIR ENDLESS SUPPORT WHILE NAVIGATING NURSING SCHOOL. SHE'S EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HER FUTURE HAS IN STORE FOR HER AS A REGISTERED NURSE, SIDNEY REYES. SIDNEY WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER HUSBAND, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT NURSING SCHOOL. SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO STARTING HER CAREER AS A POSTPARTUM REGISTERED NURSE, AUBREY STOKES. AUBREY WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER HEAVENLY FATHER FOR THE STRENGTH HE PROVIDED AND HER HUSBAND, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS FOR ALL THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT. SHE'S EXCITED FOR HER FUTURE CAREER IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD. I'D JUST LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OF CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE PROFESSOR CALEB BARRIOS UP TO THE STAGE. WELL, HELLO EVERYONE. UM, WILL ALL OF OUR NURSING GRADUATES PLEASE STAND? YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE PROFESSIONAL NURSING PLEDGE. IT'S ON THE BACK OF THE PROGRAM IF YOU NEED IT. . THANK YOU. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. YOU'RE GONNA REPEAT AFTER ME IN THE FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES I AM UNDERTAKING IN THE FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT I'M UNDERTAKING. I PROMISE TO CARE FOR MY PATIENTS. I PROMISE TO CARE FOR MY PATIENTS WITH ALL THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND UNDERSTANDING. I POSSESS ALL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND UNDERSTANDING I POSSESS WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, CREED, COLOR, POLITICS, OR SOCIAL STATUS WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, CREED, POLITICS, OR SOCIAL STATUS. SPARING NO EFFORT TO CONSERVE MEANINGFUL LIFE, SPARING NO EFFORT TO CONSERVE MEANINGFUL LIFE, TO ALLEVIATE SUFFERING, AND TO PROMOTE HEALTH, TO ALLEVIATE SUFFERING, AND TO PROMOTE HEALTH. I WILL RESPECT AT ALL TIMES. I WILL RESPECT AT ALL TIMES THE DIGNITY AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THE PATIENTS UNDER MY CARE, THE DIGNITY AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THE PATIENTS UNDER MY CARE. AND HOLD IN PROFESSIONAL CONFIDENCE AND HOLD IN PROFESSIONAL CONFIDENCE. ALL THE PERSONAL INFORMATION ENTRUSTED TO ME, ALL THE PERSONAL INFORMATION ENTRUSTED TO ME. I WILL REFRAIN FROM ANY ACTION. [00:55:02] I'LL REFRAIN FROM ANY ACTION WHICH MIGHT ENDANGER THE QUALITY OF LIFE OR HEALTH, WHICH MIGHT ENDANGER THE QUALITY OF LIFE OR HEALTH. I WILL ENDEAVOR TO KEEP MY PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE. I WILL ENDEAVOR TO KEEP MY PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND SKILL AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, AND TO GIVE MY SUPPORT AND COOPERATION AND TO GIVE MY SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH TEAM, TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH TEAM, WITH FULL AWARENESS OF MY QUALIFICATIONS, WITH FULL AWARENESS OF MY QUALIFICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS AND LIMITATIONS. I WILL DO MY UTMOST TO MAXIMIZE, I'LL DO MY UTMOST TO MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF THE NURSING PROFESSION, THE POTENTIAL OF THE NURSING PROFESSION, AND TO UPHOLD AND ADVANCE ITS STANDARDS AND TO UPHOLD AND ADVANCE ITS STANDARDS. YOU MAY HAVE A CONGRATULATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE TO THE STAGE DR. QAN, DR. REBEL, AND DR. SCHROER TO PRESENT THE NURSING CLASS OF 2025 STUDENT AWARDS. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME. I'M DR. QAN, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO PRESENT THE NURSING STUDENT AWARDS THIS MORNING WITH DR. RI AND DR. SCHROER. STUDENTS DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY HAVE WON THESE AWARDS, SO AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME TO THE STAGE TO RECEIVE YOUR AWARD. THE DEPARTMENT OF NURSING PROUDLY PRESENTS THE AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE TO THREE STUDENTS, KYLIE JONES, JENNA PATTERSON, AND SEAN SALIA MACDOUGALL. THESE STUDENTS HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ABILITY THROUGH THEIR ACHIEVEMENT OF A 4.0 GPA WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF THE HONOR AND INTEGRITY. THE DEPARTMENT OF NURSING PROUDLY PRESENTS THE AWARD FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE TO DEAN HALL. DENA HAS DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING CLINICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE, TRANSLATING THEORY INTO PRACTICE AND DOING SO WITH CARING AND COMPASSION. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THE DEPARTMENT OF NURSING PROUDLY PRESENTS THE AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP TO SIERRA BROWN. SIERRA HAS DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN THE CLASSROOM, THE CLINICAL SETTING, AND THROUGH SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE DEPARTMENT OF NURSING PROUDLY PRESENTS THE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING STUDENT TO EMMA TROOP, THE STUDENT WHO IS WELL-ROUNDED, OH, EXCUSE ME, . UM, YEAH. UH, YEAH. THE STUDENT WHO IS WELL-ROUNDED AND EXEMPLIFIES A HIGH LEVEL OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP. EMMA [01:00:04] AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NURSING PRESENTS THE FINAL AWARD, WHICH IS A SUSAN C. WILLIAMS SPIRIT OF NURSING AWARD TO SARAH HOOCH. THIS AWARD GOES FOR STUDENTS WHO REACH FOR THE STARS AND OVERCOME OBSTACLES TO ACHIEVE ONE'S PERSONAL BEST. THAT CONCLUDES THE AWARDS. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE DR. ERIC SKIPPER, PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR OF STUDENT AND ACADEMIC AFFAIRS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU DR. Q. AND SO IN HAVING THE CHANCE TO PROVIDE CLOSING REMARKS FOR OUR 2025 NURSE PENDING CEREMONY, UM, I'M GONNA BE LIKE THE CHANCELLOR AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HISTORY. UM, THE PLACE WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY, UM, REMINDS US OF HOW OFTEN HISTORY GETS TO REPEAT ITSELF. IT'S NICE HAVING THIS EVENT BACK IN BUFORT. WE'VE HAD IT IN BLUFFTON BEFORE, UM, BECAUSE THERE IS SOME HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. I'M REMINDED OF THE REMARKS OF OUR USCB DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR EMERITUS LARRY ROLAND, WHEN HE, UH, TALKED ABOUT THE REDEDICATION OF THE BEAUFORT COLLEGE BUILDING. AND THAT IS THE FOUR PILLAR HISTORIC BUILDING, THIS'S OVER HERE, AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE, BY THE WAY, TO GET PICTURES TAKEN AFTER THIS EVENT. BUT HE DELIVERED HIS REMARKS IN NOVEMBER OF 2000 BEFORE SOME OF YOU WERE BORN. AND, UM, DURING THE CIVIL WAR, THIS WOULD'VE BEEN AROUND 1861. 1862, THE CITY OF BEAUFORT WAS COMMANDEERED BY RU UH, UNION FORCES. AND THE BEAUFORT COLLEGE BUILDING NEXT DOOR WAS MADE INTO A HOSPITAL FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS. AND SO WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT SOME 164 YEARS LATER, THAT WE WOULD HAVE DOZENS OF NURSES THAT WERE BATTLE TESTED AND READY FOR DUTY, GRADUATING JUST A COUPLE OF HUNDRED YARDS AWAY. THEY COULD HAVE USED YOU ALL BACK THEN. , ANOTHER INTERESTING TIDBITS THAT'S RELEVANT IN THE MID 18 HUNDREDS. UM, BEAUFORT COLLEGE, THAT'S WHAT THIS PLACE USED TO BE CALLED, FUNCTION LIKE A MODERN JUNIOR COLLEGE WITH GRADUATES GOING ON TO POWERHOUSE COLLEGES IN THE NORTH, LIKE HARVARD, YALE, BROWN, AND UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. WELL, WE HAVE A BURGEONING POWERHOUSE COLLEGE HERE IN THE SOUTH, AND IT'S CALLED THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT. IT IS A TOP 10 REGIONAL PUBLIC COLLEGE IN THE SOUTH. AND LAST YEAR, NURSE.ORG SAID THAT WE HAVE THE NUMBER ONE NURSING PROGRAM IN THE STATE. CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ALL. SO AS YOU ASCEND IN YOUR CAREERS, THE UNIVERSITY WILL CONTINUE TO ASCEND. SO KEEP AN EYE ON US AND WE'LL KEEP IN TOUCH. WE NEED ENGAGED ALUMNI. CHANCELLOR PANNU TALKED BEFORE, UH, PREVIOUSLY ABOUT HOW NURSING IS ONE OF THE MOST PRO TRUSTED PROFESSIONS. IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE MOST MOBILE PROFESSIONS. AS YOU KNOW, NURSES ARE NEEDED EVERYWHERE. HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, PHYSICIANS, OFFICES, HOME HEALTHCARE, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE EARNED IT. WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE LUCKY. YOU'RE NOT LUCKY. YOU MAKE US LOOK GOOD. YOU MAKE US PROUD. AND SPEAKING OF PROUD, I WANNA TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO ASK THE BEST NURSING FACULTY IN THE STATE TO STAND UP SO YOU ALL CAN APPLAUD THEM AS NEEDED. PROUD SOMEONE NAMED ANONYMOUS. ONCE SAID, SAVE ONE LIFE. YOU'RE A HERO. SAVE A HUNDRED LIVES. YOU'RE A NURSE. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, BEAUFORT, BSN, CLASS OF 2025. WE CONGRATULATE YOU. THANK YOU. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS CONCLUDES THIS MORNING'S NURSE PENNY CEREMONY. ON BEHALF OF THE NURSING DEPARTMENT AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT, WE'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING TO THIS MORNING'S CEREMONY. PLEASE REMAIN SEATED UNTIL THE OFFICIAL PARTY IS THE PARTY OF THIS STAGE. DRIVE SAFELY, PLEASE. [01:05:36] THANKS FOR WATCHING BC TV. PORT FREMONT CLOSES OUT A 350 YEAR LEGACY OF COASTAL FORTIFICATIONS IN PORT ROYAL SOUND, BEGINNING IN THE MID 16TH CENTURY. IT ALSO REPRESENTS THE CLOSING CHAPTER OF AMERICA'S COASTAL DEFENSE SYSTEM BEFORE THE DAWN OF AIR POWER. PORT FREMONT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE MOST ADVANCED MILITARY TECHNOLOGY OF ITS TIME. IT WOULD PARALLEL THE B 17 AND AIRCRAFT CARRIER OF WORLD WAR II, THE F 35 OF TODAY. FORT FREMONT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE BEAUFORT CULTURE, VERY SIMILAR TO PARIS ISLAND AND THE MARINE CORPS AIR BASE. TODAY IN 1525, THE SPANIARDS NAMED THIS SOUND AND THIS HARBOR, SANTA ELENA, THEY CALLED THE NAVIGATIONAL POINT, LA PUNTE DE SANTA ELENA, THE POINT OF SANTA ELENA. AND WHAT THE SPANISH EXPLORERS DISCOVERED IS THAT PORT ROYAL SOUND IS A UNIQUE PIECE OF GEOGRAPHY. IT'S THE DEEPEST NATURAL HARBOR SOUTH OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY, POSSIBLY SOUTH OF NEW YORK, THE CHANNEL INTO PORT ROYAL SOUND. THIS, I FIND A REMARKABLE GEOLOGICAL FACT. THE CHANNEL HA, UH, HAS NOT CHANGED FOR 500 YEARS. THERE'S NO INLET ON THE SOUTHERN COAST THAT HASN'T SHIFTED ENTIRELY IN 500 YEARS EXCEPT PORT ROYAL SOUND. THERE'S SOMETHING GEOLOGICALLY DIFFERENT, OR ONE MIGHT SAY MAGICAL ABOUT PORT ROYAL SOUND. SO SPANISH SAILORS BEING THE BEST IN THE WORLD IN THEIR TIME, FOUND THIS PLACE VERY EARLY, KNEW THAT FOR THE SPANISH EXPLORATIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHEAST, THIS WOULD BE THE ENTRATA, THE ENTRANCE. AND SO THEY BUILT A CITY ACROSS THE RIVER, UH, ACROSS THE SOUND FROM WHERE WE ARE ON PARIS ISLAND THAT BECAME THE FIRST CAPITAL OF FLORIDA. AND THEY EXPLORED THE BACK COUNTRY FROM THIS LOCATION FOR, UH, MORE THAN A CENTURY, WITH THE OBJECT OF BUILDING A HIGHWAY FROM THIS MAGNIFICENT HARBOR TO MEXICO CITY. SO THE SOUND WAS KNOWN TO THE SPANIARDS. IT WAS KNOWN TO THE FRENCH WHO ACTUALLY GOT HERE FIRST AND FOLLOWED AND CREATED THE FIRST PROTESTANT COLONY IN THE NEW WORLD ON PARIS ISLAND OVER MY SHOULDER. UM, AND THAT COLONY WAS A FAILURE. THE SPANIARDS REPLACED THEM. IT WAS PART OF SPANISH, FLORIDA WHEN THE ENGLISH ARRIVED 150 YEARS LATER. AND THIS WAS BECAME, AS A CONSEQUENCE, A BATTLEGROUND IN THE 18TH CENTURY BETWEEN SPANISH INTERESTS IN FLORIDA AND ST. AUGUSTINE, AND THE ENGLISH COLONY IN CAROLINA AND IN CHARLESTON AND BACK AND FORTH. THESE WARS WENT, MANY OF THEM NAVAL WARS, MANY OF THEM EMPLOYING AS ALL THE SAILORS KNEW BY THEN THE MAGIC OF PORT ROYAL SOUND. BUT WHEN THE CIVIL WAR CAME, CONFEDERATES DEFENDED THE, UH, HARBOR, BUT IT WAS BASICALLY INDEFENSIBLE AGAINST, UH, LARGE NAVAL FORCES. SO THE US NAVY MADE IT THEIR PRINCIPLE TARGET DURING THE BE BEGINNING OF THE CIVIL WAR, AND SENT THE LARGEST FLOTILLA OF SHIPS, UM, ASSEMBLED BY THE UNITED STATES NAVY IN THE 19TH CENTURY INTO PORT ROYAL SOUND. ON NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER 7TH, 1861. IN A FOUR HOUR CANNON AID, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN DEAFENING FROM WHERE WE'RE SITTING, WAS HEARD FROM MILES FROM SAVANNAH, NEARLY TO CHARLESTON. IT WAS CALLED THE DAY OF THE BIG GUN SHOOT. DURING THE CIVIL WAR, THIS HARBOR THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WAS FILLED WITH SHIPS. THERE WOULD BE HUNDREDS OF SHIPS IN THIS HARBOR. THERE WAS A THOUSAND FOOT, UH, DOCK WITH A RAILROAD ON TOP OFF OF HILTON HEAD. UM, THE MILITARY INSTALLATION WAS MAMMOTH. THERE WERE 13,000 US SOLDIERS ON HILTON HEAD, WHICH WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LARGEST POPULATION ON HILTON HEAD UNTIL 1974. SO THIS WAS A MAJOR US GOVERNMENT INSTALLATION IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTH. IT WAS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE US ARMY DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WAS THE HEADQUARTERS [01:10:01] OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, SOUTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADE SQUADRON. SO THE BIGGEST SHIPS IN THE NAVY WERE HERE. AND, UM, SO IT, IT BECAME, AND, AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE STORY OF FREIGHT. FORT FREMONT STARTS WITH THAT HUGE CIVIL WAR MILITARY, UH, OPERATIONS AND INSTALLATIONS, UM, ON HILTON HEAD, ON ST. HELENA ISLAND, ON PARIS ISLAND, AND IN, BUT AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, WE'RE GONNA SEE A MASSIVE CHANGE IN TECHNOLOGY THAT'S GONNA REVOLUTIONIZE THE MILITARY. DURING THE CIVIL WAR, WE HAD IRONCLAD SHIPS, WE HAD RIFLE CANNONS, BUT THEY WERE ALL MADE OUT OF IRON, AND THEY WERE NOT TERRIBLY EFFECTIVE. BUT IT'S TECHNOLOGY'S GONNA CHANGE. AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, WE'RE GONNA SEE STEEL PRODUCED, AND STEEL IS MUCH HARDER. SO NOW WE HAVE A NEW MATERIAL, UH, TO MAKE ARMOR OUT OF FOR SHIPS. SO WE CAN HAVE THESE ARMORED SHIPS MADE WITH STEEL AND A MUCH MORE RESISTANCE TO A SHOT. BECAUSE I HAVE STEEL, I CAN MAKE, UH, STRONGER BARRELS FOR MY GUNS. UH, I CAN RIFLE AND MACHINE THESE MUCH BETTER. AND THE RIFLING IS THE SPIRALS THAT ARE CUT IN THE BARREL THAT ALLOWS IT TO SHOOT FURTHER WITH MORE ACCURACY. AND WE CAN ALSO NOW HAVE BREACH LOADING GUNS THAT CAN LOCK FROM BEHIND. SO I CAN LOAD MY GUN FROM BEHIND. I DON'T HAVE TO GO HAVE THE OLD BLACK POWDER MUZZLE LOADING CANNON I HAD BEFORE. NOW I CAN FIRE MUCH MORE RAPIDLY. IF I COMPARE THE GUN OF, UH, 1890 TO THE GUNS OF 1860, UH, FOR THE SAME CALIBER, THE SAME DIAMETER GUN, UH, THE 1890 GUN WILL BE ABLE TO FIRE PROJECTILE AS FOUR TIMES HEAVIER, CAN SHOOT IT THREE TIMES FURTHER, CAN PUT IT IN WITH GREATER PRECISION, AND CAN PUT IT THROUGH MUCH MORE ARMOR THAN ANYTHING. WE HAD IN 1860S WORLD DIFFERENCE. A MILITARY HISTORIAN, ER LEWIS, WOULD SAY THAT THE CHANGE BETWEEN THE CIVIL WAR IN 1890 IN ARTILLERY TECHNOLOGY WAS THE GREATEST THAT WOULD BE SEEN SINCE INVENTION OF ARTILLERY IN THE 14TH CENTURY, TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NUCLEAR PROJECTILE IN THE 1950S. SO THERE'S BEEN A HUGE CHANGE IN GUN TECHNOLOGY. AND AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S NOT JUST THE STEEL, BUT ALSO THE POWDER THAT FIRES THESE GUNS IS DIFFERENT. WE'RE HAVING NEW CHEMICAL MAKEUP. AND SO, LIKE CORDITE IS INVENTED NOW, AND IT'S STILL A WIDELY USED MILITARY EXPLOSIVE. EVEN TODAY, SMOKELESS POWDER IS INVENTED DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, AND IT'S NOT JUST CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, BUT IT'S THE DETAILS OF HOW YOU MAKE THE GRAIN, HOW FAST THEY BURN. SO MUCH LIKE THE SKILL OF FIRING A SOLID ROCKET, UM, SOLID FUEL, UM, ROCKET. IT'S THAT SAME KIND OF TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED IN THESE, UH, GUNPOWDER, IN THIS NEW POWDER. SO OUR WEAPONS OF THIS DAY ARE, ARE MUCH, MUCH GREATER. UM, THEY WOULD BE THE GREAT KILLING MACHINES IN WORLD WAR I. MOST OF THE CASUALTIES ON THE BATTLEFIELDS OF WORLD WAR I WOULD COME FROM ARTILLERY. SO THE WORLD HAS SEEN A HUGE CHANGE IN ARTILLERY, AND THAT'S TIED INTO CHANGES IN SHIPS. WE NOW HAVE STEEL ARMORED SHIPS. THEY'RE ALL, UH, STEAM POWERED. THEY ARE NOW EQUIPPED WITH THESE FINE LONG RANGE GUNS, AND THEY NOW BECOME THE DOMINANT THREAT OF THE LATE 19TH, EARLY 20TH CENTURY. THIS IS THE THREAT. THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH WOULD BOMBARD CITIES LIKE CAIRO AND REDUCE THEM TO RUBBLE BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DEFEND THEM. SO THIS IS HOW THE WORLD WAS SEEING THE THREAT FROM THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY. BIG BATTLESHIPS ARE THE THREAT OF THE ERA, AND NEW GUNS AND FORTIFICATIONS ON, UH, THE GROUND ARE WHAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO DEFEND AGAINST THEM. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FIRST THINGS THAT HAPPENED AFTER THE CIVIL WAR IS THEY BUILT A RAILROAD TO PORT ROYAL SOUND, WHICH DIDN'T EXIST. IT WAS THE FIRST CONNECTION OF THE SEA ISLANDS TO THE MAINLAND. AND THE ADVANTAGE OF THAT RAILROAD IS IT BROUGHT COAL TO PORT ROYAL SOUND. SO WHEN THE COAL WAS DELIVERED, THE NAVY FOLLOWED IN 1872, ROBERT SMALLS WAS IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE, AND HE PUSHED THROUGH A RESOLUTION TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR CALLING FOR THEM TO PUT A NAVY STATION ON PARIS ISLAND. AND EVENTUALLY HE WOULD GO ON TO CONGRESS WHERE HE WOULD CONTINUE HIS SUPPORT FOR A NAVY STATION HERE IN THE BEAUFORT COURT OIL AREA. THEY EVENTUALLY OPENED A NAVY STATION HERE AND A COALING STATION THEY CREATED IN THE 1890S ON PARAS ISLAND, THE LARGEST DRY DOCK IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS THE PERIOD WHEN THE US NAVY WAS SWITCHING FROM SAIL TO STEAM. ALL THE NAVIES OF THE WORLD NEED COALING STATION. THIS WAS THE PRINCIPLE COALING STATION BECAUSE OF THE RAILROAD FOR THE CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN US FLEETS, THIS WOULD BE THE BIGGEST DRY DOCKS SOUTH OF NORFOLK. IN FACT, IT IS THE ONLY DRY DOCKS SOUTH OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, THAT'S CAPABLE OF TAKING THESE NEW MODERN BATTLESHIPS AND THESE NEW MODERN ARMORED CRUISERS. SO THIS BECOMES, AT THIS POINT, A STRATEGIC NAVY BASIN, THAT IT PROVIDES COAL AND IT PROVIDES, UH, TOP LINE [01:15:01] SUPPORT TO THE SHIPS, AND THEY CAN REPAIR THE HULL OF EVEN THE BIGGEST SHIPS IN THE US NAVY. FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR, NATIONAL STRATEGY AND EMPHASIS IN THE UNITED STATES SHIFTED FROM TO RECOVERY FROM WAR, AND ALL OF OUR COASTAL FORTIFICATIONS WENT INTO NEGLECT. THE MILITARY WAS BUSY TAMING THE WEST, AND COASTAL DEFENSES, UH, BECAME SOMETHING THAT WAS NO LONGER IMPORTANT. AND THE REST OF THE WORLD, TECHNOLOGY IS MOVING FORWARD, AND THEY'RE DEVELOPING THESE BATTLESHIPS. THEY'RE DEVELOPING NEW, UH, HIGH QUALITY ARTILLERY. AND THIS IS GOING ON, UM, WORLDWIDE. AND IN 1885, PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND APPOINTED ENDICOTT BOARD, THIS WAS SEC HEADED BY SECRETARY WAR ENDICOTT, WILLIAM ENDICOTT. AND THE BOARD WOULD MEET AND ISSUE A REPORT IN 1886. AND THEY SAID THE CONDITIONS OF OUR COASTAL DEFENSES WERE JUST UNBEARABLE. THEY CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO STAY LIKE THAT. AND THEY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FORTIFICATION AND IMPROVEMENTS. THEY IDENTIFIED 29 PLACES THAT NEEDED FORTIFICATIONS, AND 11 OF WHICH WERE CRITICAL IN THAT LIST OF 29. SAVANNAH AND CHARLESTON ARE ON THE LIST, BUT BEAUFORT IS NOT ON THE LIST. IT'LL TAKE INTERNATIONAL EVENTS TO BRING BUFORT INTO THE PLAY OF, OF MODERN FORT TECHNOLOGY. SO THE USS MAINE WAS HERE ON PATROL AND IN THE HARBOR, AND WHILE THEY WERE IN THE HARBOR, SEVERAL TIMES, THEY ENTERTAINED THE LOCAL POPULATION. SO THE MERCHANTS AND THE SOCIAL LEADERS AND THE POLITICAL LEADERS OF BEAUFORT WERE INVITED TO COME HAVE LUNCH WITH THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP, CAPTAIN SBY. AND THE OFFICERS GOT TO KNOW THE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE GET, GOT TO KNOW THE OFFICERS. THE CREW, WHICH WAS LARGE, WOULD GO ASHORE ON PAYDAY AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH EVERYBODY IN TOWN. SO IT WAS A VERY SOCIAL, UM, ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWNS, PORT ROYAL AND BEAUFORT, AND THE SHIP. SO THE MAIN LEFT HERE, IT WENT AND REPROVISION, IT REFUELED IN KEY WEST, AND THEN WENT TO 90 MILES ACROSS TO HAVANA INTO THE HARBOR AND BLEW UP THIS INFLAMED, THE ALREADY, UH, HOT PASSIONS BOTH IN CUBA AND HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. AT THAT POINT, SOMEBODY IN THE WAR DEPARTMENT REALIZED THAT WE HAD THIS BIG DRY DOCK, THE ONLY DRY DOCK IN THE SOUTH THAT COULD TAKE ON AND REPAIR THESE BIG CAPITAL SHIPS THAT WERE IN OUR NAVY. WE WERE GOING TO START OPERATIONS AGAINST A POWER IN THE CARIBBEAN. AND THIS FORT WAS TOTALLY UNDEFENDED, AND THAT'S WHAT PUT FORT FREMONT ON THE MAP. WE HAD TO HAVE A FORD HERE TO DEFEND THE COALING STATION, AND ESPECIALLY THIS BIG DRY DOCK, AS WELL AS THIS FINE HARBOR THAT'S HERE. AND OF COURSE, THAT EVENT, WHICH KILLED 300 OR MORE SAILORS ON THE SHIP, UM, WAS VERY MUCH FOLLOWED BY THE LOCAL NEWS MEDIA AND VERY MUCH LAMENTED BY THE MANY FRIENDS THAT THE CREW HAD MADE HERE. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE USS MAINE WAS A PERSONAL MATTER TO BEAUFORT AND TO PORT ROYAL SOUND. UM, AND OF COURSE, IT WAS THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR AND THE ATTEMPT TO DEFEND THIS HARBOR AGAIN, WHICH LED TO THE, THE CREATION OF FORT FREEMAN. THE UNITED STATES DECLARED WAR ON SPAIN IN, IN APRIL, 1898. AND BY EARLY MAY, WE HAD TEMPORARY BATTERIES IN PLACE HERE, SUBMARINE MINES WERE IN PLACE, AND IN THE SUMMER, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY PLACE THE MINES ACROSS THE BEAUFORT RIVER. BEHIND ME. THE TEMPORARY BATTERIES WERE A TEMPORARY EXPEDIENT. THEY WERE LOCATED TO MY LEFT ABOUT A THOUSAND YARDS. THEY IMMEDIATELY BEGAN CONSTRUCTION OF WHAT WOULD BECOME FORT FREMONT. THE LARGE BATTERIES WOULD HOUSE THE LARGE GUNS BATTERY FOR THE RAPID FIRE GUNS. THE SMALLER BATTERY WAS COMPLETED BY JUNE OF 1898. IN THE 1898, EVERYBODY IN TOWN WENT TO WAR. UM, THEY HAD A NAVAL MILITIA UNIT, SOUTH CAROLINA NAVAL MILITIA UNIT, AND THEY WERE ABSORBED BY THE NAVY. UH, MANY OF THEM RAN TUGBOATS FROM HERE TO NEW YORK TO KEY WEST, WHICH WAS THE PRINCIPAL SUPPORT BASE, TAMPA AND KEY WEST FOR THE US ARMY OPERATIONS IN CUBA. PEACE WAS DECLARED BY THE END OF 1898, AND THE, UH, REMAINDER OF FORT FREMONT WOULD NOT BE FINISHED UNTIL EARLY 1899, AND THE FIRST SOLDIERS WOULD ARRIVE FROM THE REGULAR ARMY AT THAT POINT IN MARCH, 1899. WELL, FORT FREMONT WAS NAMED FOR, UH, MAJOR GENERAL JOHN FREMONT. UH, HE WAS ACTUALLY A LOCAL BOY, SO TO SPEAK. UH, HE WAS BORN AND GREW UP IN, UH, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, JUST, UH, SOUTH OF US. AND, UH, WENT TO, UH, COLLEGE IN THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON, UH, JUST NORTH OF US IN CHARLESTON. HE SERVED IN THE ARMY [01:20:01] AND, UH, PRIMARILY INITIALLY AS A, UM, EXPLORER, AS ARMY FORTS WERE GENERALLY NAMED FOR ARMY OFFICERS. UH, AND HE WAS, UH, CONNECTED LOCALLY. UH, THIS IS, UH, MORE THAN LIKELY WHY THE FORT WAS NAMED FOR HIM. THE FORT WAS CONSTRUCTED ON A SITE, UH, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE RIVER FROM, UH, THE PARIS ISLAND, UH, UH, NAVAL STATION. AND THE SITE SELECTED WAS 170 ACRES, WHICH INCLUDED THE TWO, UH, ARTILLERY, UH, BA BATTERIES, UH, FORT, UH, FOR FREMONT, OF COURSE, HAD BATTERY FOREIGNNESS AND BATTERY JESSUP. UH, BUT THEN ADJACENT TO THE BATTERY SITE WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE QUADRANGLE, A VERY TYPICAL MILITARY TYPE, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE SQUARE. UH, WE ARE SITTING IN THE NUMBER THREE GUN POSITION OF A THREE GUN BATTERY BATTERY JESSUP, WHICH HAD THREE 10 INCH DISAPPEARING CARRIAGE, LARGE CALIBER GUNS BREACH LOADING GUNS. THEIR PURPOSE WAS TO, UH, ENGAGE THE WARSHIPS THAT MIGHT, UH, BE ENTERING THE HARBOR, UH, AND PORT ROYAL SOUND. WE'RE HERE NOW AT THE SECOND BATTERY, UH, THAT WAS PART OF FORT FREMONT. THIS IS BATTERY FOR NANCE, UH, WAS NAMED FOR A ARMY OFFICER, UH, THAT WAS ACTUALLY KILLED DURING THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR. UH, DURING THE BATTLE OF SAN JUAN HILL, UH, BATTERY FOR MOUNTED TWO, UH, BRITISH MADE 4.72 INCH ARMSTRONG QUICKFIRE GUNS. UH, THEY WERE CALLED QUICKFIRE BECAUSE THEY LOADED, UH, WERE LOADED WITH A COMPLETE CARTRIDGE, AND IT, UH, IN TIME OF ACTION, THEY COULD FIRE FOUR TO SIX ROUNDS PER MINUTE. THE PURPOSE OF BATTERY FOR NANCE WAS TO DEFEND THE MINEFIELD, WHICH WAS THE OTHER COMPONENT OF THE ENDICOTT COAST ARTILLERY OR OR COAST DEFENSE SYSTEM. UH, A MINEFIELD, UH, WITH CONTROLLED MINES. CONTROLLED MEANING THAT THEY WERE CONNECTED ELECTRICALLY TO SHORE AND COULD BE FIRED ON COMMAND FROM SHORE. THAT, UH, CONTROL STATION WOULD'VE BEEN, UH, PROBABLY SHARED WITH THE PLOTTING ROOM. AND IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE MINE FIELD, OBVIOUSLY AN ENEMY WOULD WANT TO INTERFERE WITH THAT. MIGHT SEND VESSELS, UH, SMALL SHIPS IN HERE AT NIGHT TO TRY TO INTERFERE. AND THIS BATTERY WOULD TAKE THOSE VESSELS UNDER FIRE IF THERE WAS SOME, UH, THERE WAS SUSPECTED THAT, UH, UH, THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING TO INTERFERE WITH THE MINES, SUCH AS, UH, PULLING UP THE CABLES AND CUTTING THOSE. THE INDIGO ERA ERA OF FORT WAS A FORMIDABLE TECHNOLOGY. IT REPRESENTED STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY, DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY OF ITS TIME AGAINST THE STATE OF THE ART THREAT, WHICH WOULD BE THE BATTLESHIP. THE LIFE FOR THE SOLDIERS AT FORT FREMONT WAS DISCIPLINED AND REGIMENTED. THEY EVEN HAD MEALTIMES WERE SPECIFIED LENGTHS OF TIME, 15 MINUTES FOR LUNCH, 15 MINUTES AT BREAKFAST, 20 MINUTES AT SUPPER. THEY HAD TO PRACTICE THEIR SKILLS. THEY WERE TRAINING AND DOING MAINTENANCE CONSTANTLY, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH THESE BIG GUNS. THEY HAD TO HAVE SKILLS IN, IN PRACTICE SKILLS, IN ARTILLERY MIND, LAYING SIGNALING, WHICH INVOLVED IN OUR CASE AT FORT FREMONT, THE USE OF THE FIRE CONTROL TOWER, WHICH WAS A PRETTY SOPHISTICATED AND, UM, ADVANCED SIGNALING TECHNIQUE. THEN THEY ALSO HAD TO, UM, PRACTICE THE TYPICAL MILITARY SKILLS, MARCHING AND, UH, DRILLING SMALL ARMS, FIRE, FIRST AID, AND SO FORTH. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY ALSO, UM, HAD AT, PARTICIPATED IN ATHLETICS. THEY HAD PHYSICAL TRAINING, PT, AND THEY ALSO HAD SPORTS TEAMS. SO THIS WAS TO KEEP THEM PHYSICALLY FIT SO THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE THEIR, THEIR DUTIES, BECAUSE THEY WERE, IT WAS PRETTY RIGOROUS AT FORT F FREEMONT. WHEN EVENTUALLY THE DECISION WAS MADE TO MOVE THE DRY DOCK AND THE COALING STATION AND THE NAVY STATION UP TO CHARLESTON, THEN THIS FORT NO LONGER BECAME SIGNIFICANT. THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT HERE THAT WAS TO BE PROTECTED. AND AT THAT POINT, 1911, THE LAST TROOPS WERE TRANSFERRED OUT, AND THE FORT WAS CLOSED IN 1901, THE MAYOR OF CHARLESTON AND THE UNITED STATES SENATOR PITCHFORK, BEN TILLMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, [01:25:01] WANTED THIS TO MOVE FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY TO CHARLESTON COUNTY 'CAUSE THERE ARE MORE VOTES IN CHARLESTON COUNTY. AND THE MAYOR WANTED THE US CORPS OF ENGINEERS THAN IN THE NAVY TO DREDGE THE HARBOR IN CHARLESTON. 'CAUSE BATTLESHIPS IN THOSE DAYS REQUIRED 26 FEET OF WATER. CHARLESTON'S NATURAL HARBOR IS 15 FEET OF WATER. PORT ROYAL IS 30 FEET OF WATER. IN ORDER FOR CHARLESTON TO SUSTAIN ITS PORT, ITS COMMERCIAL PORT, IT HAD TO DREDGE THE HARBOR. WELL, IF THEY COULD GET THE NAVY UP THERE, THEY GET THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO DREDGE THE HARBOR. THAT WAS THE PLAY. AND THE, UH, THE PLAY FOR PITCHFORK, BEN TILLMAN, THE US SENATOR IN 1900, WAS THAT HE'D GET A WHOLE LOT MORE VOTES FROM VOTES FROM THE LARGEST CITY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. SO IT WAS A POLITICAL, COMMERCIAL OPERATION, AND THEY MOVED THE NATION AND IT WAS DONE, BOOM, LIKE THAT. THE FORT DID ITS JOB, THE DETERRENT FOR ANYBODY THAT WISHED TO ATTACK THESE. IT PROVIDED PROTECTION. IN FACT, THE WHOLE INDICO SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH NEVER CHALLENGED IN, UH, THIS ERA HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, PROVIDED SOME 300 MAJOR GUNS, COASTAL GUNS, TO PRO, UH, PROTECT MAJOR AREAS, AND LEFT THE UNITED STATES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY WITH AS WELL DEFENDED, UH, COASTLINE AS ANY PLACE IN, IN THE WORLD. BUT I, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT IT'S A MAGNIFICENT ARTIFACT OF AN ERA, AND IT'S AN ERA THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED, UH, THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY, UM, THE NAVAL STATION ACROSS THE RIVER HERE. AND, UM, SO IT'S A, IT'S A PIECE OF HISTORY THAT'S DISAPPEARING. AND THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT AND BEAUFORT COUNTY HAVE PRESERVED IT BEFORE THE USE OF THE PUBLIC. AND, UH, AS A MEMORIAL TO THAT MOMENT IN HISTORY, FORT FREMONT CLOSES A 350 YEAR STORY OF HOMELAND SECURITY ADDRESSING EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM IN THE 19TH CENTURY. IT'S A TALE OF HOW GEOGRAPHY, TECHNOLOGY, AND NATIONAL SECURITY CREATES A TRANSITION FOR AMERICA TO BECOME A GLOBAL POWER. IT'S ALSO A WONDERFUL SNAPSHOT OF AMERICA. IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY, THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT AND BEAUFORD COUNTY HAVE A VALUED PARTNERSHIP WORKING IN TANDEM TO PRESERVE THE FORT'S INTEGRITY AND PROMOTE THE HISTORICAL, NATURAL AND CULTURAL ASPECTS OF THE FORT. MOST IMPORTANT, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR CREATIVE WAYS TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE. . * 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.