David Dunlap, president and chief executive officer of Roper St. Francis Healthcare, and Jeff Deal, medical missionary to Sudan, sole patent holder of the UVAS automated room decontamination system, and retired otolaryngologist, spoke at Charleston Southern University’s graduation Dec. 15, during which 177 undergraduate seniors and 103 graduate program and evening college students received their diplomas.
Amanda Allen of North Augusta and Justin Baker of Goose Creek were among the Dec. 15 graduates of Charleston Southern University.Dunlap was awarded an honorary doctorate of public service for his years of dedication to helping others in the Charleston community, through both health care provision and his involvement with service organizations such as Trident United Way.
“What we must remember is that the character of our citizens is essential to the success of our nation,” said Dunlap.
According to Dunlap, Charleston Southern’s mission is in line with the mission of Roper St. Francis Healthcare, which is “healing all people with compassion, faith and excellence.”
Deal compared life to a curve with the lowest part on the left, the steepest rise in the center and the highest plateau on the right. He encouraged the graduates to perform their jobs with excellence on the right side of the curve, but to conduct their work where they will get the best results for their efforts on the steep part of the curve. That is where he encouraged them to apply their lives to helping others in need.
Deal was presented with a distinguished service award for his years of helping others through his medical profession and his medical mission work in Sudan. This year, he was responsible for administering more than 8,000 meningitis immunizations there.
An honorary diploma was posthumously awarded to the mother of Josh Williams, CSU track star who passed away Jan. 13 in his hometown of Baton Rouge, La. Williams was majoring in biology, with a minor in business, and was a member of this graduating class.
“Josh was definitely a leader on the track, and a spiritual leader for his team,” said head coach Tim Langford.