Kelsey Farnham enjoys a sunny graduation day at Anderson University.Nearly 1,200 students received degrees at spring graduation ceremonies at South Carolina’s three Southern Baptist-related universities.
Commencement speakers included a congressman, an executive of a utilities provider, and the author of the popular “Experiencing God” Bible study.
Anderson University
On May 5, a total of 307 graduates, up 40 from last year’s record, received diplomas at Anderson University in a ceremony framed by tall oak trees and the manicured lawns and hedges of the 101-year-old university.
Catherine Heigel, president of Duke Energy South Carolina, which serves more than 600,000 customers in the Upstate region and nearly 4 million in the Carolinas and the Midwest, gave the commencement address. Heigel urged the graduates to recapture the ability to make meaningful “human connections” in an age of technology and social media.
“Embrace Facebook and social media,” she told those in attendance, “but earn the right to use electronic forms of communication by first establishing a human connection with those around you.” Heigel cited the potential danger in allowing the electronic forms of communication to cause people to disconnect from the human experience and grow isolated.
Sinclair Lewis, a longtime minister and 52-year organizer of Palmetto Boys State, was given an honorary doctorate. Palmetto Boys State calls Anderson University home each summer when up to 1,000 of South Carolina’s most promising young leaders gather to learn about government and focus on developing skills to become South Carolina’s next generation of adult leaders.
Charleston Southern alumnus and congressman Tim Scott speaks to the graduating class of 2012.Charleston Southern University
CSU awarded 412 undergraduate degrees and 166 graduate degrees May 5 at North Charleston Coliseum.
U.S. Rep. Tim Scott, guest speaker, was awarded an honorary doctorate of public service. Scott told graduates, “Sometimes life is going to get you on the blind side. You have to learn to fail forward.” He urged graduates to make the most of unexpected challenges.
Samuel Cox, who was awarded the master of science in criminal justice, recently received the Outstanding Master of Science in Criminal Justice student of the year award. The 57-year-old is a husband of 39 years, father of seven and grandfather of 30. He will travel to Israel next month with Earl Cox (no relation), an Israel Goodwill Ambassador to Jews and Christians around the world. Cox will travel with a group of ministers. “Being at CSU was God’s purpose for me, and I feel I am to preach the gospel.”
S. Dolores Jones, assistant professor of communication, was named professor emerita of communication. She has been teaching communication at Charleston Southern since 1967.
Michael L. Bryant, assistant professor of religion, received the Excellence in Teaching Award. Bryant has been a member of the CSU faculty since 2008.
Henry Blackaby, left, is presented an honorary doctor of Christian leadership degree by NGU president Jimmy Epting and board chairman Arnold Emery.North Greenville University
Henry T. Blackaby, founder and president emeritus of Blackaby Ministries International, encouraged NGU’s graduating class of approximately 300 on May 3 to “listen to the heart of God.”
“When we’re up here [on stage], we have the enormous privilege of looking into the faces of these young people. I wish all of you had the opportunity to see the potential in each one,” said Blackaby. “As you remain personally committed to [God], there’s no limit to what he can do through you. Our nation and our world need Christian, godly young adults who are wholly yielded to him.”
He told the graduates that their professors, unknown to them, prayed, “Father, bring into my classroom young adults I can teach and lead into your will so that – God can use [them] to turn the world upside down.”
Blackaby was presented an honorary doctor of Christian leadership degree by NGU president Jimmy Epting and Arnold Emery, chairman of the university’s board of trustees.
“Thank you, Dr. Blackaby, for being a tremendous Christian leader in our world today,” said Epting. “Your writings have been an inspiration to me and to so many others.”
Blackaby witnessed his granddaughter, Carrie, graduate with a bachelor of arts degree.