DECEMBER 19, 2024
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
COMMENCEMENT
DECEMBER 19, 2024
Prelude
Soohyun Yun, piano
Keilie Perry ’24, flute
Kailyn Stromer ’28, viola
Bianca O’Niell ’26, cello
*Processional
“Pomp and Circumstance”
Soohyun Yun, piano
Opening Remarks
Michael S. Wilder
Provost
*Invocation
Jon Davis
Associate Vice President for Spiritual Life
Welcome
Gabrielle Poole
Dean, College of Health Sciences
Hymn
“Joy to the World”
Led by Luke Baur ’27
Special Music
“The Lord’s Prayer”
Soohyun Yun, piano
Introduction of Speaker
Gabrielle Poole
Dean, College of Health Sciences
Commencement Address
Michael S. Wilder
Provost
COMMENCEMENT
Presentation of Candidates for Degrees
Gabrielle Poole
Dean, College of Health Sciences
Conferring of Degrees
Michael S. Wilder
Provost
*Alma Mater Led by Luke Baur ’27
Hail to thee, O Charleston Southern: Fount of God’s great truth and knowledge. We thy children all sing praises ever more to thee.
Source of inspiration, beacon of salvation; Honor, Courage, Faith, and Justice
These thou hast taught us day by day. Hail to thee, O Charleston Southern, Alma Mater Hail!
*Prayer of Consecration and Benediction
Michael S. Wilder
Provost
**Recessional “March,” Franz Schubert
Soohyun Yun, piano
* The audience will please stand.
** The audience will remain in their places until graduates have dispersed.
Join us for a light reception following the ceremony.
CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES
College
of
Education - Doctor of Education
Bernard Herman Blaney Jr.
Perceptions of Educators Regarding the Social-Emotional Abilities of African American Gifted Males
Kevin Demar Coakley
Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in Action: Exploring Teacher Perception and Implementation in A Diverse New York High School
Chemir June Conyers
Unveiling Perspectives: School Administrators' Experiences with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
Emma Lee Tartt
A Qualitative Study of African American Families' Motivations to Homeschool Their Children Using the Microschool Method
Merrielee Ellis Waters
Special Education Teachers’ Self-Efficacy in Providing Transition Services for Students in Grades 9-12 with Disabilities
College
of
Education - Master of Education
Jessica Nicole Collins
Sarah Jill Hogle
Dylan Hunter
Ruby M. King
Shivanand Goud Mallam
Noah Alford Miller
Devonte Turner
Hans A. Nielsen College of Business - Master of Business Administration
Jesse E. Adams
Devin J. Bowser Jr.
Brandon Alexander Bowman
Jordan Raye Berry
Jessica Braun
Kari Jo Brown
Catherine Ann Carvill
Cyrus Roneal Champagne III^
Christian Rene Chiriboga
Joshua Aaron Enoch
Clare Marie Glauser
Hannah Jackson
Amaya Aaliyah Johnson
Anna Grace Johnson
Lacy Taylor Johnson
Colson N. Lancaster
Geordan Evan Livingston
Anna Drue Ellis Maybin
Ellen Amanda Swofford
Lauren Jane Totuszynski
Jenna Rose Moran
Ja'Courtney Omari Snipes
Bailey Till Urban
Daniel Eugene Woodward
Christy Dilworth Wyndham
Hans A. Nielsen College of Business - Master of Arts
Dylan Christopher Margolis JazMyn Marcassia Singleton
CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES
Hans A. Nielsen College of Business - Master of Science
William Lee Amos II
Matthew David Beadling
Cheryl Lynn Gimple
Ashley Renee Maddox
Ashley Ann Meckley
Irene Nabisenke
Tanner Curtis Shepherd
Astrid Carolina Villamizar Portilla
Rebecca Joy Weatherstone
College of Adult and Professional Studies - Master of Science
Bradley Austin Barker
McKenzie Grace Hagwood Barker
Allen T. Boyd
Danny Antonio Bristol^
Kirk Maurice Brown
Joseph D. Campbell^
Brittany Renee David
Trayson Blake Fowler
Kristian Dexter Greene
Michael David McGinnis III
Shaquita Kenyetta McRae
Edward Joseph Olsen Jr.
Kierra Pittman
Ashley Brianne Ramsey
Jared James Restmeyer
Jaron D. Richardson
Matthew J. Schmidt
Britni C.B. Seigler
College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Master of Arts
Morgan Elizabeth Beard
James Michael Blanton
Kimberly Naomi Janae Watson
College of Science and Mathematics - Master of Science
Annie Mariah Butler
Priyanka Bangalore Kumaraswamy
College of Nursing - Master of Science
Jennifer Brooks-Simmons^
Haley Mae Dabbs
Betsy Hudson
Savannah Elizabeth Lethco
^ U.S. Military Veteran
Bria Nicole Wise
Nathan Lowe
Christine Risher
ACADEMIC REGALIA AND CEREMONY
The history of academic dress dates back to the 14th century. Their use was presumably for warmth in the unheated building during European winters. Now, they are reminders of the years of work required to earn academic degrees. The color and pageantry of the academic regalia prevalent in the United States today was fixed by convention in 1895 and revised in 1932, 1959, and 1986.
There are three basic academic gowns. The gown for bachelor degrees has pointed sleeves and is worn closed. The gown for master degrees has oblong sleeves with slit openings at the elbow and the base hanging down. It is worn with a hood, and the color indicates the discipline of the degree. The doctoral gown is tastefully ornamented with colored velvet down the front and three chevrons on the bell-shaped sleeves. Only presidential gowns have a fourth chevron on the sleeves. Both the master’s and doctor’s hoods have a velvet border, with the doctoral hood being the more elaborate. A gold tassel on the doctor’s cap replaces the black* on the master’s and bachelor’s caps.
The colors lining the hoods worn by the faculty are those of the institution granting the degree and the velvet border indicates the branch of knowledge in which the degree was acquired. The colors for the subjects are:
Arts and Humanities White
Business Drab
Economics Copper
Education Light Blue
Fine Arts Brown
Law Purple
Library Science Lemon
Medicine Green
Music Pink
Nursing Apricot
Philosophy Dark Blue
Physical Education Sage Green
Physical Therapy Teal
Science Golden Yellow
Theology Scarlet
GRADUATION BIBLE
In addition to their diplomas, each graduate will be presented with a CSU Graduation Bible provided through the Frank J. and Brenda B. Johnson Bible Endowment and the Lockman Foundation.
