Members of the CofC Honors Class of 2019 seated at the Charleston Music Hall
On Friday, May 10th, the CofC Honors Class of 2019 was recognized at the annual Honors College Ceremony. Family, friends, faculty, staff, and senior administrators gathered in Charleston Music Hall to celebrate the accomplishments of all 116 graduating seniors. In one of his last formal speeches prior to retirement, Interim President Osborne closed with three pieces of advice for the graduates: “You are one person, but that you can do something in life….you have one life to live, so make it one that you will be proud of in your twilight years…[and] you are to go forth into this world with great gusto and blaze a trail that’s both memorable and an inspiration to those who will come after you.” Honors College Dean Trisha Folds-Bennett presented President Osborne and Provost Brian McGee, who will leave the College of Charleston this summer to take the helm as President of Quincy College, with Honors medals as symbols that they have both been integral parts of the CofC Honors community and its successes over the years.
Dean Trisha Folds-Bennett presents Interim President Steve Osborne with an Honors medal in recognition of his support of the Honors College and in celebration of his retirement.
Also recognized at the ceremony was Susan West Story ’93, recipient of the 2019 Honors College Distinguished Alumni Award. Story is a native of Moncks Corner, SC and a 1993 graduate of the Honors Program. Story graduated cum laude with B.S. degrees in economics and business administration. Story has lived across the globe and worked in a variety of capacities for the United States government. Along with her husband Jimmy, a career foreign service officer with the US Department of State, and their son Mac, Story has resided in Washington, D.C., New York City, Guadalajara, Mexico, Maputo, Mozambique, Brasilia, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Bogota, Colombia, and most recently, Caracas, Venezuela. Story addressed the Class of 2019 and gave an account of how the rigor and challenge of a CofC Honors education helped her develop ‘grit’ that has served her well in her career and life. You can read more about Story and her award here.
Dean Trisha Folds-Bennett shared remarks about each graduate’s activities and achievements while at the College as well as their future plans. Pictured here is graduate Miriam Atteya.
Dean Folds-Bennett made remarks about each graduate before they walked across the stage to receive their certificate and medal. After individual recognition, she commended the class as a whole for how they “engaged deeply, participated enthusiastically, and led boldly.” She noted that each student came to the College of Charleston and the Honors College to “deepen [their] knowledge, build [their] skills, broaden [their] horizons, open doors, create networks, experience community, find [themselves], know thyself. From reflecting on your accomplishments and experiences, I would venture a guess that you have done all of that and much more.”
Photos from the ceremony are available here. Click here to view the program for the ceremony. Included in the program are the names of each graduate, their Bachelor’s Essay mentors, college-wide and departmental award recipients, and other special recognition. Click here to view presentation slides that were displayed as each graduate was recognized.
All photos by Michael Wiser, www.michaelwiserphotography.com
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