C of C Graduates Largest Class Ever on Mother's Day

May 14, 2002

"Guess where I am right now!" may have been said by this member of the Class of 2002 as she processed onto the graduation stage.

The College of Charleston’s Class of 2002-- more than 1,100 strong-- is the largest ever at South Carolina oldest institution of higher learning.

The Sunday, May 12 commencement was held outdoors on The Cistern Yard. The speaker was Edward Villella, America’s most celebrated male dancer. Villella, Founding Artistic Director of the Miami City Ballet and a National Medal of the Arts recipient, received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree.

“The curtain is going up on the rest of your lives,” said Villella. “Think, know what makes us think, be informed, and thereby inform us. Discover your tastes, your sensitivities, and find the whole you.”

Villella is recognized nationally and internationally for his contributions to the field of classical dance and arts in education. He is a Kennedy Center Honoree, a member of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, and has been named one of “America’s Irreplaceable Dance Treasures” by The Dance Heritage Coalition.

This was the first May commencement at the College of Charleston for the school’s new president Lee Higdon.

Eight graduates were recognized for having perfect 4.0 grade point averages. They are Meredith Clark (Spanish), Sharon Coleman (Special Education and Psychology), Julie Doyle (French and Psychology), Mary Ford (Communication and Psychology), Jeffrey Forrest (Economics), Sharon Hunt (Accounting), Jennifer Ann Turner (History) and Tarsem Purewal, Jr. (Computer Science and Mathematics).

President Lee Higdon presided over his first C of C May commencement.

On Saturday, May 11, commencement was held for students receiving their master’s degrees from The Graduate School- College of Charleston (formerly called the University of Charleston, S.C.) Nearly 70 graduate students received their degrees. The speaker was South Carolina Senator Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr. who receive an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree.

Leatherman told the graduates that voting is the most important right that Americans have, because it is used to choose our leaders.

“America is built upon ideals and principles,” said Leatherman. “I urge idealism on you as a way of life. Ethical conduct and moral behavior should guide how we conduct ourselves.”

Leatherman, a Republican from Florence, has served in the South Carolina Senate since 1981. He is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Republican Caucus. His other committee assignments include ethics, agriculture and natural resources, transportation, and labor, commerce, and industry.

The senior class gift is a new cast iron sculpture that will be part of a new fountain to be located by Randolph Hall.

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Contact: Patrick Harwood
College Relations
(843) 953-2548
harwoodp@cofc.edu