LANCASTER, S.C. — The University of South Carolina Lancaster is preparing for its annual commencement exercise to honor students earning degrees this spring.
The college will host the ceremony at 11 a.m. April 27 outdoors in the Starr Hall parking area. Dr. Walter Collins, campus dean of USCL from 2013-23, will be the commencement speaker for this year’s ceremony.
“We anticipate a great ceremony on the 27th. It’s the highlight of the year at any college campus, so it’s really a celebratory day,” Collins said.
Collins, who was named executive vice chancellor for academic and student affairs and associate provost for USC Palmetto College in December, says about 100 students will walk the stage to receive their degrees.
He points to the fact that many USCL students come from first-generation families, which makes the ceremonies more valuable to students.
“It’s a day that a lot of students and families didn’t know if they would see. Many students are first-generation college students and it’s a hard thing to be a student and maybe have a part-time or full-time job and family responsibilities. There’s truly a sense of accomplishment that day,” Collins said.
He also says that many faculty members know just what getting a degree means to students.
“They know when they come there to be employed, they know they’re coming to a teaching institution that serves a lot of first-generation and under-represented students. They come with that success mindset that ‘I will work with these students, help them and support them,’ ” Collins said. “There is a sense of accomplishment on the faculty side on commencement day, because for them to see those students walk across the stage and get to celebrate with them and their families, it’s a wonderful thing.”
According to Collins, most students participating in the ceremony plan to attend either four-year institutions or enter the workforce after receiving their degrees. Some with four-year degrees already plan to walk again to get additional certification.
Collins’ oldest daughter, Abigail, will also take part in the ceremony. She will receive her associate degree with the designation of Graduation with Leadership Distinction in Community Service, thanks in part to dual-credit courses offered by the school.
Abigail plans to attend the College of Charleston to finish her four-year degree after her graduation from Lancaster High School in May, according to Collins. He says that seeing his daughter walk the stage will make the day even more special.
“We’re certainly going to celebrate next weekend with that and just having a good time with her accomplishments and all that she’s been able to do,” Collins said.
In his speech, Collins plans to draw ties between Lancaster County and USCL and how it laid the foundation for students to be successful.
“There’s an uncommon cooperative, energetic spirit there that these students may not even realize they’re a part of. I’m going to try to connect that and (help them) understand about the people who came before them and what they’ve done to build a city, culture and campus that paved the way for them to be successful,” Collins said.
Most importantly, he says that it will be a strong feeling seeing students take the next chapter in their lives.
“It’s a great honor. I’ve done commencements at USC Lancaster since my first year there in 2002. It’s always a fun day, but to be the commencement speaker, it’s really special, especially finishing up my time there as campus dean in December. It’ll be great to see many of these students walk across the stage,” Collins said.
