SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford College conducted its 169th annual Commencement Exercises on the lawn in front of Main Building on Sunday morning. During the event, the college awarded 384 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees to 369 graduates, including over 80 student-athletes.
Lilly Hatton of the women's basketball team and Kennedy Smith of the volleyball team were two of the six Honors Graduates for earning a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout their college careers.
The college presented the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards to Isaiah Franco (student recipient) and Rabbi Yossi Liebowitz (non-student recipient). The student recipient of the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award was Lilly Hatton from the women's basketball team. The non-student recipient was Laura Ringo.
The college also conferred honorary degrees on three individuals: Patricia Gainey, Brenda Lee Pryce and Alexander Smalls. Gainey, the first woman to coach at Wofford, established the college's first women's athletics teams in the early 1980s. Gainey arrived at Wofford in 1979 after earning her master's degree at Appalachian State University. She started club basketball and volleyball teams for women at Wofford before starting varsity teams in the same sports.
The weekend included Phi Beta Kappa induction ceremonies on Friday, May 19. Student-athletes in the group included: Georgia Fischer (women's tennis), McKenzie Guest (women's soccer), Lilly Hatton (women's basketball) and Kennedy Smith (volleyball).
Also on Friday, May 19, the college's annual Honors Convocation was held in the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. Academic departments recognized their outstanding students, and a variety of other leadership and citizenship awards were presented during the event. Student-athletes recognized included:
Business Economics: Lexi Reichenbach (women's soccer)
Spanish, The John L. Salmon Award: Netanya Linares (women's track and field)
Biology, The W. Ray Leonard Award: Tatiyana Adkins (cheerleading)
The Eric L. Marshall Award: Kerrington Johnson (women's track and field)
The William James McLeod Award: Kennedy Smith (volleyball)
The "Heart of the Terrier" Leadership Awards: Lilly Hatton (women's basketball) and Rylee Jorgensen (women's track and field)
Six retiring faculty members were recognized during the ceremony: Dr. G.R. Davis, McCalla Professor of Biology (29 years of service); Sally Hitchmough, professor of English (27 years of service); Dr. Dave Kusher, professor of biology (27 years of service); Dr. Eun-Sun Lee, professor of music and director of string ensembles (19 years of service); Dr. Rickey Madden, associate professor of business and coordinator of the business program (14 years of service); and Dr. Eddie Richardson, professor of accounting, business and finance (31 years of service). The college's board of trustees granted all professor emeritus status.
Members of Wofford College's Class of 1973 celebrated their 50th reunion during Commencement Weekend. The class included the first two Black women to graduate from the college, Gwendolyn Prince-Lawrence and Janice Means.
