SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford College conducted its 170th annual Commencement Exercises at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium on Sunday morning. During the event, the college awarded 421 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees. The graduates included over 80 student-athletes receiving degrees in May, August and December.
The college presented the prestigious Algernon Syndey Sullivan Awards to Jack Galbraith (student recipient) and Craig Burnett '68 (non-student recipient). The student recipient of the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award was Arnise Wright. The non-student recipient was Ruth Littlejohn.
Burnett '68 is known throughout the community and the nation as a leading expert in the area of homelessness. He has devoted his life and energy to assisting homeless military veterans. Burnett served in the U.S. Army as an infantry platoon leader, company commander and military advisor before joining the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a psychologist. A former baseball player for the Terriers, he's been a friend to the college, helping current students understand the importance of leadership through service.
The college also conferred honorary degrees on three individuals: Betty James Montgomery, Dr. Daniel B. Morrison Jr. and Tony L. Thomas. Morrison, a 1975 graduate and men's basketball student-athlete, returned to Wofford in 1985 as director of athletics. He guided the college through the process of becoming an NCAA Division I institution and joining the Southern Conference. He was instrumental in the building of Gibbs Stadium and the Richardson Physical Activities Building, also helping Wofford become the summer home of the NFL Carolina Panthers. Morrison went on to join the Southern Conference as commissioner. In 2005, he accepted a position as director of athletics for Texas Christian University, where he served for four years before being named president of the Panthers. In 2017, Morrison became a professor of practice in the Department of Sports and Entertainment Management at the University of South Carolina. He also serves as director of the Charlotte Sports Foundation. Morrison served on the Wofford College Board of trustees from 2011 to 2023.
The Phi Beta Kappa induction ceremonies were held on April 22, with Caroline Doss from the women's soccer team being inducted.
Also on Friday, May 17, 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:
Environmental Studies, The John Harrington Award: Carson Archie (men's cros country/track)
Spanish, The John L. Salmon Award: Ally Bigham (softball)
Five retiring faculty members were recognized during the ceremony: Dr. Alan Chalmers, professor of English (19 years of service), Dr. John McArthur, Reeves Family Professor of Economics, (34 years of service), Dr. Bob Moss, Larry H. McCalla Professor of Biology (32 years of service), Dr. Gary McCraw '77, professor of music (42 years of service), Dr. Li Qing Kinnison, professor of Chinese (20 years of service). The college's board of trustees granted all professor emeritus status.
Members of Wofford College's Class of 1974 celebrated their 50th reunion during Commencement Weekend.
