SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA—Wofford College’s 2022 Commencement Exercises will be held Sunday, May 22. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. on the lawn in front of Main Building.
David M. Beacham ’77, Wofford’s senior vice president for administration and secretary to the board of trustees, will serve as the featured speaker. Beacham is retiring from the college this summer after 45 years of service. In addition to his work in the President’s Office, he also worked with the college’s admission and advancement staffs, including 12 years as chief advancement officer, during which he oversaw a $90 million campaign, the largest achieved by the college at that time.
Honorary degrees will be presented to Dr. Michael A. Dirr, professor emeritus of horticulture at the University of Georgia; Alexandra Nunez, president and CEO of Esperanza, a microfinance institution in the Dominican Republic; and Dr. Leo Franklin Twiggs, a renowned artist who developed and chaired the fine arts department at South Carolina State University and is professor emeritus at the institution (read the full biographies of the honorees and the featured speaker).
The college will present the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Mary Mildred Sullivan Awards to two students and two non-students. The Roger Milliken Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Science and the Philip Covington Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Humanities and Social Sciences also will be presented to faculty members.
Commencement will be broadcast through the college’s YouTube channel at this link, wofford.edu/commencement2022, Sunday morning. In case of severe weather, Commencement will be held in Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
Commencement activities will take place throughout the weekend, including a Baccalaureate service at 5 p.m., Saturday, May 21, also at Main Building.
The Class of 1972 will also celebrate its 50th reunion over the weekend.
Here is the schedule for Commencement weekend:
Friday, May 20, 2022
Phi Beta Kappa Ceremony
3:30 p.m., Jerome Johnson Richardson Theatre, Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts.
Livestream Link: wofford.edu/phi-beta-kappa
Honors Convocation
The college’s annual academic and leadership awards program
5 p.m., Jerome Johnson Richardson Theatre, Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts.
Livestream Link: wofford.edu/honors-convocation
Reception for the Class of 2022 hosted by President Nayef and Prema Samhat
6:15-7:15 p.m., lawn near the Daniel Building.
Class of 2022 Celebration featuring DJ Kurious George
7:30-11:30 p.m. (Free food trucks from 7:30-9:30 p.m.), Phase III, The Village.
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Senior Showcase
Showcase of student research with a mimosa reception
10:30 a.m. – noon, Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts.
Presidential International Scholar Presentation
11 a.m., Room 112, Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts.
Wofford Firsts Senior Celebration
First-generation seniors are invited to celebrate their accomplishments
Noon, Harley Room, Richardson Physical Activities Building.
Registration: punchbowl.com/parties/f443f05952721222886f
Southern Guards Commissioning Ceremony
1 p.m., Jerome Johnson Richardson Theatre, Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts.
Livestream Link: wofford.edu/rotc-ceremony
Baccalaureate Service — An interfaith worship service for the Class of 2022
5 p.m., Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
Livestream Link: wofford.edu/baccalaureate
Senior Picnic
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Galleria, Michael S. Brown Village Center.
Class of 2022 Band Party featuring U’Neek Flav’ur
9 p.m.-midnight, Phase I, The Village.
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Commencement Exercises
Lemonade on the lawn to follow.
9:30 a.m., Seal, Main Building (Commencement will move to the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium in case of inclement weather. View the commencement livestream indoors at Leonard Auditorium, Main Building.)
Livestream Link: wofford.edu/commencement2022