Spartanburg, S.C. — Wofford College’s 2019 Commencement Exercises will be held Sunday, May 19. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. on the lawn of Main Building. Board-certified internist, human rights advocate and alumna Dr. Katherine (Katy) Close will serve as featured speaker and receive an honorary degree. Additional honorary degree recipients include acclaimed ceramicist Alice R. Ballard, philanthropist Marsha Harrison Gibbs and business leader Joe E. Taylor Jr. (Read the full biographies of the honorees. Photos are available upon request.)
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 webcast in real time beginning at 9:30 am; the link may be found on www.wofford.edu Sunday morning.
Commencement activities will take place throughout the weekend, including a Baccalaureate Service at 5 p.m., Saturday, May 18, also held on the lawn of Main Building.
Here is the schedule for Commencement weekend:
Saturday, May 18
Southern Guards Battalion R.O.T.C. Commissioning Ceremony
10 a.m., Leonard Auditorium, Main Building
The Southern Guards Battalion will continue the time-honored tradition of commissioning its graduating cadets to the rank of second lieutenant in the United States Army, Army Reserve and National Guard. The featured speaker will be Brigadier General Milford Beagle Jr., a native of Enoree, S.C. Beagle was commissioned into the Infantry after graduating from South Carolina State University in 1990 as a distinguished military graduate. Beagle has led and commanded troops at every echelon from platoon to brigade. He has soldiered with five regiments, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), the 6th Infantry, the 9th Infantry, 35th Infantry and the 41st Infantry Regiment. A reception will follow the commissioning ceremony in Anna Todd Wofford Center.
Saturday, May 18
Baccalaureate Service
5 p.m., Lawn, Main Building
This special service for graduating seniors and their families, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Ron Robinson, Perkins-Prothro Chaplain and Professor of Religion, will be followed by a reception on the lawn.
Sunday, May 19
Commencement Exercises
9:30 a.m., Lawn, Main Building
Commencement Exercises will be held for Wofford’s Class of 2019. Members of the Class of 1969 will be honored guests. Honorary degrees, special recognitions and awards will be presented along with graduates’ diplomas. Board-certified internist, human rights advocate and alumna Dr. Katherine “Katy” Close will be the featured speaker.
Lemonade on the Lawn
Lawn, Main Building
Immediately following the Commencement Exercises
Lemonade and water will be available at this reception for families and friends to gather and congratulate their 2019 graduates.
Art exhibitions:
The Richardson Family Art Gallery and Richardson Family Art Museum in the Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts will have special hours during Commencement Weekend. Visit the museuem and gallery for more information.
Commencement Weekend Hours:
Saturday, May 18 – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 19 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Richardson Family Art Gallery and Richardson Family Art Museum also will be open normal hours during Commencement Week, 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 1 to 9 p.m., Thursday.