by Dudley Brown
A familiar face to a few generations of Terriers delivered the address during Wofford’s 168th Commencement. David Beacham ’77 shared insight with the 357 graduates in the Class of 2022 as they embarked on a new chapter in life. His words were designed to prepare them to participate in Commencement exercises in 2072, as the Class of 1972 was while celebrating its 50th reunion during the weekend.
“It has become a tradition at Wofford College to ask a successful graduate to return as our Commencement speaker. What better way to inspire us all than to show the product of the transformational liberal arts education experience that is distinctive to Wofford?” said President Nayef Samhat during Commencement. “Wofford’s story and David Beacham’s story have been inextricably intertwined for almost 50 years. … He came as a student, and we never let him leave.”
Beacham, the college’s senior vice president of administration and secretary to the board of trustees, is retiring this summer after 45 years of service to the college. (Read more about Beacham and other retirees on pages 28-33 and read his Commencement address at Wofford.edu/commencement.)
May’s Commencement exercises returned to the lawn of Main Building for the first time since 2019. Baccalaureate services were held in the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium because of the threat of inclement weather. The weekend also included Honors Convocation, ROTC Commissioning, a Senior Showcase of research and a presentation from Presidential International Scholar Hector Ortiz ’22, Phi Beta Kappa induction, class of 2022 parties and a special luncheon celebrating this class of first-generation college students.
Also recognized during the weekend was Roberta Hurley ’81, who will transition this summer from vice president for campus life and student development and dean of students — a role she’s had for 26 years — to senior vice president for administration and secretary to the board.
“We are fortunate at Wofford College to have so many faculty and staff who care so deeply for students,” said Samhat during Commencement exercises. “I often say that student success is a line in all of our job descriptions, and Roberta Hurley and David Beacham each have lived that.”
Right: The class of 1972 prepares to process
Honorary degree recipients
The college awarded 374 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees to 357 graduates during Commencement. Wofford also conferred honorary degrees on three individuals:
Center: Alexandra Nunez, president and CEO of Esperanza International, a microfinance institution in the Dominican Republic that partners with Wofford’s student- managed James-Atkins Investment Fund to provide microloans in the Dominican Republic.
Right: Dr. Leo Franklin Twiggs, distinguished artist-in-residence at Claflin University and professor emeritus at South Carolina State University, who curated an exhibition of artwork from Historically Black Colleges and Universities that was displayed on Wofford’s campus in the fall of 2021.
Sullivan Award winners
Right: The non-student recipient was Beverly Page, a master gardener who has led efforts to help Spartanburg nonprofits receive thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables during the summers. Harold Page was the non-student recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for his humanitarian work as a master gardener with his wife.
Teaching awards and honor graduates
Center: The Honor Graduate (or in this case graduates) at Wofford must be intelligent, disciplined and committed to working hard each and every day. Such is the nature of the academic enterprise at a Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college. This year’s Honor Graduates were Slaton Schneider and Alexis Tomlin. Both earned a 4.0 grade point average.
Right: Walking into the world: After Commencement, graduates walk together through the gates of the college. These Terriers are prepared for what's next.
Right: Dr. A.K. Anderson ’90 announced the Senior Order of Gnomes during Honors Convocation (from left): Al Hogan, Jay Stevens, Hanes Grafe and Alicia Jones.
Center: First-generation college student Brianna Basinger ’22 and her proud parents at a luncheon held to celebrate the success of Wofford's first-gen graduates. Basinger will begin law school at the University of South Carolina in the fall.
Right: Faculty form a gauntlet and prepare to congratulate Wofford's newest graduates.
Right: This year's Baccalaureate Service was held in the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. The Rev. Dr. Ron Robinson ’78, Perkins-Prothro Chaplain and Professor of Religion, led the service.
Right: Students, families and friends gather during the senior party the night before Commencement.