Kenneth Hardy Cooper, founder, president, and CEO of the Cooper Aerobics Center and an international pioneer in aerobic exercise, will deliver the summer commencement address.
The ceremony, for baccalaureate, master’s, and professional degree candidates from the University’s eight campuses, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 7 in the Colonial Center.
Cooper will receive an honorary degree of doctor of science. Kay Patterson, a retired educator and veteran senator in the S.C. General Assembly, will receive an honorary degree of doctor of public service.
Robert Feller, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, will be the speaker at doctoral commencement exercises at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 7 in the Koger Center.
The University expects to award more than 1,300 degrees, including 519 baccalaureate degrees, two Pharm.D. degrees, two law degrees, two medical degrees, 11 graduate certificates, 393 master’s degrees, five specialist’s degrees, and 80 doctoral degrees from the Columbia campus.
Degree candidates from the senior and regional campuses include 69 baccalaureate and nine master’s degree from USC Aiken; 20 associate degrees from USC Beaufort; 10 associate degrees from USC Lancaster; three associate degrees from USC Salkehatchie; 16 associate degrees from USC Sumter; 14 associate degrees from USC Union; and one associate degree, 188 baccalaureate degrees, and three master’s degrees from USC Upstate.
Six years after graduating from the University of Oklahoma’s medical school in 1956, Cooper earned a master’s degree in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health while he was an Air Force flight surgeon.
Serving in the military for 13 years, Cooper developed the 12-minute fitness test and the Aerobics Point System, still in use by the Army, Navy, Secret Service, and many foreign military organizations. In 1966, he received certification from the American Board of Preventive Medicine and, two years later, published Aerobics, which became a bestseller and launched his full-time research of exercise and health.
In 1970, Cooper opened the Cooper Aerobics Center, a research institute and clinic in Dallas, Texas, with gymnasium and exercise facilities. A 450-person staff now operates the center and its programs.
Cooper has lectured in more than 50 countries and written 18 books, including Aerobics for Women, Running Without Fear, Controlling Cholesterol, Preventing Osteoporosis, and Regaining the Power of Youth at Any Age. Recognized as the leader of the international physical fitness movement, Cooper is credited with raising awareness of the need to exercise in pursuit of good health.
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| Kay Patterson |
A native of Darlington County, Patterson graduated from Lincoln High School in Sumter and was a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951 to 1953. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Allen University, completed further study at Temple University, and earned a master’s of education degree from South Carolina State University in 1971.
Patterson taught social studies for 14 years at W.A. Perry Middle School, C.A. Johnson High School, and at Benedict College and was a UniServ representative for the S.C. Education Association for 16 years.
Patterson was a representative in the S.C. House of Representatives from 1974 to 1985 at which time he was elected to the S.C. Senate, representing District No. 19 in Richland County. He is active in many civic and community organizations and has a lifetime membership in the NAACP.
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Kenneth Cooper
