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The University's winter commencement will take on a special flavor this year with a tribute to the institution's first commencement that took place 200 years ago.
The tribute will begin with two events before the Dec. 17 commencement ceremonies. At 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, a theatrical program entitled "Starting from Five," featuring period music and an historical commemoration of Carolina's first commencement in 1807, will be held at the Newberry Opera House. The University's first five graduates all hailed from Mount Bethel Academy in Newberry County. Their descendants, who number about 250, have been invited to the program.
A similar program will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 16 in Rutledge College Chapel, site of the first commencement. A reception will follow the event at 3 p.m. in McCutchen House. History professor Walter Edgar will host the events at Newberry and Rutledge College Chapel.
A five- to six-minute video tribute, which will include interpretive scenes of the first commencement, will be presented at the 3:30 p.m. Dec. 17 baccalaureate, master's, and professional degree commencement ceremony in the Colonial Center. The video presentation will be in lieu of a commencement speaker.
History professor Walter Edgar will deliver remarks about the bicentennial of the first commencement at the doctoral hooding ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 17 in the Koger Center.
The December 1807 commencement marked the culmination of six years of investment from the state of South Carolina. The state legislature chartered South Carolina College in December 1801 and provided funds for land, the first building (Rutledge), and recruitment of a college president and faculty. The college opened its doors in 1805 and produced its first graduates two years later.
Members of the state Supreme Court and legislature attended the first commencement, which was hailed as "a day of rejoicing." Early commencements at Carolina featured recitations in Greek and Latin and were always held in December.
The 1807 Commencement Commemoration Committee was chaired by long-time University trustee Othniel Wienges and included several faculty and staff members and friends and alumni of the University. Board of Trustees chair Herbert Adams provided much of the impetus for developing a fitting tribute to the 200-year anniversary.
Faculty and staff are invited to any of the programs or to attend the commencement ceremony.
To attend the events at the Newberry Opera House or at Rutledge Chapel, send an RSVP by Dec. 10 by calling 7-3106 or by e-mail to trustees@sc.edu.
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