Commencement: Around the system

Posted on: May 4, 2016; Updated on: May 4, 2016

Whether you're a Gamecock or a Fire Ant, a University of South Carolina commencement ends with "Forever to Thee." We captured a few images from UofSC commencement exercises at Aiken, Beaufort, Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, Union and Upstate.

USC Beaufort nursing students display their creative and unique graduation caps.
USC Union’s commencement speaker, U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney, told graduates: "You live in the only country in the history of the planet that was created specifically so that you could be the best teacher, the best mother, the best preacher — the best all of the above. That is what it means to be American."
USC Lancaster graduate Brandon Michael Newton, 2016 recipient of the Clara P. Hammond Award, was the first Palmetto College graduate to earn BOL & BLS degrees simultaneously.
At USC Salkehatchie, student of the year, honor graduate and graduate with leadership dinstinction, Cody Youmans said of Joe Siren, the 2016 Distinguished Teaching Award Recipient: "There are so many people in this world with so many different cultures and because of Professor Siren I have learned to respect other people’s cultures just as much as I respect mine."
USC Sumter’s Julia Sorrells (left) represents the Fire Ant women’s tennis team’s motto #antup with her graduation cap. Rebekah Davis (right) revealed for the first time her role as USC Sumter’s mascot “Blaze” by wearing her costume’s shoes when crossing the stage.
USC Upstate nursing graduate Jody Layout cannot contain her excitement at commencement — the last one for Upstate Chancellor Tom Moore, who reminded graduates to stay #SpartanStrong.
USC Aiken had more than 400 graduates, including eight international students from countries including Brazil, Italy, Jamaica, China and Saudi Arabia.

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Topics: Students, Alumni, Academics, Signature Events, University System