Charleston area colleges to hold commencement ceremonies

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Students from four of the Charleston area’s main colleges will soon embark on the next phase of their adult lives after receiving their diplomas over the next few weeks.

Trident Technical College will host its commencement ceremony on Friday, May 3 at the North Charleston Coliseum. This will be the last ceremony led by the college’s outgoing president, Mary Thornley, who is retiring at the end of June after more than 50 years at the school.

Trident Tech adopted a tradition years ago to have its graduates deliver commencement speeches rather than inviting guest speakers. Two students, TV and Media Production student LaKendra Rivers and Human Resources student Terri Alexander, will deliver this year’s address.

College officials say nearly 2,700 students will graduate from Trident Technical College with more than 770 attending Friday’s ceremony. They said the youngest graduate is 17 and the oldest is 70.

The Citadel’s commencement ceremonies will take place on Saturday, May 4 at the McAlister Field House. Graduating members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets will receive their diplomas during a morning ceremony.

U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, who graduated from the military college in 1999, will serve as speaker during the Corps of Cadets commencement.

The Citadel Graduate College will hold its ceremony for graduating undergraduate and graduate students later in the day. South Carolina Rep. Bruce Bannister will address students at the ceremony.

Charleston Southern University will hold its commencement on May 4 on Buccaneer Field. Details about the ceremony have not yet been provided.

At the College of Charleston, commencement ceremonies will take place in the Cistern Yard on Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11. Accomplished faculty members Julia Eichelberger, Gioconda “Gia” Quesada and Elizabeth “Liz” Jurisich will deliver addresses to the Class of 2024.

Honorary degrees will be awarded to George Murrell Smith Jr., speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives, and former North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey. College of Charleston Board of Trustees emerita, Cherry Daniel, will also receive the honor.

Smith will receive the honor on Friday and Summey on Saturday afternoon.