Pomp, circumstance and possibility: USC Aiken holds annual spring commencement ceremony

ERIN WEEKS, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·3 min read

May 2—USC Aiken held its spring commencement ceremony on May 1 at the college's convocation center, celebrating over 400 graduates.

Trailblazers of language

This year's ceremony was set apart by the university's first-ever graduates with a concentration in Spanish translation and interpretation: Maggie Knotts, cum laude, Tanner Shumpert, magna cum laude and Lizbeth Smiley.

Knotts said that she fell in love with Spanish after taking it as a required course in eighth grade; now, she continues to immerse herself in the world of Spanish culture.

"Language is about so much more than just what you speak," she said. "There's so many different cultures and so many different things to learn about as you continue to learn a foreign language."

Knotts plans to spend a year teaching English in Madrid, Spain, beginning this September.

Shumpert plans to move to Argentina in February, where he will teach English.

He spoke about his experience at USCA: "These classes have really prepared me, as far as broadening my horizons with different cultures, different types of Spanish and [they] honestly have just advanced my passion for this language."

"I can't wait to see where this language takes me," he added.

Smiley began her higher education journey at USCA in 1998, but had to leave due to family circumstances. After graduation, Smiley plans to retire and move to Panama. She said that she chose the Spanish concentration because it is her native language and because she wanted to complete her bachelor's degree.

"I wanted to set an example for my children ... I did finish ... I wanted to set an example for them, it can be done."

Stepping towards the future

Less than an hour before the ceremony began, graduating students waited together before their walk, filling the convocation center with a buzz of jittery but enthusiastic energy.

Anna Addy, magna cum laude, who studied exercise and sports science, said she was "excited to celebrate these last four years with our professors and our friends, and go into this next chapter."

Joe Mozingo, who studied communication and marketing along with playing for USCA's baseball team, said, "All my family is here from all over — Maryland, Florida, Greenwood — it's just really cool. It's a good feeling."

One graduate, non-traditional student Deanna Burress, magna cum laude, said that she dropped out of college 30 years ago to raise a family. She returned to get her bachelor's degree in communication. Before walking, she said she felt "nervous, but it's a good nervous."

Ajla Dzin, graduating with her Masters of Business Administration, has plans to take a summer internship in New York. From Evans Georgia, Dzin said that she's "really happy" to be going off by herself for the first time.

She said about graduation: "I'm super excited ... I'm happy to be done and I'm happy for what the future holds."

Honors and insights

During the ceremony, graduate Leanna Byrnes Bryant, magna cum laude, received the Outstanding Senior Award for 2024. Bryant is receiving her degree in psychology.

A commissioning ceremony was also held for ROTC graduate Courtney Owens, with the oath of honor administered by Major Dave Freeman with the U.S. Army.

A commencement speech was given by South Carolina Senator Shane Massey, who quoted U.S. President Calvin Coolidge saying: "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On!' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

He then added in his own words: "No matter how talented you are, no matter how smart you are, no matter your level of education, none of it will matter if you're unwilling to work hard and take responsibility."