Presbyterian College in Clinton recently commenced its 147th academic year, welcoming students and faculty back to campus. The College of Arts and Sciences opening convocation in Belk Auditorium specifically honored the Class of 2027, whose members marked the start of their senior year by wearing academic regalia and graduation caps for the first time.
Dr. Anita Gustafson, President of Presbyterian College, addressed the community, emphasizing that the college experience extends beyond coursework and career preparation. She described PC as a community dedicated to shared values and service, preparing students to be leaders who contribute to the greater good. Gustafson highlighted the college’s church-related identity and its role as a community of calling, where academic pursuits help students discover how their talents can serve others. She also noted that honesty, trust, and respect are core qualities uniting the PC community, encapsulated by the phrase True Blue.
The convocation’s featured speaker was the Honorable Kelly Byers, a 2007 alumna of Presbyterian College. The Reverend Dr. Buz Wilcoxon, Lassiter Chaplain and dean of spiritual life, introduced Byers and explained that the college will explore themes of vocation and calling throughout the academic year, supported by a grant from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE).
Byers, who serves as deputy executive director of Trees Upstate and has been on the Travelers Rest City Council for over a decade, shared her professional and personal journey. She challenged the idea of a single, lifelong calling, suggesting that a meaningful life often unfolds through unexpected opportunities, changing plans, and continuous discernment. Byers recounted her own path, which evolved from an initial interest in special education to international work, agriculture, social justice, nonprofit service, and local government. She encouraged students to view their time at Presbyterian College as a laboratory for self-discovery, urging them to engage in activities such as studying abroad, interning, volunteering, and shadowing professionals to explore what gives their lives purpose.
