Presbyterian College Honors Excellence at 2025 Convocation

News Summary

On May 1, 2025, Presbyterian College held its annual Honors Day Convocation to celebrate the achievements of students, faculty, and staff. The event featured keynote speaker Dr. Kendra Hamilton, who was awarded the title of 2025 Professor of the Year, and recognized numerous recipients of awards for academic and leadership excellence. Attendees gathered to applaud honorees and reflect on the contributions made towards the college community’s growth. The ceremony emphasized the importance of embracing challenges in the learning journey.

Clinton, SC – Presbyterian College celebrated excellence among its students, faculty, and staff during the annual Honors Day Convocation held on May 1, 2025. The event, designed to recognize outstanding achievements within the academic community, took place in Belk Auditorium, where attendees gathered to applaud the honorees.

The prestigious title of 2025 Professor of the Year was awarded to Dr. Kendra Hamilton, who inspired the audience with her address titled “The Uncomfortable Truth.” Dr. Hamilton challenged students to embrace discomfort as a pathway to learning, sharing insights from her own educational journey. The Outstanding Senior award was presented to Caroline Rairigh, who will join Dr. Hamilton to address the graduating Class of 2025 at the upcoming commencement ceremony scheduled for May 10, 2025.

PC President Dr. Anita Gustafson welcomed attendees and praised the contributions of the honorees to the institution’s academic values. Her remarks underscored the significance of the achievements recognized during the convocation and their impact on the college community.

Keynote Address and Acknowledgments

Dr. Hamilton’s keynote address resonated with the audience as she reflected on a formative seventh-grade experience related to African American history. She emphasized the importance of honesty and care in telling marginalized stories and drew parallels between historical events and current movements that seek to restrict educational content. Dr. Hamilton reassured students that although uncomfortable truths can be challenging, they serve as valuable teachers, urging them to engage with challenging subjects and ideas.

During the ceremony, Student Government Association President Margaret Leonard also addressed the attendees, recognizing the leadership of outgoing SGA executive cabinet members Ella Casto-Waters and Samantha Hauff. Their contributions were celebrated among the assembly, highlighting the collective growth within the student governance structure.

Awards and Recognitions

The convocation featured a range of awards presented for academic and leadership excellence. Notable recipients included:

• Dr. Bob Freymeyer Faculty Scholarship Award – Dr. Eli T. Owens, Associate Professor of Physics
• Dr. Kenneth Orr Scholarship Award – Dr. Michael O. Rischbieter, Professor of Biology
• American Legion Awards – MacKenzie Leigh Partsch and Patrick Alexander Buchanan
• Billy Tiller Award – Nathan James Levicki
• Eric A. Johnson Fellows Award – Carolina Rairigh
• Fraser Bible Award – Henlee J. Haynes
• Hay Bible Award – Ella Kathryn Beam
• Joseph Graham Miller Award – Carson Lee Griffith
• Jane Hammet Award – Kelly Lynn Hall
• Joseph O. Nixon Leadership Award – Ella Kathryn Casto-Waters
• Jack & Jane Presseau Community Service Award – Ethan Haskell Hall
• Fraternity Scholastic Award – Pi Kappa Alpha
• Sorority Scholastic Award – Alpha Delta Pi
• Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award – Thomas Joseph Betenbaugh
• Jean Kirkley Memorial Scholarship – Lyle Thomas Jones
• Olmert Fellowship – Madeline Rose Hart

In addition to class-wide awards, several Outstanding Senior awards were conferred across a diverse set of disciplines, recognizing students’ achievements in areas such as:

• Accounting – Kelly Lynn Hall
• Data Analytics – Sarah Dieffenderfer
• Biochemistry – Amanda Melissa Bailey
• Biology – Samuel Keith Johnson
• Chemistry – Kayla Rose Ponchamni
• Communication Studies – Samantha Alexis Hauff
• Computer Science – Cheikh Atamao
• Economics – Patrick Charles Bennett
• Education – Madison Elizabeth Pruitt
• English – Kaila Michelle Reid
• French – Chiara Barbieri
• History – Patrick Alexander Buchanan
• Management – Kelby Ann Goodrum
• Marketing – Natalie Kate Herrin
• Physics – Jacob Keith Clerc
• Political Science – Dakota Ray Price
• Psychology – Kaila Michelle Reid
• Religion – Patrick Alexander Buchanan
• Sociology – Kinslee Elizabeth Sink
• Spanish – Cecilia Pérez Santiago

Conclusion

The Honors Day Convocation served as a celebration of the academic accomplishments and leadership within the Presbyterian College community. Through a blend of recognition and reflection, it highlighted the continuous growth and dedication to excellence among its members, setting a positive tone as both students and faculty look towards the upcoming commencement ceremony.

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