Presbyterian College begins its 137th academic year

Presbyterian College begins its 137th academic year

Opening convocation 2016 Presbyterian College Clinton SC

With its Opening Convocation held on Tuesday, Aug. 23, Presbyterian College officially began its 137th academic session.

“The class of 2020 is here,” said PC President Bob Staton ’68, ’15 in his opening remarks. “We’re glad you’re a part of this family.”

The class of 2020 was welcomed onto campus on Saturday, Aug. 20 with assistance moving in from faculty, staff, and student volunteers.

“Don’t ever forget you’re not there until you’re there,” Staton told the senior class. “Go out and do everything you want now. Don’t look back and say, ‘I wish I had done this.’ Go out and do it.”

During the ceremony, Staton and Jeri Perkins ’81, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Clinton presented the Martha Anne Green ’69 Service to Church and College Award to John ’73 and Teresa ’74 Inman. The award was established by the First Presbyterian Church, Clinton and PC to recognized the contributions Green made to two communities—her college and her church. Each year the pastor of the church and the president of the college appoint a selection committee and charge them with identifying individuals from Clinton whose life of service on behalf of the church universal and the college embody the college’s motto, “Dum Vivimus Servimus”

The Inmans have spent nearly 50 years providing leadership and service in multiple venues across PC, First Presbyterian Church, and Laurens County. John serves as the Charles A. Dana Professor Emeritus of biology at PC and has served as professor from 1980 to 2015. Teresa served PC in multiple positions in the library, both in circulation and in archives, and in those jobs connected regularly with students, faculty, researchers, archivists, and others interested in PC and its history.

“This recognition is so special because we knew Martha Anne and know full well her commitment to service,” Teresa said. “This is an honor that humbles us, and we will hold dear forever.”

Several students were recognized for academic achievements during convocation. The Freshman Academic award is presented annually to the freshmen who in the previous year’s class achieved a 4.0 GPA and was awarded to Danielle Nunnery, Sara Pilling, and Salem Wright.

Two awards were sponsored by the department of religion and philosophy and were the Fraser Bible award and the Hay Religion Award. The Fraser Bible Award  was presented to Caroline Dyar and recognizes a member of last year’s freshman class who is of exemplary character and earned the highest average grade in Bible for the year.

The Hay Religion Award was presented to Joshua Eargle and is for the student who has the highest grade point average in four semesters of religion and/or philosophy taken during his or her first two years at PC.

In addition, the students were addressed by Dr. Alicia Askew, dean of academic programs and a 1992 PC graduate. Askew holds a masters in biological psychology and a doctoral degree in neuroscience and behavior from the University of Georgia. After serving as an instructor and post-doctoral fellow at Morris Brown College, she returned to PC in 2004 where she served as assistant and then associate professor in the psychology department.

“It is now evident to me that life in our complex, dynamic society is punctuated by frequent, critical choices,” Askew said. “Many of you seniors are in the midst of making difficult decisions about your future. You must contemplate the alternatives and exercise the self-discipline required to evaluate each option.”

Orientation leaders prepare welcome signs for new students Presbyterian College Clinton SC PC President Bob Staton and wife Phyllis and staff help students move in as a part of the “Blue Crew" Presbyterian College Clinton SC

 


 

 

Presbyterian College is located on a striking 240-acre campus in Clinton, between Columbia and Greenville, S.C. Offering challenging academics and a culture of honor, ethics, and service that prepares students to be leaders in communities, PC offers its students the benefit of engaging with an exceptional faculty who take individual interest in their students’ well-being, both personally and in the classroom. The Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy opened in 2010, and is dedicated to the ideals of leadership, honor to the profession, and service to the community. For more information about Presbyterian College, visit www.presby.edu.