Presbyterian College honored its newest class of education graduates during the annual Teacher Induction Ceremony, held Friday, May 9, in Kuhne Auditorium. The event marked a significant milestone for seven seniors preparing to begin their careers as professional educators.

The ceremony offered a time of celebration, reflection, and inspiration as faculty, family, and friends gathered to recognize the students’ academic accomplishments and their commitment to teaching.

A Meaningful Welcome

The program opened with a musical processional by collaborative pianist Ruby Lee while Reverend Dr. L. British Hyrams, associate chaplain, offered the invocation.

Dr. Anita Gustafson greeted the graduating seniors, recognizing both the importance of their chosen profession and the impact they will have on generations of students to come.

Dr. Patricia Jones, chair of the Department of Education, welcomed the audience and acknowledged the faculty, adjunct instructors, and student assistants who have played vital roles in supporting the graduates throughout their educational journey.

Words of Wisdom from the Classroom

This year’s keynote speaker, Catherine Gambrell, brought a powerful message rooted in personal experience and professional passion. Gambrell, an English Language Arts teacher at Thornwell Charter School, was named the school’s 2024 Teacher of the Year.

She became a teacher after a decade-long career in operational management. Gambrell shared how her path to teaching began by following in the footsteps of her mother, a middle school science teacher who spent 28 years serving students in Clinton.

“Growing up, I watched as my mother stayed after school to grade papers, cheered on students during football games, coached Science Olympiad, and devoted herself to professional growth,” Gambrell said. “She is the best example of a great educator. Much of what I know about teaching, I learned from watching her.”

Gambrell encouraged the new graduates to recognize their power to make lasting impacts on students’ lives. She stressed to the new graduates that they can impact their students through connection more than through instruction.

“Your classroom is more than a place of instruction—it should be an inclusive community where students feel safe, supported, and valued,” Gambrell said. “Students deserve a teacher who believes in them, even on their worst day. Who sees their potential, even when they can’t yet see it themselves. Be that teacher.”

Gambrell urged the future teachers to embrace imperfection and the ongoing nature of learning.

“In my classroom, I don’t ask for perfection—I ask for progress,” she said. “There will be times when a lesson doesn’t land or when starting over is the smartest move you can make. And that’s okay. Show your students that it’s okay to try, to stumble, and to begin again. Because that’s what real learning looks like—it’s messy, it’s honest, and it never truly ends—not even for teachers.”

Above all, she reminded the future teachers that their words and presence will echo far beyond the classroom.

“Students might forget their pencil or notebook—but they won’t forget a promise you made and didn’t keep,” Gambrell said. “Your words carry weight. The way you build students up will be remembered long after the content you teach.”

Embracing the Role of Educator

Following the keynote, Dr. Douglas Smith led the students in reciting the Oath for Graduating Educators—an affirmation of their dedication to students, communities, and lifelong learning. Then, Dr. Tammy Graham officially inducted the graduates into the teaching profession, welcoming them as colleagues and changemakers in classrooms across the state and beyond.

The seven new educators recognized during the ceremony are:

• Ross Cox
• Sarah Duvall
• Kennedy Goldsmith
• Caroline Milhorn
• Emily McAbee
• Madison Pruitt
• Gracyn Southward

Having taken the Oath for Graduating Educators and been officially inducted into the profession, the seven seniors stand ready to lead their own classrooms.

“You’ve bravely chosen a path that shapes the future,” Gambrell reminded them. “Your influence will stretch far beyond your classroom walls. The world needs you. Students need you… and you are ready.”