Friday Commencement Ceremonies Celebrate CofC Class of 2026
Two commencement ceremonies were held at the College of Charleston on Friday, May 8, 2026.
Graduates from the College of Charleston School of Health Sciences, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of the Arts, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics gathered under the stately oaks of the Cistern Yard at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, May 8, to celebrate the conclusion of their undergraduate journey at the College.
Morning Ceremony
Graduates from the School of Health Sciences and School of Humanities and Social Sciences were celebrated at the morning ceremony.
Several members of the Board of Trustees were in attendance, as well as representatives from the Foundation Board and the Alumni Association. Renee Romberger, Board of Trustees chair, presented Governor Henry McMaster with an honorary degree for his more than four decades of public service.
Devon Hanahan ’87, senior instructor of Spanish, offered students several pieces of advice, the first of which was to read.
“Thank God my parents made all of their kids readers,” she said. “I don’t remember not being able to read, and I can honestly say that I have never been bored a moment in my life – well, maybe once or twice in church – because I always have a book with me. Reading is to your brain what exercise is to the body: There is simply nothing that can replace its benefits.”
Her second piece of advice was to be kind. “And that idea leads directly to the third tenet of my life: the family motto passed down by my parents that life rewards action. Simple but powerful words.”
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Suzanne Austin announced 10 students who have earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average:
- Gianna Kelsi Bullington, Psychology
- Mary Theresa Carr, English
- Gianna Michelle Cespedes, Public Health
- Elizabeth Grace Clark, Political Science
- Alexandra Marin Ford, Psychology
- Ava Noelle Frazee, Political Science
- Georgia Katherine Kern, Psychology
- Akanksha Sanjay Patwardhan, Public Health
- Emily Allison Russell, Psychology
- Lindsey Brayden Sellers, Psychology
Austin also announced two students who received the Artium Baccalaureatus degree: Perrin Faulkner Keene (anthropology) and Kerryann Margaret Krueger (public health).
Additional speakers included Brady Quirk-Garvan ’08, president of the Alumni Association, who welcomed the newest members into the esteemed association; and Simon Adams, president of the Student Government Association, who encouraged his peers to take advantage of their freedom.
“Today is likely the most freedom you will have for the rest of your life,” he said. “If you already have a job, you are in a great place. And if you don’t, you’re even luckier. I am sorry to the financial wellness department for this, but go spend every dollar you have traveling, eating new foods or on new experiences.”
More than 750 students crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, and the ceremony concluded with the alma mater, led by voice major Colin Covington.
Afternoon Ceremony
The afternoon ceremony celebrated graduates from the School of the Arts, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics.
Janine Marie McCabe ‘98, CofC Stages artistic director and professor of costume design, spoke to graduates about the importance of showing up.
“There is no question that there will be difficult decisions to make, times to push and times to not, times to support and times to let something crash. You will not have all the answers, and that’s OK,” she said. “Whatever is waiting around the corner, the question is, How will you show up? How will you be responsible for you and for others? How will you respond? How will you speak – and, as important, how will you listen? How will you be there, in each moment – the good, bad, hard, easy, fun, boring, challenging and not. How will you be in these moments?”
Provost Austin addressed the graduates, noting that there are 158 students participating in this weekend’s commencement ceremonies who have completed the Honors College requirements, and announcing 11 students at the ceremony who have earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average:
- Adrian Joanne Anderson, Biology
- Griffin David Brown, Mathematics
- Colin Aaron Cody, Biology
- Jinling Dai, Biology
- Nicole Samantha Drucker, Biology
- Amelia Hawke Tebalt, Arts Management
- Isaac Carter Hill, Music
- Ella Rebecca Jennings, Biochemistry
- Emily Catherine Kreek, Biology
- Reese Winnick Michaelson, Systems Engineering
- Sophia Ella Mucci, Environmental Geosciences
Additional speakers included Ella Jennings, who received the Presidential Award for Scholarship, Leadership, and Service; and Alumni Association president Quirk-Garvan.
More than 500 students crossed the stage and received their diplomas. The ceremony concluded with the alma mater, led by James Cyganek, a graduating Honors student who double-majored in vocal music performance and computing in the arts.
