"It is not the credentials on the walls that make you a decent human being but the decency with which you treat other human beings. Ultimately people will judge you by the quality of your character and the content of your heart."

Rep. Bobby Harrell, S.C. House speaker had these words of wisdom to share for the approximately 172 graduates of the South Carolina State University College of Business and Applied Professional Sciences and College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences at the Saturday morning commencement ceremonies.

The morning ceremony was one of two graduation ceremonies held in the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on the SCSU campus Saturday.

In the afternoon ceremony, Dr. A. James Hicks, National Science administrator for the National Science Foundation's Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation in Washington, spoke to the graduates of the College of Business and Applied Professional Sciences and the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences.

There were 335 total graduates in both the morning and afternoon ceremony.

In addressing the graduates at the morning ceremony, Harrell encouraged them to take stock of priorities as they embark on another step in their lives and to realize that the future is before them.

"In this country the opportunities available to you are boundless and they are limited only by you," Harrell said, relating the story of how Microsoft owner Bill Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice came from rather inauspicious backgrounds to assume roles. "You control your destiny."

About 98 graduated from the College of Business and Applied Professional Sciences and about 75 from the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences during the morning program.

Harrell told graduates to remember three things:

* Don't forget your faith

"God is there, he is listening, he cares about you, talk to him frequently," Harrell said. "Whether it just day-to-day activities, dealing with a crisis in your life, or celebrating a special blessing. God wants to be a part of your life."

* Don't forget to keep the home fires burning

"The most important obligation that you will ever have on this earth is to your family," Harrell said. "As you work your way up the corporate ladder or as you work to build your own business, don't forget the most important obligation."

* Don't forget to dream

"If it were not for dreams of George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln ... where would we be today," Harrell said. "Dreams are another word for hope and hope is what binds us. The motto of your state ... in Latin is dum spiro spero -- while I breathe, I hope. Hope is fundamental to the American dream."

In addition to words of wisdom, Harrell added some words of wit in recollection of his own graduation from the University of South Carolina.

"I was not sure I was actually going to graduate until I got to the ceremony and actually saw my name in the program on the list," Harrell said. "Some of you today are graduating summa cum laude, some more of you are graduating magna cum laude, and even a few more are graduating cum laude, but I bet you there are a lot of people here today who, are like I was, and are graduating thank you laude."

Following the address, Harrell was presented an honorary degree in Doctor of Laws.

The family of George Stanley Bishop Jr., the SCSU student who was killed at his off campus apartment in October, were individually recognized. Bishop received a B.S. degree in physical education/sport communications posthumously.

"We hope that you will find confidence even knowing that your son in spite of his untimely passing is a graduate of South Carolina State University," SCSU president Dr. Andrew Hugine said.

Hicks - speaking to about 162 graduates -- 58 from the College of Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technology and about 104 from the School of Graduate Studies -- challenged the graduates to take their academic success further.

"America needs you to continue striving, dreaming, imagining and creating something that did not exist, previously," Hicks said.

Hicks noted graduates will be facing some challenges.

* "Change and complexity are the rule in our modern world," Hicks said. "Change is inevitable -- work with it or you'll likely be left behind."

* "Think big and don't settle for average," Hicks said. "Be out there and become a master teacher, a college professor, a researcher. Choices are endless."

* "It is critical for you to be positive role models for the youth behind you. Be good citizens and vote in all elections," Hicks said. "Give something back to the community."

Tyrell James, who was the only graduate to receive a B.S. in music education, described the day as both exciting yet 'anticlimactic' noting that he still has other goals to still reach.

"My final goal is to be professor in music," James said.

And by his experience already, James appears to be off to a good start.

He already has a job as a music director at Manning High School where he served as an assistant director for a semester in college and will look to pursue is masters in the University of South Carolina in the fall.

A smiling Shirley Manning expressed her relief to have finally received the hard-earned B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences and Business with a concentration in child development.

While a student, Manning also worked full time at the Dillon County Health Department.

"I can sleep now," she said, laughing. "It took me six years working full time to complete my education."

Manning said she chose the particular path and major in order to work within the community to enhance care and development.

"It is great," Manning said, describing her time working at the DCHD. "I get to work with families, infants and pregnant moms and I hope I can make a difference in their growth and development and in their health."

Manning said she is also considering working in the administrative aspect of the field and possibly pursuing her master's degree.

"Once I am settled in my career and decide what area I want to go in, I will make a decision," she said.

You must be logged in to comment.