SCGSAH 2020 Commencement Ceremony Program

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY Class of 2020

Friday | May 22, 2020 7:30 p.m.

Livestream.com/SCGSAH/commencement2020

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY PRELUDE

Wind Ensemble, 2018 David Hamilton, Conductor

Mad Major

Kenneth J. Alford (1881-1945)

PROCESSIONAL

Wind Ensemble, 2018

Pomp and Circumstance

Edward Elgar (1857-1934) arr. Claire Grundman

WELCOME

Lila Smith and Joseph Scott Student Body Co-Presidents

REMARKS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Cedric Adderley President, SCGSAH

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

Cantus Chamber Choir David Rhyne, Director

I Have Had Singing

Ron Jeffers (1943-2017)

REMARKS

Chad Prosser Chairman, Board of Directors

INTRODUCTION OF THE SENIOR SPEAKER

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Nikola Heers Class of 2020, Dance

PRESENTATION OF THE CANDIDATES AND CONFERRING OF THE DIPLOMAS Rivers and Roads

Jennifer Thomas Jayce Tromsness The Head and the Heart

CONFIRMATION CLOSING REMARKS AND INSTRUCTIONS

Jennifer Thomas Dean & Vice President of Arts and Academics

Jennifer Thomas Julia Jacobsen and Kayla Moses Senior Class President and Vice President Special Guest Speaker

ALUMNI SALUTE

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CANTUS CHAMBER CHOIR Emma Brooke Alley | Lyman | James F. Byrnes High School Anier Colón-Flores | Nichols | Mullins High School Bryce Daniels | Spartanburg | Spartanburg Day School Sarah Delanuéz | Greenville | Greenville Senior High Academy Christian Dukes | Florence | Wilson High School Virginia Dunlap | Columbia | A. C. Flora High School Brigham Freyburger | Myrtle Beach | Myrtle Beach High School Jonathan Gragg | Lexington | River Bluff High School Elizabeth Hamilton | Summerville | Summerville High School Isabella Land | Sumter | Wilson Hall Kathryne Matsui | Lexington | River Bluff High School Adam Meyer | Woodruff | James F. Byrnes High School Cameron Mitchell | Spartanburg | Spartanburg High School Vaughn Nesmith II | Kingstree | Kingstree Senior High School Shon Odom | North Augusta | North Augusta High School Gayle Rhodes | Greenville | Eastside High School Raekwon Scott | Columbia | Dreher High School Amos Wise | North | North Middle/High School James Wong | Florence | Wilson High School Delaney Yurco | Hilton Head | Hilton Head Island High School

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CLASS OF 2020 Darrell Isaiah Adams

Isabella Luna Fulk

Zechariah Ray Aiken

Gabrielle Giovanna Gardner 

Amelia Caroline Bailey

Frederick Lamonte Gause II

Isabella Grace Bernard

Jonathan Lewis Gragg

Elizabeth Clare Black

Ava Frances Grebe 

Tymetrias Lenora Bolden

Connor Ryan Gregory 

Xia Shari Bowens 

Elizabeth Kate Hamilton 

Lovett Michael Brooks

Nikola Eleni Heers

Christian Ahmad Brown

Audrey Meara Hunt

Christina Chanell Brown 

Julia Pedroso Jacobsen 

Avery Marie Carpenter

Jacklyn Elizabeth Jeffries

Abril Castillo Acosta 

Preston Joon-Hyun Lee

Anier Colón-Flores

Jose Clemente Licon Lopez

Maria Elizabeth Cooper

Effie Capri Ludke

Gracen Layne Cromer

Sabrina Lee Mao 

Violet Nicole Cromer

Jay Martin 

Walter Steven Dagley

Matthew Logan Martin

Benay Jillian Daniel 

Kathryne Shinako Matsui 

Magdalyn Jane Darden

Pierceton Michael Mazell

Matthew John Davey

Xavier Alexander McKinley

Patricia Irene Davis 

Phillip Adam Meyer

Jenna Alexandra Dean 

Stephanie Cierra Chante Miller

Sarah Elisa Delanuéz

Kindred Grace Moore 

Emma Joan Devine 

Kayla Michelle Moses 

Macy Claire Dunn

Chad Leo Moss

Charles Logan Durham 

Olivia Diane Mozie 

Makinna Ann Elkins

Vaughn Elijah Nesmith II

Gregory Julian Essex

Blaise Hannah Nettles 

Bryan William Fields 

Emma Ross Isabella Norrell 4

Thomas Joseph O’Malley

Beatrice Joy Swartzel-Jones 

John Marshall Peace 

Hunter Gage Sweatt

Hailey Pfeiffer 

Magaly Mayte Taipe 

Hannah Lauren Poe

Luke Sandifer Taylor

Koral Annette Runge

Mae Evelene Tromsness

Jessica Grace Schaefer 

Wylder Conrad Voegele

Joseph Thomas Scott 

Caroline Rebecca Walker 

Raekwon Tyreke Scott

Skye Noelle Weimann

Honoka Segi

Gavin Sean Wheeler

Martha Hart Shaffer 

Amos Clinton Wise IV

Victor Sergei Sherman

James Wei-Yuan Wong

Lucinda Norma Siegler 

John Christopher Wright II

Lila Katherine Smith 

Brendan Bailey Yarem 

Isabelle Sierra Snelling

Kathryn Grace Young 

Claire Faith Stephens 

Delaney Suzanne Yurco 

Sydney Paige Stevens

Hope RuthAnne Zinkann

Hannah Paloma Suarez 

Kayleigh Elexis Zurcher

Allison Makenzie Sudlow 

 Academic Achievement Award Scholar  National Honor Society

JUNIOR MARSHALS Natalie Hope McElhinny, Lead Marshal Sophia Rose Young, Lead Marshal

Aubrey Bell Chapman | Noah Daniel DeYoung | Camila Isabel Escobar

Dylan Sandford Fritz | Camryn Whitley Hambrick | Stevii Brooks Randall Kaela Mairi Redman | Arturo Emilio Romero | Ashley Elizabeth White 5

REFLECTIONS

from the Class of 2020

A difficult task fell to the members of the senior class, faculty, and staff who were charged with selecting a student speaker for today’s commencement. Several seniors gave speeches in which they reflected meaningfully on the distinctive qualities of this graduating class and of the Governor’s School experience. Here are some highlights from a few of the speeches that you will not hear today, but that capture some of the essence of the Class of 2020 and their remarkable finish.

By Christian Brown Think back to the fall of 2018. We didn’t realize it then, but we were all battling the same emotions of fear and excitement. I remember the very first community meeting in Sakas Theater. We were screaming and laughing because for the very first time we all felt like we were part of a community that contained people with similar goals. When I say people with similar goals, what do I really mean? I mean people who are passionate about art, learning, and most importantly growing as individuals and as artists. This structured setting aided in our artistry.

However, we as Govies still found time to have fun and bend the rules, not break them. From our failed room inspections, races to avoid curfew violations, karaoke nights, games in the gym, to downtown sign outs, there is no fun like Govie fun.

By Christina Brown This year was sadly cut short. At Govie, no day was ever the same.

Hearing music flow across the courtyard in the afternoon, the dances that were always filled with energy, the library on the night before a project was due, hall parties, going downtown. We miss all of this so much, and we did not have the chance to bask in the glory of the end of high school. But amidst these uncertain times, we are quite fortunate to have the opportunity to be here today—virtually—because we are a part of a strong, close-knit community, and we always will be. We are the class that was born during the year that 9/11 took place, and now the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that nothing can stop us from thriving in our art and academics as a statewide family.

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By Emma Devine I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce our class superpower: the ability to bend time.

It’s really true what they say: The days are long but the weeks are short.

But through the months and years at Govie we have all mastered the ability to bend time to our benefit. For example, we have the ability and the imagination to lose track of time and become completely absorbed in what we’re doing when we do what we love; whether that’s practicing, attending a reading or performance, or just being in a studio. But at the same time we also have the guts to get in the Tuesday morning omelette line at 8:26 and start a major assignment less than 24 hours before it’s due.

By Julia Jacobsen Virginia Uldrick, the founder of our school, fought for over 20 years to make the Governor’s School happen. She worked tirelessly for what she believed in and she designed this school for us to do the same. I recently looked back to the essay I submitted with my application to this school. In reference to a meaningful musical experience, I wrote “the effort I applied and the enlightenment I gained ignited a musical fire inside of me that burns bright to this day” and I feel that we could all say that about our Governor’s School experience. The Governor’s School has allowed you to develop a fire, a passion for something that you have the will and the energy to devote the rest of your life to.

By Allison Sudlow Here is where the commencement speaker might normally say “These have been the best years of our lives” but I disagree. These years at the Governor’s School have been wonderful, but the best years are in front of us. During our time here we have prepared ourselves to go out into the great big world and create the best years. We will all go on to pursue our own definition of great things, because we are now aware of what opportunities are out there and how to make the most of them. Through our conversations with each other and the imploring of our faculty to think of the why in situations, we have come to think for ourselves. We have learned how to make our own opportunities by investing our time, energy, and talents selectively.

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FACULTY AND STAFF Office of the President

Cedric Adderley, President Rebecca Evatt, Executive Assistant to the President LaTomya Doctor, Director of Human Resources Angela Tomlinson, Human Resources Kim Hall | Katy Beverly, Administrative Support Carol Baker, Director of Outreach Elizabeth Henderson, Coordinator of Outreach and Service Learning Christina Vandiver, Director of Public Relations David Bernardy, Public Relations Assistant Jennifer Jefferson, Graphic Designer

Office of the Dean and Vice President for Arts and Academics Jennifer Thomas, Dean and Vice President Leigh Hegmann, Administrative Support Danielle Lewis, Academic Assistance Coordinator Morgan McConnell, Registrar | Deborah Ware, Director of Guidance

ACADEMICS Rusty Godfrey | Charles Poore, Academics Department Co-Chairs Katie Byrd | Jamelle Gestwicki | Rusty Godfrey | Rose Jenkins | Uchechi Kalu Charles Poore | Emily Rossi | Mark Sibley-Jones | William Smith, Faculty Anna Katherine Freeland | Marion Grier, Adjuncts CREATIVE WRITING Scott Gould, Department Chair Mamie Morgan | Alan Rossi, Faculty DANCE Josée Garant, Department Chair Adair Kempf, Program Assistant Miriam Mesa-Pelly | Thomas Shoemaker | Irina Ushakova | Tracy Vogt, Faculty Shellie Cash | Gregory Chesney | Beth Dill | Emma Finly Alonso Miriam Mesa-Pelly | Keeley Mezzancello | Amanda Neikirk | Irina Peace Carla Quintero | Donald Shabkie | Christine Smith | Rachel Solomon Sarah Walborn | Elizabeth Wright, Adjuncts DRAMA Daniel Murray, Department Chair Candace Dickinson | David Dunford | Jayce Tromsness, Faculty Alisa Caldwell | Rhonda Murray | Bennett Weston, Adjuncts , Technical Theater 8

MUSIC Stephen Taylor, Department Chair Mechelle Luster, Program Assistant Landon Baumgard | Kathryn Dey | Thomas Dickinson David Hamilton | Kyra Zhang, Faculty Everett Beale | Ian Bracchitta | Sonja Coppenbarger | Walter Hundt Deirdre Hutton | Kristen Ironside | Gary Malvern | Robert O’Brien Jay-Martin Pinner | Alon Ratoush | David Rhyne | John Sizemore Elliott Smith | Caroline Ulrich | Petrea Warneck | Anneka Zuehlke, Adjuncts VISUAL ARTS David Gerhard, Department Chair Nicole Basinger, Administrative Support Marty Epp-Carter | Ben Gilliam | Jeffrey Martell Carlyn Tucker | Joseph Thompson | Paul Yanko, Faculty Caroline Perkins | Elaine Quave, Adjuncts LIBRARY Michael Giller, Director of Library Services Christina Fuller-Gregory, Assistant Director of Library Services Barbara Berger | Susan Douglas | Patricia Miller, Library Assistants PRODUCTION AND DESIGN Morgan Patterson, Production Manager Amber Ensley, Production Stage Manager

Office of the Vice President for Student Development

Matthew Burns, Vice President for Student Development Nikki Parton, Director of Enrollment Strategies Kevin Mihaly, Coordinator for Admissions Communications Megan Hueble | Adair Kempf | Laura Lynn King | Mandy Oglesby, Field Liaisons Anna Copeland | Jason Englisbe, Assistant Directors of Student Services Karen Davis, Health and Wellness Counselor | Suzanne Munson, School Nurse Anna King, Alumni and Summer Programs Coordinator Courtney Embler | Bethany Holden | Lori Post, Administrative Assistants Donavan Perryman, Fitness Center Jessica Alewine | Grace Burden | Tery Burt | Trayton Graham Ezreneé Major | Dana Martin | Robert McKay | Daniel Meyer Ally Schachner | Karolina Zapal, Residential Life Coordinators

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Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration Faye Schober, Vice President of Finance and Administration Linda Raines, Finance and Procurement Specialist

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Richard Jones, IT Manager Patrick Breitwieser | Jeremy Meggs, Information Technology FACILITIES Keith Myers, Supervisor Delores Corner | Darrell Bradley | Roger Bryant | Vonda Dendy Jacob Kubler | Lawrence Patterson | Thomas Sullivan, Building and Grounds PUBLIC SAFETY Tammy Hubert, Director of Public Safety and Security Robert Arnold | Alva Williams, Assistant Director of Public Safety Donald Daniel | Walter Davis | Al Nater | Maria Nichols Terrance O’Neill | Daisy Sullivan, Security Officers ARAMARK DINING SERVICES Neil Robinson, Director of Dining Services Michael Nelson, Kitchen Manager Janet Gardner, Office Assistant Scott Bruce, Lead Day Cook | Thomas Onisto, Lead Night Cook Priscilla Peters, Baker Priscilla LaStrange | Tina Parker | Lorraine Rodgers Daisy Sullivan, Expo Cooks John Blakely | Mary Morris, Utility Associates

SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation Rochelle Williams, Executive Director Amanda Herlihy, Director of Development Rowe Carenen, Director of Finance Christine Faust, Development Associate

Special Thanks to Electric Soul and Micah Taylor who produced the video for this program.

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GOVERNING BOARDS SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Board of Directors Chad Prosser, Chair | Irvine T. Welling III, Vice Chair Cedric Adderley, President SCGSAH Stephen Cox, Chair SCGSAH Foundation Board Sherri Burris | Richard Elliott | Maria Fabrizio | William H. Floyd III LeShown Goodwin | Bruce Halverson, President Emeritus Robert Horger | Robert E. Hughes | Harriet Jaworowski John Lane, Representing the SC Commission on Higher Education Molly Spearman, SC Superintendent of Education Anne M. Pressley, Representing the SC Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver, Representing the Education Oversight Committee SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation Board of Directors Stephen M. Cox, Chair Rochelle Williams, Foundation Executive Director Chad Prosser, Chair SCGSAH Board Cedric Adderley | Susan Allhusen | Kay Biscopink | Ben Breazeale Tracie Broom | Robert D. Carpenter | William P. Crawford, Jr. Gerald L. Davis, Jr. | Ruth Edwards | Terry Grayson-Caprio | Jimmy Gulledge Linda Hannon | Courtney Tollison Hartness | Nancy Hilliard Joyce Bob Nachman | Kevin Short | Brittany Timmons

MISSION STATEMENTS South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities The mission of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities is to serve artistically gifted high school students of South Carolina through programs of pre-professional instruction in an environment of artistic and academic excellence. The school is a resource for all teachers and students in South Carolina.

South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation The Governor’s School for the Arts Foundation serves South Carolina’s artistically talented students by increasing awareness and raising revenues to ensure excellence in our nation’s premier public residential high school for the arts.

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15 University Street, Greenville, SC 29601 | p 864.282.3777 | SCGSAH.org