<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>4 Beaufort students among S.C. Corps of Cadets Class of 2021</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>More than 560 members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets accepted diplomas during The Citadel's commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 8 in McAlister Field House. In addition to graduating, about 27 [ercent of the class accepted commissions as U.S. military officers in all branches of service.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Local graduates include:</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Briona Gray of Beaufort – Criminal Justice Bachelor of Arts</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Christian Najjar of Beaufort – Modern Language Bachelor of Arts</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Matthew Hurtt of Beaufort – Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Kenneth Spurlock of Beaufort – Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Graduates accepted their diploma from President of The Citadel Gen. Glenn W. Walters, USMC (Ret.), Class of 1979. As once of his last official acts, the outgoing Commandant of Cadets, CAPT. Eugene Paluso, USN (Ret.), '89, served as the 2021 commencement speaker for both morning and afternoon ceremonies. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>2 Beaufort students named to Wheaton Spring 2021 Dean's List</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>A pair of local students received Dean's List honors at Wheaton (Ill.) College: Beaufort’s Sydney Lawrence (29906) and Parker Smith (29902).</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Dean's List honors are earned by undergraduate students who carry 12 or more credit hours and achieve a 3.5 grade point average or higher on the 4.0 scale.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Wheaton College is a coeducational Christian liberal arts college noted for its rigorous academics, integration of faith and learning, and consistent ranking among the top liberal arts colleges in the country.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Beaufort’s Podbielski graduates from RIT</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Paul Podbielski of Beaufort (29907) graduated from Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology with a BS in biotechnology and molecular bioscience.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Some 4,000 degrees were conferred in the 2020-2021 academic year at all of RIT's campuses. Due to New York state COVID-19 occupancy restrictions, commencement was celebrated May 14-15 in smaller ceremonies by college and were live-streamed for graduates' family and friends.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Founded in 1829, RIT enrolls about 18,600 students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, making it among the largest private universities in the U.S.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>3 from Beaufort in The Citadel Graduate Class of 2021</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The Citadel Graduate College Class of 2021 celebrated commencement in McAlister Field House on campus during two ceremonies on Sunday, May 9. More than 230 undergraduate transfer and graduate students participated in the spring commencement events.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Local graduates include:</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Kaila Smith of Beaufort – Master of Arts in Teaching in Physical Education</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Stephanie Childers of Beaufort – Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Sara Parris of Beaufort – Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Nearly 200 graduates recieved their master's degree and more than 70 were presented with a bachelor's degree. The CGC graduates were welcomed as alumni by the President of The Citadel Alumni Association, Cmdr. Drury C. "Chip" Nimmich, Jr., USN (Ret.).</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The Citadel, with its iconic campus in Charleston, offers a classic military college education for young men and women focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction. The approximately 2,400 members of the S.C. Corps of Cadets are not required to serve in the military, but about one-third of each class earn commissions to become officers in every branch of U.S. military service</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->