From staff reports
Despite a thunderstorm that moved through the area earlier in the day, the Technical College of the Lowcountry was able to go on with its planned graduation commencement service held on Friday, May 10, at Beaufort’s Waterfront Park.
Approximately 312 students received certificate, diploma or associate degrees from more than 60 programs of study including nursing, computer technology, early care and education, business administration, culinary arts and many more.
Resilience, hard work and determination were the themes of the day as the sky cleared and speakers took to the podium.
“Regardless of your path, know that the foundation that was laid during your time here at TCL has equipped you with the skills and resilience necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving world,” TCL President Richard Gough told graduates who were joined by friends and family members at Friday’s ceremony.
Dr. Gough also congratulated students on making what he said may not have been an “easy decision” to attend college in the first place.
“It’s a monumental achievement,” he said. “Your resilience, determination and unswerving commitment to excellence is to be commended.”
Grace Beasley, who served as TCL’s 2024 Student Speaker, echoed Dr. Gough’s remarks.
“We are testaments to our resilience, dedication and perseverance,” she said. “We balanced work with family commitments and college-level classes often juggling multiple responsibilities and commitments.”
A senior at Whale Branch Early College High School, Beasley was chosen from a pool of candidates who vied for the honor to be student speaker. Having enrolled in TCL’s dual enrollment program, she went on to receive her Associate in Arts degree along with three college certificates from TCL on Friday. She plans to attend the University of South Carolina to study law with a focus on cybersecurity.
Beasley also encouraged her fellow graduates to never lose sight of their purpose.
“Hold fast to your passions, your dreams and your sense of purpose for they will serve not just as beacons of light, but as guiding stars leading you through life’s journey,” she concluded.
Also on the program was Jasper County School District Superintendent Rechel Anderson who served as the ceremony’s commencement speaker. A published author with a career in education spanning nearly two decades, Anderson offered graduates many points of advice; among them was to think of the pursuit of knowledge as a lifelong endeavor.
“Embrace every experience as a chance to grow, but also as a chance to expand your horizons and to challenge your assumptions,” she said. “Remember, true wisdom comes not from the accumulation of facts, but from the willingness to remain curious and open to new ideas.”
