FMU celebrates Spring 2025 graduates

Francis Marion University celebrated its Spring 2025 undergraduate and graduate degree recipients in two ceremonies held at the Smith University Center on campus. A total of 332 students received their degrees, with 282 receiving undergraduate degrees and 50 earning graduate degrees. South Carolina residents comprised 90 percent of the graduating class.

Graduates from the Schools of Business and Health Sciences were awarded their degrees in a ceremony held Friday evening. On Saturday morning, students from the School of Education and College of Liberal Arts received their degrees.

FMU President Fred Carter congratulated the graduates on all of their accomplishments and encouraged them to reflect on the magnitude of what they have accomplished. He also urged them to consider what they want to do with their lives – not just professionally, but personally, culturally, and socially.

“Think about the next phase in your life and how you’ll put it together,” said Carter. “It’s your future, and it’s yours alone – make sure that neither time, nor neglect, nor a lack of imagination steals it from you.”

He also recognized the faculty for being gifted scholars, masterful teachers, and studious researchers, and encouraged the graduates to thank them for their devotion and effort to educate them well.  

Carl M. Humphries, CEO of HopeHealth, delivered the commencement address and received an honorary Doctor of Humanities during Friday evening’s ceremony.

Humphries joined the HopeHealth organization in 2000. Under his 25 years of leadership, HopeHealth has grown from six employees to over 800, and has become one of the state’s largest Federally Qualified Health Centers, serving multiple counties including Florence, Darlington, Clarendon, Orangeburg, and Williamsburg. He received both his bachelor’s degree and Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina.

In his address, Humphries encouraged graduates to be thankful to those around them, seek out high achievers to learn from, and find someone to lead. He concluded by reminding them that they are well-prepared to step into their futures with confidence.

“You’ve been positioned, prepared, and empowered for this moment,” said Humphries.

South Carolina Governor Henry Dargan McMaster delivered the commencement address during Saturday morning’s ceremony and was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humanities.

Governor McMaster was elected to his first full-term as governor in November 2018 and re-elected in November 2022. Prior to his election to governor, McMaster was elected lieutenant governor in 2014 and attorney general of South Carolina in 2002 and 2006. He was also appointed a U.S. attorney in 1981, and served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of South Carolina and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

In his remarks, Governor McMaster praised their graduates for their hard work and urged them to use their education to make a positive impact on their communities.

“Your education is one of the most powerful tools you will ever have, and it is one that can never be taken from you,” said McMaster. “You earned this degree through years of hard work, and I have every confidence you will use what you’ve learned to strengthen your communities and lead South Carolina to a brighter future.”

Ten students were honored with the William H. Blackwell award which is named in memory of the founding chairman of the Francis Marion University Foundation. This award, presented each spring, is given to graduates who exemplify excellence in scholarship and who have attained, in all academic work, the highest academic achievement among those receiving the baccalaureate degree. The 2024-2025 Blackwell Award recipients are Sarah Elizabeth Boardwine (Timmonsville, SC), Farouk Abdul-Ghani Chatila (Florence, SC), Julia Elizabeth Gunter (Lexington, SC), Kiersten Delaney Hartfield (Johnsonville, SC), Blake Tristen Hatchell (Latta, SC), Bailey Ashton Mitchell Stutler (Florence, SC), Triny Trang Nguyen (Manning, SC), Jeremy Alan Wallace (Cheraw, SC), Jenna Marie Walling (Johns Island, SC), and April Grace Wooten (Cheraw, SC).

Twenty-four students graduated Summa Cum Laude (“with greatest praise”) after completing degree requirements with a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher. They were Mary Elizabeth Beasley (Society Hill, SC), Kayla Ashley Bispo (Florence, SC), Sarah Elizabeth Boardwine (Darlington, SC), Leah Pauline Chambers (Florence, SC), Dylan Michael Cowdright (Florence, SC), Mikaela Grace Goss (Fuquay Varina, NC), Julia Elizabeth Gunter (Lextington, SC), Paisley Grace Hanna (Lake City, SC), Blake Hatchell (Latta, SC), Le’Landra Eshe Jarvis (Jackson, SC), Nakuyo Margaret Kantai (Wayne, NE), Triny Trang Nguyen (Manning, SC), LeeAnn Parker (Quinby, SC), Prakhar Rampalli (Kingstree, SC), Hujinnan Ren (Kingstree, SC), Ethan Tyler Scott (Manning, SC), Nathaniel Clark Smith (Florence, SC), Bailey Ashton Mitchell Stutler (Florence, SC), Austin Trung Vienna (Huntingdale, Australia), Jeremy Alan Wallace, II (Cheraw, SC), Jenna Marie Walling (Johns Island, SC), Brianna Mariah Wilson (Florence, SC), April Grace Wooten (Cheraw, SC), and Jamie Suzanne Wrenn (Hartsville, SC).

Twenty students graduated Magna Cum Laude (“with high praise”) in recognition of a cumulative GPA between 3.75 and 3.89. They were Lona Brooke Beck (Florence, SC), Matthew D. Behling (Darlington, SC), Ishan Chodha (Florence, SC), Carson Olivia Cribb (Marion, SC), Makayla Lynn Cuthbertson (Indian Trail, NC), Holli Nicole Daniel (Pawleys Island, SC), Anna Rose Floyd (Kingstree, SC), Madison Lucille Gainey (Darlington, SC), Tyra Ashlee Gainey (Lamar, SC), Alia P. Hursey (Lake View, SC), Hanna Jeffords (Florence, SC), Mary Louise Kinlaw (Gable, SC), Cierra Renae Legette (Cheraw, SC), James Michael McClam (Florence, SC), Mattie Kathryne McIntyre (Dillon, SC), Michael Avery Moody (Dillon, SC), Caleb Stephen Oakley (Mullins, SC), Austin Mark Powers (Timmonsville, SC), Victoria Rowell (Salters, SC), and Chandler Owen Ward (Georgetown, SC).

Forty-six students graduated Cum Laude (“with praise”) after completing degree requirements with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.74. They were Emily Lauren Ard (Olanta, SC), Taylor Cheyenne Arnette (Dillon, SC), Mikela Grace Ashe (Sharon, SC), Sarah Faith Atkinson (Effingham, SC), Amber Knotts Bell (Lamar, SC), Andrew Michael Brain (Loris, SC), Kaylin Nicole Campbell (Patrick, SC), Jerel Tyreek Dawkins (Union, SC), Linsey Anne Downey (Little River, SC), Delaney Jade Elliot (Florence, SC), Dalyah S. Fore (Woodruff, SC), Peyton Leigh Gale (Firestone, CO), Abigail Elizabeth Haines (Dillon, SC), Logan Makayla Hanna (Lake City, SC), Sophia Hansen (London, England), Kylie Harris (Florence, SC), Adam Matthew Heaster (Florence, SC), Parker Wood Henderson (Lexington, KY), James Avery Hewitt (Dillon, SC), Kristen Noel Huestess (Hartsville, SC), Tanner Brooks King (Hartsville, SC), Emily Nicole Llewellyn (Florence, SC), Audrey Jane McKenzie (Florence, SC), Morgan Neal (Florence, SC), Mikaela Brooke Norris (West Union, SC), Kelly Renee Norton (Latta, SC), Bethany Arlene Park (Florence, SC), MacKinley Davyde Perry (Florence, SC), Evan Hudson Platt (Florence, SC), Jerniah E’lissa Ramsey (Andrews, SC), Jada Leona Reaves (Dillon, SC), Jacob Dewitt Reeder (Florence, SC), Jordan Faith Reichardt (Marion, SC), Riley Reynolds (Delran, NJ), Tina Robinson (Charleston, SC), Kerri Nicole Rouse (Dillon, SC), Xavier Alexander Schwarz (Dallas, TX), Brailey Nicole Sloan (Florence, SC), Abby Barrett Stewart (Hartsville, SC), Christian Brian Strange (Florence, SC), Rainie-Nichole Moore Stroud (Latta, SC), Jayla Michelle Tarlton (Florence, SC), Bobbie Wallace (Darlington, SC), Taylor Walters (Dillon, SC), L’Shaun Jamaria Woods (Bishopville, SC), and Jackson Parker Young (Lugoff, SC).

Nine students also graduated with University Honors. To graduate with University Honors, students must complete twenty-one credit hours in Honors courses and maintain an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher. This year’s University Honors graduates are Andrew Michael Brain (Loris, SC), Devan McArthur Campbell (Greer, SC), Emily Nicole Llewellyn (Florence, SC), Triny Trang Nguyen (Manning, SC), LeeAnn Parker (Quinby, SC), Victoria Rowell (Salters, SC), Bailey Ashton Mitchell Stutler (Florence, SC), Jeremy Alan Wallace, II (Cheraw, SC), and Brianna Mariah Wilson (Florence, SC).