Sen. Rankin addresses CCU fall graduating class
"As the years have gone by," said Rankin, who has served Horry County in the South Carolina State Senate since 1992, "I have learned that my father's three-word mantra is a profound philosophy of life. It's expressed in three simple words: observe, record and correlate.
"Observe. Carefully observe the people you interact with every day, from the highest to the most humble, paying particular attention to the latter…. Record. Remember what your observations have taught you. Note how the mistakes you've made can be avoided…. Correlate. Weave those experiences, lessons and observations into your philosophy and the values you live by. Use that philosophy to forge your path through life to form the way you treat others."
A total of 718 students were eligible to walk in CCU's fall commencement. Two ceremonies were held in the HTC Center on campus on Friday, Dec. 15, one at 2 p.m. and one at 6 p.m.
Rankin was awarded the honorary degree Doctor of Public Service at the ceremony. Area physicians Charles G. Sasser and Covia L. Stanley were both awarded the honorary degree Doctor of Science.
Two graduating students received the President's Award for Academic Achievement, which recognizes students with the highest cumulative grade point averages. The recipients of the award all had perfect 4.0 grade point averages, graduating summa cum laude: Hattie Adeline Jordan, an economics major of Conway, S.C., and Madeline Anne Lee, a marine science major of Fredericksburg, Va.
Retiring CCU faculty members Roy Talbert Jr. and Cathy R. Jones were also recognized during the ceremonies. Talbert, professor of history, joined CCU in 1979 as vice chancellor for academic affairs. A prolific author, primarily of regional history, he served as chair of CCU's history department from 1991 to 2001. Jones joined the CCU faculty in 2007. She coordinated the early childhood program and co-authored plans for the new childhood development center scheduled to open in Fall 2018.