Coastal Carolina University will hold its Summer 2020 virtual commencement ceremony on Friday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m., featuring a recorded message from Carolyn Dillian, a professor of anthropology and recipient of CCU's 2020 HTC Distinguished Teacher-Scholar Lecturer Award.

President David A. DeCenzo will preside over the ceremony for the summer Class of 2020, which will be launched on the Coastal Carolina University YouTube channel. The virtual ceremony provides the opportunity for every CCU graduate to mark this momentous occasion and personal milestone. The virtual ceremony will be archived for future viewing on CCU's commencement YouTube page.

"Coastal Carolina looks forward to recognizing its newest graduates during our second-ever virtual commencement ceremony," DeCenzo said. "While I know this format may not be optimal, it does allow us and each graduate's family and friends to safely celebrate this milestone achievement together. Our goal remains to offer our graduates the opportunity to return to campus for in-person recognition in the near future."

Nearly 400 students are eligible to participate in the virtual summer commencement ceremony. It will incorporate many traditional customs associated with on-campus commencement exercises, including formal remarks from the president, provost, and deans in full academic regalia; a message from Dillian; the official conferring of the graduate and undergraduate academic degrees; and the playing of the alma mater. The virtual ceremony will also feature individual student recognition slides that will be shown during the event.

Dillian joined CCU nearly a decade ago, beginning as an assistant professor of anthropology in 2010. In 2016, Dillian and her colleagues established a new academic department, the Department of Anthropology and Geography, with a new major in the same subject; she serves as the department's founding chair. Dillian teaches courses in prehistory, human evolution, archaeological methods, and cultural resource management. Her research includes North American prehistory, hunter-gatherers in East Africa, geochemical characterization of archaeological materials, and trade/exchange.

Most recently, Dillian earned the 2020 HTC Distinguished Teacher-Scholar Lecturer Award in recognition of her student mentoring, passionate and dedicated teaching practices, and intensive local, national, and international scholarly research. She directs the CCU Prehistoric Archaeological Field School that provides hands-on, experiential learning in archaeological excavation and analysis at the Anne Tilghman Boyce Coastal Reserve. Dillian also is the co-director of the Baruch Institute for South Carolina Studies at Hobcaw Barony.

Graduates and family members are encouraged to tag @CCUGrads in the photos of their in-home celebrations on social media to be featured on the CCU Grads Facebook page.

CCU has also committed to having Spring and Summer 2020 graduates and their families return to campus for in-person celebrations when public health guidelines allow. Potential dates, logistics, and activities for in-person recognition are being explored, and the University will provide more details as additional information is known.