Students, faculty honored at 2020 and 2021 commencement ceremonies

Student and faculty awards and honors were handed out at the commencement ceremonies for the class of 2021 on Saturday, May 8, and for the class of 2020 on Saturday, May 15.

The Donaldson-Watkins and the Bradshaw-Feaster Medals for General Excellence are awarded each year by the faculty to outstanding senior graduates. The awards are based on scholarship, general culture, participation in college activities and high moral character.

In 2021, the Donaldson-Watkins Medal was presented to Ingrid Ramos Rivera of Greenville, South Carolina. The 2020 Donaldson-Watkins Medal went to Shekinah Lightner of Rock Hill, South Carolina. The 2021 Bradshaw-Feaster Medal went to Lainie Elizabeth Morris, of Longwood, Florida. The 2020 Bradshaw-Feaster Medal went to Jordan Ingram of Helena, Alabama.

The Furman University Scholarship Cup is awarded to the undergraduate degree candidate or candidates with the highest grade-point average. Each of the scholarship cup winners achieved a perfect academic record.

The Class of 2021 Scholarship Cup was awarded to Carly Nicole Holton, Emily Ann Jones, Naomi Elizabeth Ladine, Sydney McDonald Parker, Andrew Charles Singerman and Georgina Lucy Walker.

The Class of 2020 Scholarship Cup was awarded to Chandler MacKenzie Ciuba, Madeline Holt, Jordan Ingram, Catherine Lippert, Natalie Tikhonovsky and Danielle Vines.

The Alester G. Furman, Jr. and Janie Earle Furman Award for Meritorious Advising is given annually to a member or members of the faculty or staff judged to be exceptional academic advisors. The 2021 award for meritorious advising was presented to Elizabeth Bouzarth, associate professor of mathematics. The 2020 award for meritorious advising was presented to Meghan Slining, associate professor of health sciences.

The Alester G. Furman Jr. and Janie Earle Furman Award for Meritorious Teaching is given annually to a member or members of the faculty in recognition of teaching excellence. The 2021 awards for meritorious teaching were presented to Omar Carmenates, associate professor of music, and Jessica Hennessey, associate professor of economics. The 2020 award for meritorious teaching was awarded to John P.T. Barrington, professor of history.

Retiring faculty were also acknowledged at the ceremonies. Faculty who retired after the 2020-2021 academic year are:

• Theodore Lloyd Benson, professor of history, who joined the faculty in 1990,
• Robert Edward Chance, professor of art, who joined the faculty in 1988,
• Susan Smart D’Amato, professor of physics, who joined the faculty in 1983,
• Thomas Witherington Joiner, professor of music, who joined the faculty in 1994,
• Cherie Cannon Maiden, professor of French, who joined the faculty in 1983,
• Arthur Joseph Pollard II, professor of biology, who joined the faculty in 1988, and
• Stephen Todd Richardson, Associate Librarian, who joined the faculty in 1986;

Faculty who retired after the 2019-2020 academic year are:

• John Armstrong, associate professor of communication studies, who joined the faculty in 2003,
• Michael Brodeur, associate professor of art, who joined the faculty in 2004,
• Charles DeLancy, associate professor of communication studies, who joined the faculty in 1982,
• Dan Koppelman, professor of music, who joined the faculty in 1997,
• Bill Ranson, professor of earth & environmental science, who joined the faculty in 1980,
• Brian Siegel, professor of anthropology, who joined the faculty in 1982,
• David Spear, professor of history, who joined the faculty in 1983,
• Ty Tessitore, professor of politics and international affairs, who joined the faculty in 1993, and
• Carolyn Watson, professor of art, who joined the faculty in 1990.