Students and faculty honored at 2022 Commencement ceremony

Student and faculty awards and honors were handed out at the commencement ceremony for the class of 2022 on Saturday, May 7, by Furman University President Elizabeth Davis, assisted by Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Kenneth Peterson and Board of Trustees Chair P. Edwin Good ’67.

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 2022, the Donaldson-Watkins Medal was presented to Asha Marie Larson-Baldwin of Greenville, South Carolina. The 2022 Bradshaw-Feaster Medal went to Addison Edward Smith of Monroe, Georgia.

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 2022 Scholarship Cup was awarded to Alfred Edward Andrews, Stephanie Dunlap Behrens, Lindsay Elena Cottle, Ethan Alexander Durham, Madaleine Edenton, Isabella Thompson Gutierrez, Andrew Hampton Sisson, Janet Nicole Hoffmann and Caroline Elizabeth Vickery.

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 2022 awards for meritorious advising was presented to William Glen Allen, a professor of modern languages and literatures, and Judy Lytell Stuart, an associate professor of education.

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 2022 awards for meritorious teaching were presented to Alexander Takenobu Francis-Ratte, an assistant professor of Asian studies, and Harris McDonald Heath, a professor of education.

Retiring faculty were also acknowledged at the ceremonies. Faculty who retired after the 2021-2022 academic year are:

• William Glen Allen, professor of modern languages and literatures, who retires after 35 years on the faculty.
• Karni Pal Bhati, associate professor of English, who retires after 21 years on the faculty.
• Samuel Irving Britt, professor of Asian studies and religion, who retires after 30 years on the faculty.
• Lorraine Catherine DeJong, associate professor of education, who retires after 27 years on the faculty.
• Hugh Ferguson Floyd, the Judith S. and Bingham L. Vick Jr. Professor of Music, who retires after 12 years on the faculty.
• Lynne Piper Shackelford, professor of English, who retires after 40 years on the faculty.
• Nancy Lee Sloan, assistant librarian, who retires after twenty-six years on the faculty.