Furman holds 2016 graduation exercises

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. — Furman University awarded 598 undergraduate and master’s degrees and presented its top academic honors during graduation exercises Saturday, May 7.

Approximately 7,100 people attended the commencement activities in Paladin Stadium.

The Scholarship Cup, given to the graduating senior with the highest academic average, was awarded to two students—Erin Michelle Barnett, an economics and theatre arts major from Marietta, Ga.; and Julia Christine Roberts, a political science major from Boone, N.C.

Roberts also received the Donaldson-Watkins Medal for General Excellence as the outstanding female graduate in the class of 2016.  Jordan Alexander Brown, a mathematics major from Gastonia, N.C., received the Bradshaw-Feaster Medal for General Excellence as the outstanding male in the class.  Both awards are given by the Furman faculty.

Furman also presented the Alester G. Furman, Jr., and Janie Earle Furman awards for meritorious teaching and advising.

The teaching awards went to Dr. Frances Willard Pate, Professor of English, and Dr. Benjamin Whitton Storey, Associate Professor of Political Science.

The advising awards were presented to Dr. Carolyn Anne Day, Assistant Professor of History, and Dr. Lourdes Manyé, Professor of Modern Languages and Literature.

W. Randy Eaddy, a 1976 Furman graduate and longtime member of the university’s Board of Trustees, served as commencement speaker.

The student speaker was graduate Nathan Thompson of Arlington, Va., an economics and political science major.