Furman holds 2015 spring commencement

Read commencement speeches of Callie Robertson and Harold Warlick, Jr.

Furman University awarded 649 undergraduate and master’s degrees and presented its top academic honors during graduation exercises Saturday, May 9.

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 Hayley Elisabeth Cunningham, a psychology major from Midway, Ky.

Cunningham also received the General Excellence award as the outstanding female in the class of 2015.  Luke Darby Christie, a communication studies major from Due West, received the General Excellence Award 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. Vincent Joseph Hausmann, Associate Professor of English, and Dr. Cynthia P. King, Associate Professor of Communication Studies

The advising awards were presented to Dr. John J. Banisaukas III, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, and Dr. Weston Ridgway Dripps, Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Harold C. Warlick, Jr., a 1968 Furman graduate and former dean of the chapel and religion professor at High Point University, served as commencement speaker and received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.

The student speaker was graduate Callie Robertson of Tulsa, Okla., an art history major.

For more information, contact Furman’s News and Media Relations office at 864-294-3107.