BSC 2018 commencement recap

For Immediate Release
May. 25, 2018

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Birmingham-Southern College’s spring commencement ceremony celebrated more than 270 members of the Class of 2018 on Friday, May 25 in Bill Battle Coliseum.

The featured speaker was Dr. Janie Spencer, BSC professor of Spanish, who talked to the Class of 2018 about the importance of working hard to forge relationships and experiences during life’s journey.

“Ending life with more stuff than we had when we started out is normal for most people in our society,” Spencer said. “But it’s important to accumulate things other than material possessions.”

She imparted five significant lessons in each category. Regarding relationships:

You have to be a friend to have a friend;
You have to make a conscious effort to maintain relationships;
Be open to forming relationships with people who are different from you;
In your relationships, conduct yourself in a way that you can look back and have no regrets; and
Be forgiving. No one is perfect, including you.

Regarding experiences:

Live in a different part of the country or world;
Use the good china. Don’t save something marvelous for later;
Try something new;
Volunteer your time in a variety of new ways; and
Don’t forget your roots. Keep in touch with a mentor or favorite professor.

“Many things in life lie outside our control. Choosing to enrich ourselves and those we care for through well-tended relationships and experiences that foster personal growth is not one of them,” she said. “Class of 2018, as you celebrate what’s next in your lives, keep in touch with BSC so that we may celebrate with you as you accumulate new relationships and experiences.” (Full commencement speech here.)

Commencement also featured performances by the BSC Concert Choir and BSC President Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith’s presentation of honorary degrees to two outstanding alumni: Ulysses “Skip” Bennett ’65, the first African American graduate of the college and a 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award winner, and Jim Pierce ’74, a BSC trustee and philanthropist (see full bios).

At the ceremony, BSC’s Provost Dr. Bradley Caskey named former CASE/Carnegie Alabama Professor of the Year and Professor of Theatre Arts Michael Flowers as Outstanding Educator of the Year. Caskey credited Flowers’ many years of service to BSC, effective leadership, and expertise in theatre as key factors in his selection. Flowers, who has been teaching at the college since 1984, will serve as commencement speaker in 2019.

Other platform participants included David M. Smith ’79, chair of the BSC Board of Trustees, BSC Chaplain Rev. Julie Blackwelder Holly ’01, and outgoing SGA President Toby White ’18.

The Commencement ceremony was the final event of a weekend that celebrated the achievements of the graduating class. Other events included a Capping ceremony for graduating seniors and the annual Baccalaureate service, both on Thursday. (View a listing of the college’s 2018 graduates.)

About Birmingham-Southern College:

Birmingham-Southern College is a four-year, private liberal arts institution in Birmingham, Ala., founded in 1856 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It enrolls about 1,300 students from more than 30 states and 8 foreign countries. Learn more online at www.bsc.edu.