Opening Convocation highlights new and old traditions, honors Class of ’26 and underscores commitment to service
Presbyterian College formally opened its 146th academic year on Tuesday with a convocation ceremony in Belk Auditorium that blended tradition, celebration, and a renewed call to service.
Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members gathered to mark the beginning of the 2025–2026 academic year and to honor the Class of 2026 as they entered their senior year.
The ceremony featured welcoming remarks from college president Dr. Anita Gustafson, academic reflections from provost and vice president of academic affairs Dr. Erin McAdams, a student address by Class of 2026 president Lyle Jones, and a keynote delivered by the Rev. Dorothy Blackwelder ’03, an attorney with Charleston Legal Access. The service also included words from the Rev. Dr. Buz Wilcoxon ’05, the Lassiter Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Life, who announced new initiatives in service learning and this year’s celebration of six decades of Student Volunteer Services at PC.
Welcoming the College Community
Gustafson greeted the audience with her trademark warmth, recounting how she and her husband Charlie recently hosted the incoming first-year students for dessert at the President’s House.
“I can tell that these students already feel connected to this place, and so I appreciate your enthusiasm,” Gustafson said, noting that the first-year class had signed the college’s honor code — a tradition dating back to 1915 that publicly commits students to pursuing their work with integrity.
She encouraged the Class of 2029 to embrace all that PC has to offer as they begin their academic journey and urged sophomores and juniors to take advantage of resources such as the Office of Career and Professional Development as they look toward the future. Turning to the senior class, Gustafson reflected on the significance of convocation as the “first bookend” of their final year.
“Can you believe it?” she said. “This convocation is the first bookend of senior year, when you first wear your gown and don your cap, and commencement will be your next bookend when you celebrate your graduation. But perhaps commencement is really more like a bookmark, because after you graduate you will continue to be part of the PC family as you join a community of alumni that spans the globe.”
This year’s ceremony introduced a new tradition. Members of the Class of 2026 donned their graduation caps during convocation to accompany the academic gowns they wore for the first time. The moment symbolized both anticipation and responsibility as seniors began their last year at PC.
Gustafson reminded the entire campus that community is one of PC’s most defining characteristics, citing honesty, trust, and respect as values that make the Blue Hose community “True Blue.”
Academic Reflections and Class Recognition
McAdams spoke about the academic journey that defines the college experience, recognizing each class in turn. She asked members of the Classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029 to stand and be recognized, encouraging them to explore, reflect, and grow during their time at PC.
“To our sophomores and juniors, you stand at pivotal points in your journey,” McAdams said. “For you, now is the time for reflection and for growth. This year is an opportunity for you to leave an everlasting mark here.”
When she invited the Class of 2026 to rise, seniors were met with enthusiastic applause. McAdams congratulated them on reaching this milestone and reminded them of their leadership responsibilities.
“As you stand now in your graduation gowns, you are not only students, but emerging leaders,” she said. “Though you must continue to work hard, continue to uphold PC’s honor code, and contribute to the PC community, I hope that you embrace this year with gratitude, excitement, and celebration.”
Student Leadership Perspective
Class of 2026 President Lyle Jones offered a student perspective on the significance of senior year.
“It is my goal, Class of 2026, along with my fellow officers in SGA, to represent your voices throughout this year,” Jones said. “Your opinions are important, and bringing your ideas to life is one way we, as a class, can leave an impact on this institution. I am ecstatic to have this final year with you all as students, and look forward to what we can accomplish. Thank you, ’sco Hose, and Go True Blue!”
Service at the Heart of PC
The ceremony also highlighted service — a hallmark of PC’s identity. Wilcoxon announced the launch of the EPIC Service Program, a new initiative that will intentionally weave service learning into the college’s academic curriculum. Students who participate will have the opportunity to earn an academic distinction in service and community engagement, setting them apart as leaders committed to servant leadership.
“This program will recognize their hard work and set them apart for future vocations in servant leadership,” Wilcoxon said. “It will enable our students to live out our motto in even deeper ways.”
He also marked the 60th anniversary of Student Volunteer Services (SVS), one of PC’s most enduring and impactful programs. Founded by Christian education professor Dr. Jack Presseau, SVS has given generations of students opportunities to serve the surrounding community through initiatives such as Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, after-school tutoring, retirement home activities, and partnerships with Thornwell.
Wilcoxon honored the late professor’s vision and welcomed Jane Presseau, his widow, who attended the ceremony. He noted that countless students have discerned their vocations through SVS, living out the college’s motto, “While We Live, We Serve.”
A Life of Service and Wisdom
The convocation’s keynote address came from Rev. Dorothy Blackwelder ’03, who majored in Christian education and minored in philosophy at PC before earning a Master of Divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary and a law degree from Charleston School of Law. Blackwelder served as a Presbyterian pastor before becoming an attorney with Charleston Legal Access, where she advocates for clients who fall into the “justice gap” — those who cannot afford private representation but do not qualify for free legal aid.
Reflecting on her PC experience, Blackwelder identified three enduring themes: relationships, a love of learning, and a life of service.
She recalled how a youth director who was a PC alum inspired her to attend the college, how she met her husband Russ during a Maymester trip, and how professors invested deeply in their students’ lives — from mentoring in the classroom to attending weddings and staying connected for decades.
“These connections and relationships you make at PC are lifelong,” she said. “Even the ones you don’t make when you’re physically at PC. When you meet a fellow PC grad out in the wild, you have an instant special connection.”
Blackwelder also reflected on how PC’s liberal arts curriculum awakened her passion for philosophy and wisdom, shaping her lifelong pursuit of learning. She urged students not to fear uncertainty about their futures.
“You don’t have to have it all figured out right away,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what your job or career is, but how you live your life.”
Treasure your relationships with your friends, your classmates, and professors. Go all in on your liberal arts education. Never stop pursuing wisdom. Always be kind and professional. Find a way to be of service every day. And do everything, even small things, with great love.”
The Rev. Dorothy Blackwelder ’03
Her stories of Student Volunteer Services underscored the transformative power of service. From mentoring a middle schooler through Bell Street Big Sisters to coordinating SVS projects in costume with fellow students, Blackwelder credited the program with shaping her sense of vocation. She invoked Mother Teresa’s reminder that “not all of us can do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.”
She also shared insights from her current work advocating for tenants facing eviction in South Carolina, one of the least tenant-friendly states in the country. Even small victories, she said, can make a life-changing difference.
“What I’ve learned is that the way you treat people matters,” Blackwelder said. “It’s a big part of living a life of service.”
A Call to Embrace the Journey
As she concluded, Blackwelder encouraged students to step boldly into opportunities, whether through study abroad, new courses, or acts of everyday kindness.
“Treasure your relationships with your friends, your classmates, and professors,” she said. “Go all in on your liberal arts education. Never stop pursuing wisdom. Always be kind and professional. Find a way to be of service every day. And do everything, even small things, with great love.”
A Community Rooted in Service and Tradition
Presbyterian College’s Opening Convocation once again underscored the institution’s identity as a close-knit, service-oriented liberal arts community. From the new senior tradition of donning caps alongside gowns, to the launch of EPIC Service, to the celebration of SVS’s 60th anniversary, the ceremony combined innovation with continuity.
Gustafson’s words echoed throughout the event: “We really are a community here at PC. We certainly embrace our differences, but there are characteristics that we have in common — honesty, trust, and respect. It’s what we refer to as being True Blue.”
As the college embarks on its 146th year, those values — coupled with a renewed commitment to service — provide both anchor and compass for the journey ahead.
