MATRICULATION DAY: Freshmen get lesson in  traditions, Warmack gets honor

Bishop Simeon Moultrie and Claflin President Dwaun J Warmack. (Photo via Cecil Williams Photography)

The 156th Matriculation Convocation was held at Tullis Arena on Sept. 10 celebrating the start of the school year and officially welcoming the freshman class of 2028 at Claflin University.

Matriculation Day is a Claflin tradition. For over 150 years, the university has held a ceremony to celebrate the start of the academic year.

Claflin's new provost, Dr. W. Franklin Evans, explained the meaning of the tradition alongside the school’s history.

“Well, what is a convocation? Well, a convocation is an assembly, an official gathering. And so we have gathered here this morning, officially to celebrate the dawning of a new academic year, an academic year full of excitement, expectations and opportunities for our new students, our new faculty, our new staff.

"We say, welcome to the Claflin family, to our sophomores, juniors, seniors and returning graduate students," Evans said.

"Claflin College opened its doors as the first historically Black institution here in the state of South Carolina, opening its doors to students, regardless of race, color or gender. ... Claflin University was named in honor of two individuals, Lee Claflin, a good Methodist layman from Massachusetts, and his son William Claflin, the governor of the state of Massachusetts. Both were strong abolitionists who had a passion for higher education and the uplift of African Americans," Evans said.

The president of Claflin University, Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack, recently celebrated five years as the institution’s ninth president. During the convocation, Warmack highlighted the class of 2028's accomplishments.

The class average grade-point average coming into Claflin is the second highest over the past seven years, Warmack said.

“This class of 2028, you came in with a medium GPA of a 3.6," Warmack said, expressing his anticipation that the class will showcase excellence and further show “Claflin magic” throughout their matriculation.

“This is just a microcosm of the excellence that is in this class. At graduation, I will talk about what I define as Claflin magic. This is just the beginning of what that magic looks like as you matriculate and understand what it means to get Claflin confidence and graduating from here as a visionary, continue to lead the way, continue to set the path.”

Warmack was awarded the key to the City of Orangeburg by Mayor Micheal Butler.

Butler said Warmack "has brought great sustainability to this college and to the growth of this college. So we want to thank you, myself, the city council and our administrator. We are giving you the keys to the city.”

Newly installed 66th Student Government Association President Joshua Williams spoke about the importance of determination and faith during difficult times.

Williams titled his speech "W.O.W. (Willingness Over Worry)," encouraging the audience to overcome challenges through faith.

Williams shared his personal story about overcoming difficult times after having strokes during the summer.

He credited Claflin University for always maintaining a family-oriented environment.

Williams said, “The same willingness over worry that helped me overcome a rough time in my life, as I fell victim to sporadic strokes on the left side of my brain that left me unable to walk just on July 19. But I stand here as a testimony and a product of a nurturing environment."

"One thing that Claflin prides itself on is being a family-oriented environment to all of its fields, and that is one thing I appreciate most during such a difficult time in my life.

"This same atmosphere is nothing short of what you will experience on the Hilltop ... and the care and support offered by Claflin University to the students is unmatched.”

The keynote speaker for Matriculation Day was Bishop Simeon Moultrie, founder and lead pastor of the Brook located in Columbia. The report on his speech is in a separate Panther story.