YHC Holds 123rd Commencement Ceremony May 9

(Young Harris, GA) – May 9 marked the 123rd commencement ceremony held at Young Harris College.  One hundred and seventy one students participated in this prestigious annual ceremony.  The platform party, consisting of Dr. John Wells, Provost and Academic Dean of Young Harris College, Jerry W. Nix, chair of the YHC Board of Trustees, Rev. Dr. Walter L. Kimbrough, special liaison for Outreach and Campus Ministry, Carol Chastain ’84, of the newly unified YHC Alumni Association, Mrs. Fay Clegg Hoag ’33, Rev. Darris Baker, interim campus minister and pastor of Sharp Memorial United Methodist Church, and keynote speaker Dr. Thomas K. Glenn, II, Emeritus YHC Board of Trustee member, were on hand to congratulate the graduates with YHC President Cox.  Degrees were awarded within the areas of Associate of Arts, Associate of Fine Arts, and Associate of Science.

Twenty-nine students graduated Cum Laude with a minimum grade point average of 3.5; nineteen students graduated Magna Cum Laude with a minimum grade point average of 3.7; and ten students graduated Summa Cum Laude, the highest honor, with a minimum grade point average of 3.9.  Forty-nine students graduated wearing the gold tassels signifying induction into Phi Theta Kappa, the International Honor Society for Two-Year Colleges.

Dr. John W. Wells, Provost and Academic Dean, was awarded the Young Harris College President’s Medallion for his work in strengthening the future of Young Harris College as a four-year institution as well as his leadership during the 2006-2007 academic year as interim president of the College.  President Cox, in her remarks when awarding the President’s Medallion, said, “John Wilson Wells, you have been a vibrant force for good at Young Harris College and generations to come will benefit from your vision.”

The President’s Medallion has been awarded during commencement ceremonies at Young Harris College for the past forty years.  The recipient is someone who has demonstrated the highest level of commitment to the institution.

The first honorary Bachelor degrees from Young Harris College were awarded by President Cox during the ceremony. 

Dr. Thomas K. Glenn, II, Emeritus Trustee of Young Harris College and keynote speaker, was awarded the first honorary degree of Bachelor of Science from Young Harris College.  “Tom Glenn,” said Cox, “has been a great friend to Young Harris College over the years, doing things that went somewhat unnoticed but which I continue to hear about.

Mrs. Fay Clegg Hoag, the beloved “Guardian Angel” of Young Harris College and widow of YHC president Charles Clegg, was awarded the first honorary degree of Bachelor of Arts from Young Harris College.  Cox said of Mrs. Hoag, “Fay Clegg Hoag has continued to keep up with every activity, every staff and faculty event, all personnel comings and goings, and all the progress on this campus for fully 76-plus years.  She has continued to donate her time and her money to the Charles Clegg Endowed Scholarship fund, various YHC capital campaigns, the annual fund, and our arts programs.  Fay has been a wonderful friend and advisor to me and has willingly shared her insights into the rich history of this institution and what has made it the great place it is today.”

As keynote speaker, Dr. Glenn said to the 2009 graduating class, “As graduates of Young Harris College, you have been blessed with manifold gifts, and it is now your opportunity to share a giving attitude with the rest of the world … with your professors and your students; with your employers and your employees; with your parents and children, and everyone else with whom you come in contact.”

Photo Captions:

1. The Young Harris College 2009 Graduating Class

2.  YHC President, Cathy Cox, presents Emeritus Trustee and Commencement speaker, Tom Glenn with the first honorary Bachelor of Science degree from Young Harris College.