Watch it Live:
10 AM - https://youtube.com/live/yKVsC21uFT4
2 PM - https://youtube.com/live/8ZP86nA__Hw
These links will be live the day of the ceremony.
Lander University will celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2025 during its 171st Commencement Exercises, scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, in Finis Horne Arena.
To accommodate all graduates, the University will host two ceremonies that day — one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Graduates will participate in the ceremony aligned with their respective academic college.
10 a.m. Ceremony
2 p.m. Ceremony
Keynote Speaker
William H. Floyd, III, executive director of the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), will deliver the keynote address at both ceremonies.
Floyd was appointed Executive Director of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) in May 2023 and through that leadership role is a member of Governor McMaster’s cabinet, the Chairman of South Carolina’s Coordinating Council for Workforce Development (CCWD), and a member of the Coordinating Council for Economic Development.
Executive Director Floyd leads a dedicated team that connects students and other jobseekers with employment opportunities throughout South Carolina. As part of those efforts, Floyd has implemented several unique and innovative strategies to increase awareness of employers and careers in the state, including the Workforce Champion Award in conjunction with Governor McMaster and the Youth Employment campaign with Lt. Gov. Evette.
As Chairman of the CCWD, Floyd has directed the development and adoption of South Carolina’s Unified State Plan for Education and Workforce Development.
Floyd is a graduate of Wofford College and the University of South Carolina School of Law. He is a Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist and the former Chairman of the South Carolina Bar’s Labor and Employment Law Section. He spent his legal career as a Member of the Nexsen Pruet law firm and a partner at Ogletree Deakins.
Tickets
Tickets are required to attend the commencement ceremony, and graduates will be allowed up to eight tickets for guest seating at their ceremony in Horne Arena. Guests without tickets will be directed to the overflow area, where a livestream broadcast of the ceremony will be playing. Please note that official graduation tickets are only available through the Lander University Registrar’s Office, and they are physical tickets. “Virtual” or “online” tickets are not valid and cannot be used for admittance to the arena.
Guest Arrival
The doors to Horne Arena will be open from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. for the morning ceremony, and from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is not reserved.
It is recommended that guests arrive early to ensure ample time for parking, security screening and to find seating. Guests who arrive late will be directed to the Abney Cultural Center, where the ceremony will be livestreamed inside the auditorium.
Parking
Parking is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests with limited mobility or physical disabilities may be dropped off at the Willson Street entrance of Horne Arena.
Security
The University’s clear bag policy will be enforced in Finis Horne Arena and the Abney Cultural Center Auditorium. Metal detectors will be used at all entrances and items are subject to search. Noisemakers, airhorns and similar items are not permitted inside Horne Arena. Additionally, balloons, banners and other items that obstruct guests’ views of the stage are prohibited.
Livestream
For those unable to attend in person, the University will broadcast both ceremonies via livestream on the Lander website at www.lander.edu.
Additional Information
For more information about Lander’s commencement exercises, visit www.lander.edu/graduation.