NC Celebrates Class Of 2025, Largest In College’s History
On Saturday morning, Newberry College conferred degrees upon the graduating class of 2025. The commencement ceremony was held on the campus’s Setzler Field.
The spring and summer class represents the largest graduating class in the College’s history, with 183 undergraduate students and 16 graduate students, for a total of 199 graduates. The class also included the inaugural cohort for the online Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, the College’s third online master’s degree program, which launched in 2024. View the commencement program and event recording.
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Since 2014, the honor of the spring commencement address has been awarded to members of the graduating class, selected by fellow seniors, faculty, and staff. This year’s address was delivered by Elizabeth Gray from Port Royal, S.C. Gray earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree with an emphasis in instrumental music and a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in music theory.
“I hope that you all take the idea that our Newberry College journey has taught us to prosper in our lives. Our Newberry College journey has taught us that everything happens for a reason, that resilience is crucial in our daily lives, and that we have the skills to succeed,” said Gray.
SPECIAL AWARDS
The College also bestowed professor emeritus status on two retiring faculty members. Dr. Peggy Barnes Winder ’86 served as a faculty member at Newberry College for 35 years, joining in 1990 as an instructor in physical education. She received tenure in 1996 and was promoted to full professor in 2002. She has earned many accolades not only for her academic service to Newberry College, but also as a scholar-athlete. Starting in the fall 2025 semester, she will transition from the classroom into a full-time administrative role as the director of the Muller Center for Campus and Community Engagement.
Dr. Jerry Gatch served 11 years as the Newberry College director of bands. Gatch joined the music faculty in 2013 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2020. During his tenure, Dr. Gatch taught a variety of courses, conducted the Wind Ensemble, and directed the Jazz Big Band, among others, demonstrating the breadth of his experience. He is the recipient of numerous awards and was inducted into the South Carolina Band Directors Association Hall of Fame as well as the Phi Beta Mu Theta Chapter Hall of Fame for Band Directors.
The graduating class presents the Dr. L. Grady Cooper Awards to a faculty member and a senior who exemplify the loyalty and devotion to Newberry College that Cooper demonstrated during his tenure as a professor of religion and Greek. This year’s recipients were Rebekah Dixon, assistant professor of sport management, and Alexa Anderson, an exercise science & human performance major from Conyers, Ga.
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Mary Mildred Sullivan Awards were established to honor deserving individuals of the graduating class who demonstrate outstanding character and service to others, traits valued by Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan. This year’s awards were presented respectively to Wade Baker, an exercise science & human performance major from Newberry, and Stembile Chikoore, a biology major from Harare, Zimbabwe.
The Dr. George B. Cromer Award, named for Newberry College’s fifth president, is presented by the faculty to the graduating senior who exemplifies academic excellence, leadership ability, and personal integrity. This year, the honor was presented to Rebecca Hartrick, a dual psychology and English major from Auburn Hills, Mich.
Class of 2025 Quick Facts
The spring and summer graduates represented 19 states, one United States territory (Puerto Rico) and 12 other countries — Canada, Australia, Mexico, France, Spain, Zimbabwe, Poland, Germany, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and Turkey. The most popular majors were business administration (47), sport management (20), exercise science & human performance (18), nursing (13), and psychology (11).
On Saturday morning, Newberry College conferred degrees upon the graduating class of 2025. The commencement ceremony was held on the campus’s Setzler Field.
The spring and summer class represents the largest graduating class in the College’s history, with 183 undergraduate students and 16 graduate students, for a total of 199 graduates. The class also included the inaugural cohort for the online Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, the College’s third online master’s degree program, which launched in 2024. View the commencement program and event recording.
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Since 2014, the honor of the spring commencement address has been awarded to members of the graduating class, selected by fellow seniors, faculty, and staff. This year’s address was delivered by Elizabeth Gray from Port Royal, S.C. Gray earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree with an emphasis in instrumental music and a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in music theory.
“I hope that you all take the idea that our Newberry College journey has taught us to prosper in our lives. Our Newberry College journey has taught us that everything happens for a reason, that resilience is crucial in our daily lives, and that we have the skills to succeed,” said Gray.
SPECIAL AWARDS
The College also bestowed professor emeritus status on two retiring faculty members. Dr. Peggy Barnes Winder ’86 served as a faculty member at Newberry College for 35 years, joining in 1990 as an instructor in physical education. She received tenure in 1996 and was promoted to full professor in 2002. She has earned many accolades not only for her academic service to Newberry College, but also as a scholar-athlete. Starting in the fall 2025 semester, she will transition from the classroom into a full-time administrative role as the director of the Muller Center for Campus and Community Engagement.
Dr. Jerry Gatch served 11 years as the Newberry College director of bands. Gatch joined the music faculty in 2013 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2020. During his tenure, Dr. Gatch taught a variety of courses, conducted the Wind Ensemble, and directed the Jazz Big Band, among others, demonstrating the breadth of his experience. He is the recipient of numerous awards and was inducted into the South Carolina Band Directors Association Hall of Fame as well as the Phi Beta Mu Theta Chapter Hall of Fame for Band Directors.
The graduating class presents the Dr. L. Grady Cooper Awards to a faculty member and a senior who exemplify the loyalty and devotion to Newberry College that Cooper demonstrated during his tenure as a professor of religion and Greek. This year’s recipients were Rebekah Dixon, assistant professor of sport management, and Alexa Anderson, an exercise science & human performance major from Conyers, Ga.
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Mary Mildred Sullivan Awards were established to honor deserving individuals of the graduating class who demonstrate outstanding character and service to others, traits valued by Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan. This year’s awards were presented respectively to Wade Baker, an exercise science & human performance major from Newberry, and Stembile Chikoore, a biology major from Harare, Zimbabwe.
The Dr. George B. Cromer Award, named for Newberry College’s fifth president, is presented by the faculty to the graduating senior who exemplifies academic excellence, leadership ability, and personal integrity. This year, the honor was presented to Rebecca Hartrick, a dual psychology and English major from Auburn Hills, Mich.
Class of 2025 Quick Facts
The spring and summer graduates represented 19 states, one United States territory (Puerto Rico) and 12 other countries — Canada, Australia, Mexico, France, Spain, Zimbabwe, Poland, Germany, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and Turkey. The most popular majors were business administration (47), sport management (20), exercise science & human performance (18), nursing (13), and psychology (11).
