On a festive stage flanked by poinsettias and Chrismon trees, Newberry College honored 77 graduates Friday in its fall commencement exercises. The ceremony was held at 10 a.m. in Wiles Chapel.

The fall class included 75 undergraduate and two graduate degree candidates. They represented seven U.S. states — California, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia — and four other countries — Australia, Brazil, Peru and Spain.

The most popular undergraduate majors included business administration (16), respiratory therapy (8), psychology (7) and sport management (7).

Two undergraduate alumni, Megan Horton, class of 2006, and Caroline Addison, class of 2020, earned master’s degrees in organizational development and leadership. The two were the sixth and seventh to complete Newberry’s graduate program after its inaugural cohort graduated in August.

In the spring, the Student Government Association named Dr. Jerry Alewine, interim dean of nursing and health sciences and professor of respiratory therapy, as Professor of the Year. As is tradition, the faculty honoree delivered the commencement address.

“The challenges of our lives are moments of our greatest growth,” said Alewine. “Meeting adversity prepared with a healthy dose of fear and determined heart are the ingredients of a successful outcome.”