USC Sumter drive-through celebration is Wednesday

USC Sumter, like many other college campuses, canceled its commencement ceremony this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, faculty and staff from the campus came up with an alternative to their traditional graduate sendoff. The campus will host a drive-through celebration for graduates on Wednesday, June 10, at 5 p.m.
“We were very disappointed we wouldn’t be able to honor our graduates at commencement this year,” said Michael Sonntag, USC Sumter campus dean. “One of our staff members, Lisa Rosdail, brought up the idea of a drive-through to hand out awards and gifts for graduates in her Opportunity Scholars Program. We all agreed it was a fantastic idea, so we formed a committee and decided to include all of the USC Sumter graduates.”
This form of gathering will allow the campus to adhere to strict social distancing policies but also serve as a way to celebrate this year’s 130 graduates. Students that are participating are asked to gather by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of the Nettles building on University Drive. Graduates are encouraged to wear their cap and gown if they have them and decorate their vehicles for the parade. The parade will drive north on University Drive, east on Theater Drive and then enter the campus’ north parking lot. The parade will wind through the USC Sumter campus until students are greeted by Sonntag and other faculty and staff in front of the Williams-Brice-Edwards Administration Building near the fountain.
Spectators are asked to socially distance and park in the east parking lot next to the WBE Administration Building. The campus encourages spectators to decorate their cars and bring signs and noise makers to cheer on these very special graduates.
For more details and updates about the drive-through graduation celebration, visit the event page on the USC Sumter Facebook page at facebook.com/UniversityofSouthCarolinaSumter. For further questions, please contact Alethia Hummel at (803) 938-3728 or alethiah@mailbox.sc.edu.