HARTSVILLE – The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) held its 35th Annual Commencement Ceremony, drawing nearly 130 families from across the state to Hartsville to honor their graduates.
The GSSM Class of 2024, representing 31 counties and 82 high schools across South Carolina, gathered with their families and friends in the DeLoach Center. The atmosphere was filled with pride as the Residential and STEM Foundations students were awarded their GSSM diploma after two years of rigorous and advanced STEM studies.
“The GSSM Class of 2024 instills hope for the future.” said GSSM President Danny Dorsel. “They are off to amazing schools in South Carolina and beyond. These Govies will impact our world for the better just as they did during their two years at GSSM. We couldn’t be prouder and more excited for them.”
Residential Program
Williamsburg County
Paige Lanette McKnight, daughter of Jennifer McKnight and Paul McKnight, will attend Clemson University
This year’s graduating class has demonstrated exceptional dedication, resilience, and innovation throughout their time at GSSM. Their achievements in rigorous STEM programs, combined with their commitment to community service and leadership, have set a new standard for excellence. As they embark on the next phase of their academic and professional journeys, they carry with them the skills, knowledge, and values that GSSM instills in all its students.
“Graduation is, of course, always a high point for our school, a time to celebrate our exceptional students and community.” said GSSM Dean of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Matt Martin. “Our students have learned a lot in the last two years, and we’re excited to see the difference they’re going to make in our state and in the world.”
Mackensie Yore, 2004 GSSM alumna and an emergency physician and fellow with the National Clinician Scholars Program at UCLA and the Veteran Health Administration, served as this year’s Commencement guest speaker. After graduating from GSSM, Yore received a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Wellesley College and was awarded the prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. After her fellowship, Yore worked for the World Health Organization on a maternal and neonatal health study in four African countries before completing her medical degree at Stanford University and residency in emergency medicine at UCSF Fresno.
“It was an honor and joy to speak today to the Class of 2024,” Yore said. “GSSM is one of my “happy places”, and I hope this continues to be a special place and community for today’s graduates as they begin the next chapter in their lives.”
On Saturday, May 18, GSSM hosted the Annual Completion Ceremony for its virtual engineering certificate program, Accelerate, at Prestwood Country Club in Hartsville. Twenty-one students representing 10 South Carolina school districts earned program certificates after completing three years of challenging collegiate engineering curriculum. Participating schools included Carolina Forest High School; Greenville Technical Charter High School; J.L. Mann High School Academy of Mathematics, Science & Technology; Lexington High School; Lugoff-Elgin High School; Mayo High School for Math, Science & Technology; Orangeburg High for Health Professionals; River Bluff High School; Seneca Senior High School; South Pointe High School and Woodland High School.
Members of the Class of 2024 have been accepted to over 212 colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad. They received many prestigious, merit-based scholarships, including, Alvey Scholarship – University of Mary Washington, Breakthrough Scholars – Clemson University, B. Robert Williamson, Jr. Distinguished Academic Scholarship – UNC Chapel Hill, Colonial Scholarship – College of Charleston, Distinguished Presidential Scholarship, Tuskegee University, Horatio Alger Scholarship, Lyceum Scholarship – Clemson University, Presidential Scholarship – George Washington University, Presidential Scholarship – Rochester Institute of Technology, Presidential Scholarship – Wellesley College, Questbridge Match Scholars – Duke University, Northwestern University, Rice University, Wesleyan University, Yale University, Rensselaer Medal Scholarship, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Top Scholars Carolina Scholarship – University of South Carolina.