SC State awards 4 honorary degrees at Fall 2023 Commencement
Honorary degree recipients Diane E. Sumpter, Judge Clifton B. Newman, State Sen. Harvey S. Peeler Jr., and State Sen. Kent M. Williams.
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – South Carolina State University on Friday, Dec. 15, awarded honorary doctorates to four people who have supported the university in various endeavors:
- Judge Clifton B. Newman, Doctor of Laws.
- State Sen. Harvey S. Peeler Jr., Doctor of Humane Letters.
- Diane E. Sumpter, Doctor of Humane Letters.
- State Sen. Kent M. Williams, Doctor of Humane Letters.
In Friday’s Fall 2023 Commencement Ceremony, SC State Board of Trustees Douglas Gantt
and President Alexander Conyers presented the four honorees with their honorary degrees
as Dr. Frederick Evans, provost and vice president for academic affairs announced
their accomplishments.
Judge Clifton B. Newman, Doctor of Laws
The Honorable Clifton B. Newman, a South Carolina Circuit Court Judge elected by the
South Carolina General Assembly served as an assistant solicitor for 17 years and
24 years as a practicing attorney. He served on the Executive Board of The I. DeQuincey
Newman Institute for Peace and Social Change and received historical preservation
awards for his work in restoring historic buildings in Kingstree and Columbia, South
Carolina.
Sen. Harvey S. Peeler Jr., Doctor of Humane Letters
The Honorable Senator Harvey S. Peeler Jr. has served more than 43 years of service
in the South Carolina Senate representing District 14 and sits as the second most
senior senator. He serves as the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the Joint
Bond Review Committee, and the State House Committee among many Senate committees
including the Senate Education Committee. Senator Peeler became the first elected
president of the South Carolina Senate.
Diane Sumpter, Doctor of Humane Letters
Ms. Diane Sumpter managed and administered government contract engagements for DESA
Inc., both competitive and sole source Small Business Association 8a awards. Ms. Sumpter
initiated diverse company offerings that include steering a university engineering
department toward accreditation and she also spearheaded efforts to assist SC State
University in obtaining ABET Certification, which accredits colleges in engineering
allowing graduates to sit for the engineering licensing exam.
Sen. Kent Williams, Doctor of Humane Letters
The Honorable Senator Kent Williams has served more than 19 years in the South Carolina Senate representing District 30. An active SC State University alumnus, he has been a tireless advocate for improving the institution, raising awareness of the need to replace aging infrastructure at the University. Senator Williams secured the largest appropriation ever received from the General Assembly in the history of South Carolina State University.
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About South Carolina State University
Founded in 1896 as a land grant institution with a mission of providing service to the citizens of the state, South Carolina State University has evolved from a small teachers’ college into a major University center of learning and research. Located in Orangeburg, S.C., South Carolina State offers more than 50 different fields of study on the undergraduate and graduate levels. South Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools.