Date Posted: May 9, 2003

Governor to speak at Wilson Hall graduation

By KRISTA PIERCE
Item Staff Writer

   Gov. Mark Sanford will give the commencement speech during Wilson Hall’s graduation ceremony 8 p.m. May 29 at Patriot Hall.

SANFORD

   Headmaster Fred Moulton was notified Wednesday that Sanford had decided to accept the invitation to serve as the school’s commencement speaker. Previously, the governor had declined the invitation, saying his service in the S.C. National Guard might prevent him from attending the event.
   “Needless to say, we were ecstatic,” Moulton said, adding that he has met the governor on several occasions during his previous visits to Sumter.
   “We like to have a speaker who is concerned with education to deliver the address to our students,” Moulton said. “The message is better when the speaker can look at the audience and understand the role education has played in their young lives.”
   Wilson Hall extended the invitation to Sanford about six weeks ago.
   “Pretty much with the expectation of a reasonably quick ‘no,’” Moulton said. Instead, the governor sent his regrets about three weeks later, saying he would like to speak at the event, but could not make a commitment.
   That’s why the phone call from Sanford’s deputy scheduler, Jarrett Martin, was so surprising.
   Moulton said the 43 graduating seniors have heard the news, as have others in the community.
   “We’ve been blessed to have wonderful commencement speakers,” Moulton said, adding the school’s graduation exercises usually attract about 800 people even though the graduating classes are relatively small.
   “We hope the Sumter community will turn out for the exercise,” he said. “We certainly hope they know they’re welcome. This year, we expect all 1,200 seats will be taken, so come early.”

   Contact Staff Writer Krista Pierce at kristap@theitem.com or 803-774-1272.

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