SMC Confers Degrees on 125 Graduates

125 students received their degrees during SMC's 2010 commencement services

05/08/10 — SMC Alum, Former MLB Player Sanders Serves As Keynote Speaker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SPARTANBURG, SC -- Spartanburg Methodist College conferred degrees on 125 students Saturday during its 2010 Commencement Services.

Serving as keynote speaker for the event was Reggie Sanders, a 1988 alumnus of SMC and former major league baseball player.
Reggie Sanders speaks at SMC's 2010 commencement services
Sanders is  a 2001 World Series champion and 1995 baseball All-Star. While at SMC, Sanders was named an All-Region and All-District player. During his sophomore year, he nailed 10 homeruns, had 50+ RBIs and 28 stolen bases, and batted in excess of .390.

He played professionally with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, and the Arizona Diamondbacks' 2001 World Series championship team. He and his wife have four daughters and live in Myrtle Beach, SC.

In his address to students, Sanders talked about decision making and having vision, saying, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.... Your greatest gift is your ability to choose and to create your own destiny, so I challenge you to never let others put limitations on you."

Sanders talked about key moments from his baseball career, most significantly recalling the 2001 World Series, also known as "The November Series"  in which he played for the Arizona Diamondbacks during their first Series appearance in franchise history. That Diamondbacks went on to win the seven-game Series against the New York Yankees, seven weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"During the raising of the tattered 'Old Glory' that was taken from the World Trade Center, chants of 'U-S-A, U-S-A' rang throughout Yankee Stadium.  That's when I thought, 'You know what?  We are going to be okay'.  When you get knocked down...You must reexamine what you think... We are what we think...What we think determines what we believe...What we believe determines how we feel...The way we feel, influences how we are going to act," he stated.

Sanders added, "After losing three games in Yankee Stadium, I analyzed our situation and it resembled what I was trying to accomplish in my baseball career...As a kid I dreamed of coming from behind to win a World Series.  Dream fulfilled...We won in seven games and that series has been labeled the best series ever played.  Now I know it's possible to create anything which you can imagine."

He also stressed the significance of hard work and determination as key factors in being successful, as well as the power of a person's dreams.

"Believe the life you wish to live, is at this very moment, waiting for you to summon it up.  You cannot get there by bus, only by hard work and risk.  During these times, surround yourself with positive mentors to feed your emotional bank account and believe in your dream... There are times when you are going to do well, and times when you are going to fail.  But neither the doing well nor failure is the measure of success.  The measure of success is doing things that make you proud.  Whatever your game is, play to win and make sure you don't beat yourself.  And if you lose, just make sure you lose while trying something grand.  Then dust yourself off and take life on again," he said.

Sophomore Dana Smith served as the student speaker and also was named the 2010 recipient of the SMC Trustee Medal, which goes to the highest honor graduate each year.

As she addressed her fellow graduates, Smith said, "Today may mark the end of our journey here, but it also marks the beginning of our new life's journey... Every choice we make once we walk through those doors will determine the rest of our life's journey... Whatever you decide to do, do it with all your might and be successful."

SMC president Dr. Colleen Keith went on to recognize the many significant accomplishments of the  college's Class of 2010, and congratulated the graduates on their hard work and dedication during their time at the college.

"We salute you for your accomplishments and congratulate you on reaching this significant milestone in your academic career. Be proud of the work you have completed, the goals you have reached, and the honors you have earned. We know that this is just the start of more great things for you," she added.

Serving as graduation marshals were freshmen Robert Gilliam, Andrew King, and Chandler Pace.