SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Paralegal Certificate Program at Spartanburg Methodist College graduated its second class August 20 during a ceremony at Davis Mission Chapel.

Speaking to the class, Seventh Circuit Solicitor, Trey Gowdy, praised the achievement of the graduates for maintaining high grades and completing the program while juggling their coursework with jobs and family. Gowdy urged the graduates to “restore prestige to the legal field” and to “change the public’s mindset about the legal field.”

Graduate Robin Deming was selected by her peers to address her classmates during the ceremony.

“For some of us this has been a lifelong dream,” Deming said. She praised instructors in the program and its director, Yvonne Harper. She also noted that some students enrolled in the program were privileged to present a case recently before Bruce Littlejohn, retired Chief Justice of the S.C. Supreme Court who also serves on the Advisory Board for the program.

“For those of you old enough to remember some of us wanted to be Della Street to Perry Mason. Some of us had no choice but to change our career because our jobs were displaced,” said Deming.

Graduating from the Paralegal Certificate Program were the following:

Angelia S. Dawkins – Gaffney
Robin C. Deming – Chesnee
Karen L. Gray – Spartanburg
Jennifer Michelle Hansen-Pye – Spartanburg
Joann M. Landrum – Spartanburg
Sonja Lee Robbins – Chesnee
Vivian Stevens – Gray Court
Sue Tibbetts – Spartanburg
Vanessa D. Williams – Inman
Susan Hill Wilson – Pauline
Trudy Woodruff – Spartanburg  

"The SMC Paralegal Certificate Program is a 20-course program offering quality education, accessible faculty, staff and advisors, affordable prices, convenient location and class meeting times in the evenings that fit busy adult schedules. For more information, please contact Yvonne Harper, 587-4278 or e-mail harpery@smcsc.edu.