Spartanburg Methodist College is pleased to announce Cyrus Birch III as the keynote speaker at its annual Convocation ceremony marking the beginning of the new school year. The event takes place Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. at Jesse L. Bridges Arena on the SMC campus. It is open to the public and is free of charge.

Birch has acted and modeled for the past two years, landing a role in Marvel Studio’s “Black Panther” as a stunt performer. The film was released in February 2018 and became the ninth highest-grossing film of all time, including international markets. He played an African warrior of the Jbari tribe led by M’baku.

Birch has worked as a dropout prevention coordinator, behavioral interventionist and youth advocate for the past 12 years in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. He is the president of “Roses in Concrete,” a nonprofit organization that provides academic, athletic and therapeutic assistance to underserved youth. The students who attend the program are all between fifth and 10th grades and receive coaching on career and leadership development and postsecondary education goal-setting.

Birch received his associate degree in computer science from SMC before transferring to the University of North Carolina to obtain a bachelor’s degree, also in computer science. He attended both schools on basketball scholarships. In 2016, Birch received a master’s degree in counseling from Webster University, and hopes to go on to get a Ph.D. in Public Service Leadership.