Legacy cadets' and students’ diplomas presented by their alumni parent or grandfathers
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Dozens of The Citadel’s Class of 2014 graduates share a legacy with many of their predecessors dating back to the late 1800’s. For these graduates, attending The Citadel is a family tradition. As they walk to accept their diplomas, their parents and grandparents who are alumni of the college or graduate college will be on stage to hand them their diplomas.
A tradition at The Citadel since 1962 (adopted later by The Citadel Graduate College), parent and grandparent alumni can present diplomas to their children and grandchildren at commencement. This year there are 52 legacy graduates in the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. The Citadel Graduate College has seven legacy students.
The custom makes graduation especially poignant for legacy cadets, students, and their families. What does the tradition mean to some of them?
Presenting Matthew's diploma goes beyond academic achievement and fulfilling graduation requirements. It truly represents the totality of The Citadel experience of hard work, sacrifice, and commitment. I am extremely proud to share in this occasion to showcase Matthew's readiness to enter life's next phase. James Arend, Class of ’84, Father of Legacy Cadet Matthew Arend
It represents the bond that connects the old and the new. It is an awesome experience to be receiving my diploma from my stepfather; it means a lot. I am the second line in this legacy and hope that it continues. Legacy Cadet Cpt. Taylor S. Hart, Class of 2014, 1st Bt. Operations Officer, Concrete Canoe Captain, STAYE coordinator
I look forward to presenting Nancy her second Master’s degree from The Citadel. It takes a lot of commitment to go back to school and this tradition will celebrate all of her hard work. Cassandra Watkins Bradham CGC Class of 1976, Mother of Nancy Bright, CGC Class of 2005 (Biology); CGC Class of 2014 (Project Management)
Cadet |
Alumni |
Class |
Relationship |
Michael Alender Adams |
Mr. Michael Alender Adams |
1980 |
Father |
- |
Mr. Joseph Eulie Adams Jr. |
1955 |
Grandfather |
- |
Mr. Joseph Eulie Adams Sr. |
1922 |
Great Grandfather* |
Taylor Regan Addison |
Col Glenn Addison, USAFR, Ret. |
1979 |
Father |
- |
Dr. Gene Calvin Addison |
1950 |
Grandfather* |
Matthew Rutledge Arend |
Mr. James David Arend |
1984 |
Father |
Stephen Keith Balentine Jr. |
Mr. Stephen Keith Balentine |
1979 |
Father |
Garrett Alexander Blais |
Mr. David Anderson Kay, Sr. |
1986 |
Stepfather |
Alexander Breard Blanke |
Col Harry Herman Blanke III, USAF, Ret. |
1983 |
Father |
William Augustine Burn IV |
Dr. William Augustine Burn III |
1973 |
Father |
George Earle Campsen IV |
Moses Tucker Lafitte, Jr., MD |
1950 |
Grandfather |
- |
Mr. George Earle Campsen Jr |
1951 |
Grandfather* |
Richard Christian Capps |
Dr. Richard Clyde Capps III |
1983 |
Father |
- |
Mr. Richard Clyde Capps Jr |
1955 |
Grandfather |
Creighton Buchanan Coleman Jr |
Sen. Creighton Buchanan Coleman |
1979 |
Father |
George Franklin Coleman IV |
Mr. George Franklin Coleman III |
1973 |
Father |
William Stanford Coln |
MajGen Barry K. Coln, USAF, Ret. |
1974 |
Father |
John David Crawford Jr |
Mr. David Crawford |
1983 |
Father |
James Maxwell Culp |
Mr. David Michael Culp |
1984 |
Father |
Stephen Fletcher Dille |
Mr. Thomas Leslie McElwee |
1985 |
Grandfather |
Christopher Douglas Elznic |
CAPT Douglas Frank Elznic, USN, Ret. |
1973 |
Father |
Taylor Shelby Hart |
Mr. Joe Everette Fanning Jr. |
1980 |
Father |
Alexander Mills Hayes |
Mr. William Alexander Hayes |
1985 |
Father |
Thomas Joseph Hindman |
Mr. Thomas Cato Hindman |
1985 |
Father |
- |
COL Thomas Banks Hindman Jr, USA, Ret. |
1956 |
Grandfather |
Adam Orion Huskins |
Mr. John Grover Huskins Jr |
1984 |
Father |
William Shafter Jackson IV |
Mr. William Shafter Jackson III |
1985 |
Father |
Gerald Joseph Johnson |
Dr. Ahmed Sean Alford |
1992 |
Father |
James Henry Johnson IV |
Mr. James Henry Johnson III |
1980 |
Father |
Edwin Hunter Jordan |
Mr. Thomas Myers Jordan |
1983 |
Father |
- |
Mr. James Edwin Hunter |
1957 |
Grandfather |
- |
Mr. Arthur Buist Jordan III |
1956 |
Grandfather |
Lawrence Cooper Jordan |
Mr. Lawrence Cooper Jordan |
1986 |
Father |
- |
Mr. Arthur Buist Jordan III |
1956 |
Grandfather |
- |
Mr. James Edwin Hunter |
1957 |
Grandfather |
Philip Alton Jordan |
LTG Donald Edward Rosenblum, USA, Ret. |
1951 |
Grandfather |
Thomas Lawrence Kennedy |
Mr. Lawrence Singletary Kennedy Jr |
1985 |
Father |
Khalil Paul Khoury |
Mr. Joseph Thomas Isaac Jr |
1969 |
Father’s Cousin |
- |
Mr. Paul Thomas Khoury |
1979 |
Father* |
Alexandra Joan LaRiviere |
MajGen James Michael LaRiviere, USMCR |
1979 |
Father |
Harvey Craig May IV |
Mr. Harvey Craig May III |
1979 |
Father |
Christopher Adams Mims |
Mr. Thomas Adam Mims |
1991 |
Father |
Townes Walker Moore |
Mr. Edward Noble Moore |
1986 |
Father |
William Few Moredock |
Mr. Rupert Early Moredock |
1975 |
Father |
Jonathan Brooks Newlon |
Mr. Jon Eric Newlon |
1982 |
Father |
Matthew Tyler Pace |
Mr. Randy Keith Pace |
1985 |
Father |
John Taylor Palmer Jr |
CAPT John Taylor Palmer, USN |
1988 |
Father |
William Nash Parker |
Mr. William Fielden Parker |
1974 |
Father |
Michael Raymond Paul |
Mr. Richard Josiah Paul |
1969 |
Father |
Blaise Masood Rashtchian |
Mr. Mansour Rashtchian |
1979 |
Father |
Ian Michael Rumsey |
Mr. Kevin Ray Rumsey |
1979 |
Father |
Ralph Gerald Rye III |
Mr. Ralph Gerald Rye Jr |
1983 |
Father |
Preston Harris Sanders |
Mr. John Albert Sanders |
1985 |
Father |
- |
Mr. Don E. Sanders |
1957 |
Grandfather* |
Jonathan Michael Scholz |
Mr. John Michael Scholz |
1987 |
Father |
Dalton Tyler Simeone |
Mr. Joseph Fredrick Simeone |
1963 |
Grandfather |
Hugh Floyd Smith |
Mr. Floyd Henry Smith |
1989 |
Father |
Grady Richard Snowden |
Dr. John Douglas Snowden |
1976 |
Father |
John Elliott Sperr |
Mr. John Peter Sperr |
1981 |
Father |
Thomas Grayson Sturgeon |
Mr. T. Kevin Sturgeon |
1988 |
Father |
Samuel Hal Stutt II |
Mr. Samuel Hal Stutt |
1982 |
Father |
Christian Scott Thompson |
Mr. Thomas Scott Thompson |
1985 |
Father |
Benjamin Wolfe Tillman |
Mr. Robert Wesley Tillman |
1978 |
Father |
William Scott Utsey |
Mr. Robert Lee Utsey Jr |
1970 |
Father |
Allen Tripier Wilson |
Mr. William Lamar Wilson Jr |
1979 |
Father |
*In memory of
Cadet |
Alumni |
Class |
Degree |
Relationship |
John Charles Long Darby Jr |
Mr. John Charles Darby |
1985 SCCC |
MBA |
Father |
- |
Dr. Charles P. Darby Jr |
1955 SCCC |
- |
Grandfather |
Sharina Anna Kindel |
Dr. Thomas Kindel |
Professor Emeritus |
MBA |
Father |
Brittany Dilgren Nicholson |
MajGen Lawrence DeGaris Nicholson, USMC |
1979 SCCC |
MASS |
Father-in-Law |
Nancy Bradham Bright |
Mrs. Cassandra Watkins Bradham |
1976 CGC |
MSPM |
Mother |
Wesley Samuel Holcombe |
Mr. Stuart Holcombe |
1975 SCCC |
MSPM |
Father |
Justin Robinette |
Mrs. Ruth Lusk |
1976 CGC |
MSPM |
Grandmother |
Michael Keith Weatherford |
Mr. Gerald Edward Hood Sr |
1955 SCCC |
BSBA |
Grandfather |