Traditions & Fellowship: Converse May Day 2025
Following the success of our inaugural May Day weekend last year, Converse once again welcomed students, their families & friends, faculty, and staff to join us for three days of celebration, fellowship, and time-honored traditions.
RISE Symposium Award Ceremony
On May 1, 2025, Converse celebrated scholarly achievements across all areas of study with the RISE (Research, Internship, and ArtS Experiential Learning) Symposium. Open to all undergraduates, graduates and Converse II students, the RISE symposium empowers students to share their ideas, discoveries and artistic work with our campus and local community. Student projects were displayed throughout campus and awards for various categories were presented to the following students.
Congratulations to the following award recipients:
Research Poster Awards
- Best in Natural & Mathematical Sciences: Lexie Krivicich ’26, Madison Seymour ’26, Paisley Stepp ’26
- Excellence in History: Pashion Israel ’25 (Nisbet Honors)
- Best in Social Sciences: Chloe Cleland ’25 (Nisbet Honors) and Emily Whitlow ’25
- Best in Graduate Research: Julia Turner EdD ’25
Performing Arts Awards:
- Excellence in Creative and Playwriting (Tie): Genesis Medley ’28 (Nisbet Honors) and Graci Barga ’26 (Nisbet Honors)
- Excellence in Dance: New Works: Emmalee Nutter ’27
- Excellence in Original Music: Sean Fanchette ’26 and Adriana Stamile ’25
- Undergraduate Musical Performance Honorable Mention: Samuel Prosser ’26
- Best Musical Performance Undergraduate Award: Carrera Stamile ’28
- Best Musical Performance Graduate Award: Allen Gilbert ’25
Special Awards
- Excellence in Photography: Irma Whaley ’25
- Model Programs – 1st Place: Bella Moreno ’26 and Mugel Junco ’27
- Model Programs – 2nd Place: Hayley Benton ’27 and Jerome Harris ’25
- Model Programs – 3rd Place: S Feser MMFT ’26 and Steven Greer ’22
- Dr. Joe Dunn Excellence in Research Award: Pashion Israel ’25 (Nisbet Honors)
- Student’s Choice Award: Ceanna Brown ’25
Internship Poster Awards
- Best Internships Poster Award – Art: Megan Laliberty ’25
- Best Internship Poster Award – Business: Sofiya Gobora ’25
- Best Internship Poster Award – Education: Olivia Liopiros ’25 (Nisbet Honors)
- Best Internship Poster Award – Non Profit: Eliza McManus ’25
Internship Awards
- Intern of the Year: Em Miller ’25
- Intern with the Greatest Impact on an Organization: Gavin McFadden ’25
- Internship Supervisor of the Year: Adjunct Instructor of Music Therapy Alison Hughey, Carolina Music Therapy
Following the RISE award ceremony, guests had the opportunity to experience cultural events on campus.
The Petrie School of Music held its ensemble concert, where guests experienced a performance by the Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble in Twichell Auditorium.
Converse’s Department of Theatre & Dance’s powerful production of Kafka’s Metamorphosis examined the devastating effects of dysfunctional interpersonal relationships and how being treated inhumanely can cause one to feel less than human.
Associate Professor of Theatre Meg Hanna-Tominaga crafted a fresh adaptation of Franz Kafka’s classic novella, reframing the life of Gregor Samsa from his internal torment to the external forces that contributed to his suffering.
In lieu of purchasing a ticket, guests brought donations for Converse’s Valkyrie Supply.
Tailgate at the Criterium
Converse joined various businesses on May 2, 2025, for the Spartanburg Criterium. This world-class, multi-lap cycling race draws elite cyclists and thousands of fans to Spartanburg for a night of speed and celebration.
Valkyries Choice Awards
Converse Athletics celebrated their successes and their amazing student-athletes. During the fourth annual Valkyries Choice Awards, 21 awards were presented to student-athletes and staff members. Congratulations to Chloe Cleland ’25 (Nisbet Honors), this year’s Weisiger Cup recipient, and Nicholas Gartung ’25, the winner of the Converse Cup.
Converse’s volleyball team won ‘Team of the Year’ following a historic season, which culminated with a pair of championships and a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Head volleyball coach Alexis Ivey was named Coach of the Year. Ivey guided the Valkyries to their first NCAA Tournament berth, Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship, and the Conference Carolinas Northwest Division Championship.
Freshmen Pinning Ceremony
Students and their guests gathered on Saturday morning for the Freshman Pinning Ceremony for the Converse Class of 2028. This time-honored tradition recognizes the completion of a student’s first year at Converse. During his opening remarks, President Boone J. Hopkins proudly reminded students, “You are creative thinkers, passionate advocates, and transformative leaders. You are game-changers.”
Spirit of Converse Community Awards Ceremony
Converse students, faculty and staff who embody the qualities of scholarship, leadership, and service are recognized during the Spirit of Converse Community Awards. This ceremony, previously known as May Day Court, provides Converse with the opportunity to bring faculty, staff, and students together to celebrate some of the university’s most distinguished awards.
Congratulations to the following award recipients:
- Cato Award for Faculty Excellence: Dr. Jennifer Hawk
- Dukes Family Award for Scholarly and Creative Achievement: Dr. Angela Elder
- Dukes Staff Award: Dr. Tori McLean Good
- Spirit of Converse Award: Freddie Robinson
- Core Value Award for Leadership: Luz Marisol Henderson ’25
- Core Value Award for Service: Alyssa Graf ’26
- Core Value Award for Scholarship: Dominique Pearson ’25
- Spirit of the Valkyrie Award: Donald Medley ’25
Saturday afternoon celebrations continued in Twichell Auditorium with the Junior Ring Ceremony, a recognition of the completion of a student’s third year at Converse.
Over in Zimmerli Commons, Sophomores from the Converse College for Women experienced the beloved tradition of receiving the Core Values bracelet. The bracelets serve as a beautiful reminder of the strength of the Converse network.
Leadership Awards & SGA Installation Ceremony
Student leaders were formally recognized for their accomplishments, and Converse’s newly elected student leaders were sworn in.
Congratulations to the following award recipients:
- Freshmen Award for Excellence: Olivia McCutchen ’28
- Sophomore Award for Excellence: John Garcia ’27 (Nisbet Honors)
- Junior Award for Excellence: D’Asia Thomas ’26
- Senior Award for Excellence: Abeeha Sajid ’25 (Nisbet Honors)
- Senior Award for Excellence: Tessa Kramer ’25 (Nisbet Honors)
- Graduate Student Award for Excellence: Amaia Parkins ’25
Academic Awards and Scholarship Day
Converse wrapped up May Day weekend by celebrating the outstanding academic achievements of our students. Congratulations to the following award recipients:
- The Thurmond-Richardson Public Service Scholarship: Bella Moreno ’26
- The Hendry Edmund Ravenel Scholarship: Katherine Beebe ’25 (Nisbet Honors)
- SCICU Research Awards: Ruth Spijker ’26 and Bella Moreno ’26
- The Maria Leonard Senior Book Award: Chloe Cleland ’25 (Nisbet Honors)
- Faculty Memorial Scholarship: Jasmine Humphries ’26 and Sophia Nie ’27 (Nisbet Honors)
- The Jerry Howe Freshman Chemistry Award: Lydia Lawrence ’27
- American Chemical Society Outstanding Senior Chemistry Major: Leia Johnson ’25 (Nisbet Honors)
- Dr. Ansley Boggs Award for Outstanding Master of Arts In Teaching: Emily Brown ’25
- The Close Foundation Scholarship for Deaf Education: Tyler Pruitt EdD ’25
- Dr. Anita Price Davis Award Early Childhood & Elementary Education: Emily Dobson ’25
- Gilman S. Hooper Award for Excellence in Special Education: Crystal Dunmire ’25 (Converse II)
- Katharine Stephens Slemenda Award in Special Education: Anna Catherine Garbade ’25
- Council for Exceptional Children Award in Special Education: Kathryn Castillo