DENMARK, S.C. - Voorhees College celebrated 111 years of existence on Thursday, April 10, during its Founder's Day Convocation.

Donald E. Greene Jr., pastor of Andrew Chapel Baptist Church in Orangeburg and a 1988 Voorhees graduate, was the keynote speaker for the event.

"I remember being a student here," Greene said. "I thank God that he transformed me while at Voorhees to a better person."

During Greene's address, he encouraged students to believe they can complete their studies at Voorhees, be successful in life and compete with all other students across the nation.

"It doesn't make a difference what school you go to, it's what you grab along the way," Greene said.

He went on to state the three things that are needed to make it in life: capability, courage and compassion.

"Have capability and courage, but most importantly, make sure you have compassion," Greene said. "I'm so thankful God placed something in my heart called compassion. You must always have the desire to help somebody else."

Following Greene's address, Voorhees presented service awards to faculty and staff members. Recipients of the awards were Williams Green, George Rowe, Teddy Sanders, Sandra Gloster, Lavenia Freeman and Rekha Rai Mathur.

Once the program was over, students, faculty and staff continued the tradition of marching across the campus to Memorial Garden and having a brief ceremony around the grave of Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, founder of Voorhees College.

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