Steve Swanson ’89 stressed the importance of overcoming adversity during his commencement address to the 2015 College of Charleston graduating class.
Steve Swanson ’89
Swanson, the former CEO of Automated Trading Desk and an Honors College graduate of the College of Charleston, addressed the more than 2,100 graduates during the three Spring Commencement ceremonies in Cistern Yard on May 15-16, 2015.
“Learn from your mistakes and your failures, but do not dwell on them,” Swanson told the graduates. “Realize there is more to learn from those experiences than from your successes.”
Swanson also credited the College for his success.
“The liberal arts education I received at the College did an amazing job preparing me for the business world,” he said. “My professors and classes challenged me. They taught me how to write effectively and think critically. The fact is, I don’t believe any school could have done a better job positioning me for my future.”
Swanson was presented an honorary degree by the College at the ceremony on May 15.
The College also presented honorary degrees to:
- Gilda Cobb-Hunter: Cobb-Hunter has been a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives since 1992, representing District 66, which includes Orangeburg County. From 1997 to 2000, she served as State House Minority Leader.
- Tony Meyer’49: Meyer joined the faculty of the College in 1954 as physical education instructor and coach. He is a member of the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame and Honorary Past President of the Alumni Association.
- Samuel and Regina Shapiro: Sam Shapiro serves as chief investment officer, portfolio manager and chairman at Shapiro Capital Management LLC in Atlanta. Regina Kronsberg Shapiro serves on the advisory board of the College of Charleston’s Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program.
- Emily Molony Swanson’89: Emily Swanson graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in biology and had a successful career as an investigator with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. She is a member of the Ashley Hall Board of Trustees and a former member of the Charleston Stage board.
This is the first year that the College held three commencement ceremonies over two days in an effort to allow more students and guests to attend.
