Jun. 23, 2025
South College Asheville held its commencement ceremony June 20 to celebrate hundreds of graduates, including three sets of sisters graduating together and a student who has now been awarded three diplomas by the campus president.
The ceremony took place at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts and included remarks from guest speaker Dr. Elizabeth Lima, chief well-being officer at Charles George Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Asheville.
Approximately 200 students crossed the stage, including Laci Harwood, who received her third diploma from South College Asheville President Dr. Samantha Sircey, who was Harwood’s middle school and high school principal and now college campus leader. Harwood earned an Associate of Science in Health Science with a focus on Pre-Nursing.
“As someone who was born and raised in Asheville with a lifelong career in education, it is especially rewarding to be a part of the 2025 commencement ceremony,” said Sircey, who officially became president of the Asheville campus earlier this year. “I applaud the commitment and hard work of the graduating class. I know these students will succeed going forward, and each one is welcome to come back and visit.”
The Asheville campus, which opened in 2012, is located at 140 Sweeten Creek Road in a city anchored by the mountains of Western North Carolina. The institution offers a variety of programs and concentrations in business, healthcare, legal studies, technology and more.
For more information about South College Asheville, visit south.edu/asheville.
Across its national footprint, South College offers an array of academic programs in business, education, healthcare and other fields. The institution was founded in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1882 and now includes 10 physical campuses, online learning and competency-based education (CBE). To learn more about South College, visit south.edu.
About South College
South College serves more than 16,000 students and is proud of its more than 17,000 graduates. The institution offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta and Marietta Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dallas, Texas; and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online and CBE. South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.
South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.
