Surgeon to SC State grads: ‘See what is possible’
University graduates more than 200 at Fall 2025 commencement exercises
Dr. Kris Harley, a 1995 SC State graduate, delivered the keynote address at the university’s commencement ceremony at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.
“See what is possible. I like to think that our paths in life actually choose us,” Harley said.
A native of rural North, S.C., he said it took prayer and determination to find his own pathway in life and accomplish his goal of becoming a doctor.
Harley said he did not let his humble beginnings and early struggles deter him from what he wanted to become.
There was a three-year gap between when he graduated and when he began his journey to medical school, but he kept his focus. He now serves as chief of surgery at CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia, North Carolina.
He said his rural upbringing taught him the value of developing life skills, including a strong work ethic.
“A dream without a plan is just a wish,” said Harley, who recalled the strong family support that surrounded him, including a set of encyclopedias he received as a Christmas present one year.
He encouraged the graduates to empower themselves with their knowledge and skills and create their own opportunities because “one can’t assume there will be multiple chances.”
“Learn and retain one new concept every day . . . My prayer was simply to get better every day,” Harley said.
The surgeon stressed to the graduates that they must find their own path and put in the work to make their goals a reality, while also maintaining the determination not to let naysayers and doubters affect them.
“I became encouraged,” Harley said, and put his faith in God, who he knew would bless him.
“You have to stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready,” he said, urging the graduates to “create a circle of learners” around them because they won’t always have all the answers.
He said the graduates will sometimes need to learn from others and will also need to build others up just as they have been built up.
“This is what empowerment looks like,” Harley said.
A resilience lesson from SC State
Madison Owens said it was her professors at SC State who helped guide her to academic excellence.
“They are my lifeline. They guide me in everything, and I know I’ll always keep in touch with them. I’m going to miss seeing them every day, and I’m just going to miss the love on campus that we see. The love for our HBCU, you can’t find it anywhere else,” Owens said.
The 24-year-old Barnwell, South Carolina, native graduated Thursday with a bachelor’s degree in history.
“History has always been an interest of mine, and to graduate in it and to be able to be someone who preserves our history specifically and teach future generations, that’s my mission in life — to make sure that the people who came before me aren’t forgotten,” Owens said.
She said the university has taught her resilience.
“One word that I was taught when I first came to South Carolina State in 2019 was resilience. I’ve learned that word, I’ve read that word, and I had to learn how to physically enact resilience and get back on my feet again,” Owens said.
Professors who empowered students
Ron Edwards, 47, received his doctorate in educational leadership Thursday.
“I’m mostly going to miss the camaraderie of family. This is my fourth degree, my terminal degree. So I’ve gone to schools all over the country, and by far I believe that being a Bulldog has felt the most communal, the most like family,” he said.
Edwards also touted the support of his professors.
“The number one best part about being at South Carolina State is my professors wanted to see me successful — I would say on some days even more than I did. I was not going to just finish, but finish strong. They empowered me and believed in me,” he said.
Edwards now wants to give back and plans to explore a career in higher education.
“Because my professors were so instrumental in my success, I want to now explore opportunities in professorship for sure,” he said.
