Voorhees College Becomes Voorhees University

(L to R) The Rev. Cn. Jamie Callaway, President Ronnie Hopkins, the Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, and the Rev. Cn. Martini Shaw

Voorhees College, located in the Diocese of South Carolina, is now Voorhees University. The history-making announcement was made during the Founder’s Day Convocation on Thursday, April 7, in the Leonard E. Dawson Center. The name change ceremony and celebration of the 125th anniversary of the institution were tributes to its founder, Elizabeth Evelyn Wright. More than 200 faculty, staff, students, alumni and guests applauded as Ronnie Hopkins, president of Voorhees, and others extolled Wright’s virtues, tenacity and fortitude in founding a school that has been the academic pillar of the Denmark, South Carolina community for 125 years. Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley and other members of diocesan staff were in attendance.

On Friday, April 8, Dr. Ronnie Hopkins was officially inaugurated as the 10th president of Voorhees University. Bishop Woodliff-Stanley preached for the ceremony and it can be viewed on the Voorhees YouTube page at this link. As a member of the school's Board of Trustees, the Rev. Cn. Callie Walpole, Subdean of Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston, brought greetings to President Hopkins during the ceremony on behalf of the Board.

Dignitaries from across The Episcopal Church attended these important events, marking an important next step in the evolution of Voorhees University. The photo above is from Friday's events featuring Bishop Woodliff-Stanley and President Hopkins (center) along with the Rev. Cn. Jamie Callaway and the Rev. Cn. Martini Shaw. For more information on the special events, please read the full press releases at the following links: Convocation and Inauguration.

Voorhees University is one of two historically-black colleges and universities (HBCUs) affiliated with The Episcopal Church. Our diocese is currently leading the search for the schools next chaplain, who will also serve as vicar at St. Philip's Episcopal Church on the school's campus.

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