The University of South Carolina Union will welcome Josh Simpson as the commencement speaker for its upcoming Commencement Exercises. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 2 at 4:00 PM at USC Union’s Patron’s Park, with Upstate Gathering Union serving as the rain location.
Simpson is a speaker and strategic advisor who currently serves as Mayor of Reidville, where he became the youngest and first Black American elected to the role. He is a 2012 graduate of Union County High School and a 2016 graduate of Wofford College, where he was a four-year letterman in Division I baseball. In 2023, he founded the nonprofit Kid On The Left to support local communities through scholarships and sports camps.
In 2024, Simpson was recognized by The Post and Courier as one of South Carolina’s “12 Black Leaders to Know.” His previous service includes work with the Union County Education Hall of Fame Committee and as Chair of the Executive Leadership Team for the Alzheimer’s Association, South Carolina Chapter. He and his wife, Kelsey, have three children: Kai, Korie, and Kru.
Attendance at Commencement is by ticket only, and the ceremony will begin promptly at 4:00 PM.
The Bantam Blog 