The Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris addressed students and faculty at South Carolina State University’s Fall Convocation on Tuesday, Sept. 20.
Harris was accompanied by US Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to welcome the largest freshman class in 15 years to the campus of SC State in Orangeburg. This comes just months after President Joe Biden delivered the commencement speech at SC State in December 2021.
This is also Harris’ third time visiting South Carolina since taking office in 2020. She visited the Greenville-Spartanburg area in June 2021 and was in Columbia for a fundraiser for the SC Democratic Party in June 2022.
“South Carolina State University is honored to welcome Vice President Harris back to our campus,” SC State President Alexander Conyers said.
“Her visit is a golden opportunity for our students to hear directly from the highest-ranking woman in this nation’s history. Her achievements are motivational for all of us at SC State, especially for our young minority women” Conyers continued.
Since Tuesday was National Voter Registration Day, the Vice President delivered remarks on the importance of participating in the election process and making one’s voice heard when it comes to causes like climate control, women’s rights, and gun violence.
“Your vote is your voice and we need your voice, we need you to lead America forward and President Biden and I will be with you every step of the way.”
– Vice President Kamala Harris
“You are students united by the pursuit of excellence,” she said. “There is no barrier that you can not break, so as Vice President of the United States to seize on that. In this moment our nation needs your leadership,” Harris said in her address.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona also spoke on how the administration is working to enhance and support HBCUs. “That’s why for us investing in HBCUs including infrastructure and research capacity is a priority for the Biden- Harris team,” he said.
Harris also held a roundtable discussion about mental health and other issues important to young Americans with students at Claflin University during her South Carolina trip.
The Vice President continues to make stops as national HBCU week kicks off hoping to encourage high school students to enroll.
