Fourteen graduating seniors in the Social Work Department were pinned during the inaugural pinning ceremony on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in the Little Theater at 5 p.m. Degree candidates who were invited to participate in the ceremony were pinned by a family member, faculty member or friend.

Social Work Assistant Professor Dr. Kennard DuBose says, “The pin represents not only the importance of the graduate’s education, but now their responsibility to serve, to care, and to lead with purpose.”

The guest speaker for the ceremony was Genice Bailey, ’03. Bailey is a licensed Social Worker with more than two decades of volunteer engagement and community development experience. After earning a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Benedict College, she later received a Master of Social Work degree from the University of South Carolina.

Bailey currently serves as the Senior Volunteer Recruitment Specialist with the American Red Cross where she leads recruitment efforts to build and sustain a strong volunteer workforce. She has also served on the Benedict Social Work Advisory Council and as an adjunct professor of Social Work Practice and Gerontology at Benedict College.

The ceremony served as a celebratory occasion for students who completed their Bachelor of Social Degree, reinforcing their transition from student to professional.