Rep. Nancy Mace to be the First Woman to Deliver Commencement at Graduation for The Citadel Corps of Cadets

(The Citadel) - Exactly 25 years after she made history as The Citadel Corps of Cadets first female graduate, Congresswoman Nancy Mace is set to make another milestone by becoming the inaugural female commencement speaker for the 2024 Corps of Cadets commencement ceremony.

Scheduled for Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 9 a.m., the ceremony will take place in McAlister Field House and will be livestreamed. Following this event, The Citadel Graduate College commencement ceremony will commence at 3:30 p.m., also livestreamed from the same venue. For further details on both ceremonies, please click here.

In 1999, Mace etched her name in history as the first female cadet to graduate from The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina, achieving magna cum laude with a degree in Business Administration. Her groundbreaking achievement not only broke barriers but also ignited a path for future generations of women. Serving as a beacon of inspiration, Mace's accomplishment motivated a multitude of female cadets to pursue their own Citadel diplomas in the years that followed.

Today, women constitute approximately 13% of the Corps of Cadets, a testament to the progress spurred by Mace's pioneering journey. As the college celebrates 25 Years of Female Cadet Graduates, Mace's forthcoming commencement address stands as the highlight of the festivities, symbolizing the culmination of a remarkable milestone. For further details on events honoring this significant achievement, click here.

Hailing from the Lowcountry, Mace is the daughter of a retired Army General and a retired school teacher. Notably, her father, Brig. Gen. James E. Mace, Citadel class of 1963, stands as the most decorated living graduate of The Citadel.

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