Month: May 2026

The Palmetto Medal recognizes exceptional performance reflecting great credit on The Citadel and the state of South Carolina. Established by the Board of Visitors, the award is presented to those whose service to the college or state is particularly noteworthy. With the exception of honorary degrees, the Palmetto Medal is the highest honor awarded by The Citadel.

Three individuals who embody the college’s definition of principled leaders were chosen for the honor this year. Members of the Board of Visitors presented the Palmetto Medal awards during a military Jeep review parade on March 21.

The citations for the award recipients are below.

Gerald V. Baysden, Class of 1971

The Citadel proudly bestowed the Palmetto Medal in December 2025 upon Mr. Gerald V. Baysden, Class of 1971, in recognition of his exceptional professional achievements, devoted service to his alma mater, and steadfast commitment to his community, state, and nation. Sadly, he would pass away in January 2026. His Palmetto Medal Award Citation reads:

Following his graduation from The Citadel and subsequent military service, Mr. Baysden embarked on a distinguished 45-year career in banking and financial services. Rising to senior vice president at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, he was known as a trusted advisor whose integrity and principled leadership guided families, businesses and charitable institutions.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Baysden gave generously of his time and talent to civic and charitable organizations across the Carolinas. His support for pediatric cancer initiatives and advocacy for families in crisis reflected a lifelong commitment to serving others.

Mr. Baysden’s devotion to The Citadel was equally profound. He served in leadership roles with the Charlotte Area Citadel Club and The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, and contributed significantly to athletics, scholarships and leader development. A member of The Citadel Legacy Society, the Society of 1842 and the Order of the Tartan, his philanthropy had a lasting impact.

For his distinguished career, steadfast service and embodiment of the values of honor, duty and respect, The Citadel proudly honors Gerald V. Baysden with the Palmetto Medal, presented earlier this year during a private family service before his untimely passing in January.

Cadet Lt. Col. Noah Miller

Cadet Noah l. Miller serves as the 2025-2026 regimental academic officer of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. In this role, he provides leadership to 26 battalion and company academic officer groups and helps coordinate initiatives that support the academic success of the Corps.

Throughout his time at The Citadel, Cadet Miller has demonstrated extraordinary academic achievement and leadership. A double major in political science and English and a member of the Distinguished Scholars and Honors Programs, he has maintained a 4.0 GPA while balancing significant responsibilities.

His leadership extends beyond his regimental duties. He has served as president of the Honors Program, student advisory council and editor-in-chief of the Gold Star Journal, and he has supported cadet development through tutoring and mentorship. He also represented The Citadel as captain of the mock trial team, earning recognition for his preparation and professionalism in competition.

Cadet Miller is committed to service and the well-being of others through civic engagement in South Carolina and volunteer leadership on campus and in the community.

In recognition of his outstanding leadership, scholarly excellence and consistent service to The Citadel and South Carolina, the Board of Visitors proudly awards Cadet Noah Miller the 2026 Palmetto Medal.

Cadet Col. David Ropp

Cadet David Michael Ropp serves as The Citadel’s 2025-2026 regimental commander, the highest-ranking cadet in the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. He assumed this responsibility after progressing steadily through the ranks — from Echo Company clerk and company drill master to 5th battalion sergeant major and commander of the Junior Sword Arch.

Cadet Ropp has balanced significant leadership roles with a demanding academic schedule. An exercise science major with a chemistry minor and a member of the Honors Program, he has earned consistent recognition on the President’s List and Dean’s List, received gold stars and been selected for the Distinguished Scholars Program. He is also a member of the Summerall Guards.

Service plays a central role in Cadet Ropp’s leadership, particularly in the medical field he plans to enter. He has volunteered at the Medical University of South Carolina, completed extensive medical shadowing, worked in a medical office internship and participated in The Citadel’s Kenya medical camp in Nairobi, demonstrating his commitment to serving others.

In recognition of his outstanding leadership, academic excellence and dedicated service to The Citadel and the people of South Carolina, the Board of Visitors proudly awards Cadet David Ropp the 2026 Palmetto Medal.

Source: The Citadel Today

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

(Charleston, SC) A public commemorative reading in the Great Hall of the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon will be held at 6:00 pm, Wednesday, May 20, 2026 of Henry Felder’s Declaration of Separation from the English King for the colony of South Carolina, on the anniversary of its first public address in 1776.  The 30 minute event will include the backstory of why the declaration was written by Mr. Felder and the cost suffered by him and his family as a result. 

An introduction by Felder descendant, Brian Eleazer, will precede the reading of the text by Henry Felder’s sixth great grandson, nationally known actor, director and writer, Clarence Felder, and members of his award-winning film and theater company, Actors’ Theater of South Carolina, followed by a short reception.

Swiss-German immigrant, Henry Felder, farmer, merchant, and foreman of the Orangeburg District British grand jury, suffered injustice along with other colonists, and finally reached a limit to his patience with corruption from magistrates in the judicial system in his district of Orangeburg, South Carolina. He expressed his grievances officially in an Address and Declaration of Separation from the English King on May 20th, 1776, to the Chief Justice of South Carolina, William Henry Drayton. The document was signed by Felder and eleven other members of his committee. The address was presented roughly five weeks before Thomas Jefferson delivered his first draft of the Declaration of Independence.

A portion of Felder’s Declaration is in the award-winning docudrama film, All For Liberty, which explores the journey of Henry Felder and his family in the War for American Independence. It stars Clarence Felder, supported by a large cast.  In the course of his journey as a statesman, Henry Felder became a captain, led a militia unit with his seven sons, was tasked by the provincial government to make gunpowder, gather funds, collect artillery and purchase cannon for the Continental army in South Carolina.

Joining Mr. Felder will be co-stars, wife, Chris Weatherhead, Michael Easler (who portrayed Governor Rutledge), actress, Karen DeLoach, and journalist, Mark Leon.

The event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by Actors’ Theater of South Carolina and the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. For further information, call producing director of Actors’ Theater of South Carolina, Chris Weatherhead-Felder, 843-697-9607, or email at: CCFelder@aol.com

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

By Mark A. Leon

For 26 years, Carrie Knotts has shown up with quiet consistency—shaping young lives in the classroom, anchoring her family at home, and answering a calling rooted not in recognition, but in impact. As a middle school teacher at Thomas C. Cario Middle School in Mount Pleasant, she’s built a life defined by service, one that rarely pauses for the spotlight. That’s what made what happened next so extraordinary. Without her knowledge, 15 parents, colleagues, and family members came together to nominate her as a hometown hero, earning her a once-in-a-lifetime flight with the Blue Angels at Joint Base Charleston. For Carrie, the moment landed with more than excitement—it carried the full weight of a life spent giving to others, now reflected back in the most unforgettable way.

At her core, Carrie is an educator who has always made space for the students who don’t quite fit the mold. Over the course of a typical year, she reaches hundreds of middle schoolers, many of whom struggle in traditional classrooms. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: every student deserves a place to “light up.” Whether through hands-on building projects or immersive flight simulations, Carrie creates moments where curiosity takes over and confidence begins to grow.

One student’s story captures her impact. After engaging in a classroom flight simulation inspired by the Battle of Midway, he discovered a passion for aviation that is now shaping his future — including summer flight training and a potential career path. For Carrie, those moments are the real victories: when a door opens that a student didn’t even know existed.

That mindset didn’t come from nowhere. Carrie often reflects on the influence of her own teachers, especially a high school mentor whose warmth and enthusiasm left a lasting imprint. It’s a legacy she has carried forward — the belief that encouragement, given consistently and sincerely, can alter the course of a young person’s life.

But her story extends far beyond the classroom.

A mother of three, Carrie’s life has been equally shaped by family, faith, and resilience. Those closest to her describe a woman of quiet determination — someone who approaches life’s biggest decisions with intention and follows through with unwavering commitment. That steadiness was tested in 2020 when she was diagnosed with stage-two cancer, just as the world was shutting down due to COVID-19.

What followed was one of the most difficult chapters of her life. Carrie endured 13 rounds of chemotherapy, often attending treatments alone due to pandemic restrictions. As she put it, she remembers “walking in with all your stuff, going into battle, that alone, that was, that was hard.” The isolation was profound, the uncertainty constant. And yet, even in the midst of it, she found ways to remain connected — continuing her work in education through virtual check-ins, offering stability to students while navigating her own storm.

At home, her family became both her support system and her inspiration. Her children stepped up in remarkable ways, particularly her daughter, who took on added responsibility during an already vulnerable time. In the quiet moments between treatments and lockdown life, Carrie found strength not just in perseverance, but in togetherness — an unexpected gift during an otherwise isolating experience.

She emerged from that season changed, but not diminished. If anything, her sense of purpose deepened. She became even more committed to showing up for others: “I insist that they don’t do anything alone. I’m like, if you want me to go, I’m going because I know what it’s like to go to all those appointments by yourself.” Determined that no one in her orbit would ever feel alone in their hardest moments, Carrie now channels her experience into compassion and action.

So when the opportunity to fly with the Blue Angels surfaced — something she initially discovered almost by accident on social media — her reaction was disbelief. She didn’t see herself as someone who stood out. But to those around her, the nomination made perfect sense. It was a reflection of years of quiet influence, of lives touched, of a community rallying behind someone who had given so much.

The flight itself was nothing short of extraordinary.

Encircled by her parents, husband, and two sons, this was never a journey she took alone—it unfolded as a shared experience, marked by a powerful sense of togetherness that stretched from eager anticipation to quiet nerves. One of the most moving moments came just seconds after takeoff. As Carrie climbed swiftly to 8,000 feet with Blue Angels #7 Lt. Ronny Hafeza, piercing through the clouds, her mother—standing among media and military liaisons—watched with pride and emotion, tears slipping softly down her face.

Strapped into an F/A-18, Carrie experienced the raw intensity of high-performance flight — the crushing G-forces, the precision of each maneuver, the humbling awareness of just how much discipline and training it takes to make such power look effortless. There were moments of exhilaration and moments of physical challenge, including witnessing firsthand how the body responds under extreme conditions.

But even in the sky, Carrie remained who she has always been: a teacher.

She absorbed every detail, every lesson, already thinking about how to bring the experience back to her students. The physics of flight, the importance of preparation, the discipline behind the spectacle — it all became material for future classrooms. More importantly, the experience reinforced a message she has long shared: don’t close doors on possibilities.

For Carrie, the flight wasn’t about the thrill. It was about perspective.

It was about showing her students that extraordinary opportunities can come from unexpected places. That dreams are worth speaking out loud. That sometimes, the most remarkable moments in life come not from seeking recognition, but from simply doing the work — day in and day out — with heart, humility, and purpose.

In the end, Carrie Knotts didn’t just take to the skies over Charleston.

She carried with her the stories of every student she’s encouraged, every challenge she’s overcome, and every quiet act of dedication that led to that moment — a hometown hero, lifted not just by jet engines, but by a community that believes in her.

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

By Mark A Leon

The Charleston Promise Neighborhood (CPN) stands as one of the Lowcountry’s most ambitious efforts to break cycles of poverty through education, health, and community investment. Rooted in collaboration and long-term vision, the organization has spent more than a decade working to reshape opportunity for children and families in some of the Charleston area’s most under-resourced neighborhoods.

Founded in 2010, Charleston Promise Neighborhood was inspired by the Harlem Children’s Zone, a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes comprehensive, “cradle-to-career” support systems. From its inception, CPN was designed as a public-private partnership, bringing together the City of Charleston, the City of North Charleston, Charleston County, the Charleston County School District, and private philanthropic partners.  

The organization focuses on a 5.6-square-mile corridor known as “The Neck,” an area historically affected by limited access to quality education, healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities.   Its founding goal is both bold and measurable: to “transform the neighborhood within a generation” by ensuring that every child has a pathway to graduate high school and succeed in college, the workforce, or the military.  

At the heart of Charleston Promise Neighborhood is its mission to provide “comprehensive programs and services that support children, strengthen families, and mobilize residents to action.”   Rather than addressing challenges in isolation, CPN operates on the belief that a child’s success is shaped by interconnected factors—education, health, family stability, and community environment. This holistic approach drives everything from early childhood readiness initiatives to workforce development and leadership programs.

CPN’s work in the community is wide-ranging and deeply embedded. In schools, the organization supports academic achievement through expanded learning programs, including afterschool and summer enrichment that combine tutoring with creative and physical activities.   Beyond academics, health and wellness programs like KidsWell bring medical and behavioral care directly into schools, reducing barriers for families and helping students stay focused on learning.  

Equally important is family and community engagement. Workshops, advocacy training, and neighborhood partnerships empower parents and residents to take an active role in shaping their environment. CPN also connects students to future opportunities through career exposure, mentorship, and leadership development—efforts designed to align education with real-world pathways.  

More than a service provider, Charleston Promise Neighborhood functions as a connector—linking schools, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and families into a unified support system. Its long-term vision is to create a thriving, self-sustaining community where educational attainment rises, health outcomes improve, and generational poverty is no longer the norm.

For those interested in learning more or getting involved, visit the official website: Charleston Promise Neighborhood. Volunteer opportunities and community engagement details can be found here: Get Involved / Volunteer.

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.