Clemson University commencement set for May 8
May 4, 2015
CLEMSON, SC – Clemson University officials will award degrees to approximately 3,000 students in three commencement ceremonies in Littlejohn Coliseum Friday, May 8.
The first ceremony, beginning at 9:30 a.m., is for graduates of two colleges: Architecture, Arts and Humanities and Business and Behavioral Sciences. The second ceremony, at 2:30 p.m., will be for graduates of the colleges of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences and Health, Education and Human Development. The third ceremony, at 6:30 p.m., will be for graduates of the college of Engineering and Science.
University officials will bestow an honorary Doctorate of Humanities on alumnus Michael J. Biediger (’76), in recognition of his dedication to enhancing the quality of health care in the state and his community while improving the delivery of care to its citizens.
Biediger graduated from Clemson with a Bachelor of Science in industrial management, and earned his Masters of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina in 1980. He quickly became a leader in health care management in the state. He was the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Lexington Medical Center from 1989 to 1996, when he became president and chief executive officer.
During his 26 years of leadership, Lexington Medical Center grew from a 292-bed hospital to a medical center with 414 beds, along with six medical and urgent care centers, an occupational health center, an extended care facility, an Alzheimer’s care center and a network that encompasses 295 physicians and 57 medical practices.
His leadership didn’t just expand the physical footprint of the Lexington Medical Center. He has been a strong advocate for adopting important new technology and services that have raised the level of care for the community’s citizens. He has been credited with expanding the cardiac care capacity for area residents by championing the addition of heart health capacity through the Certificate of Need process.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and was honored by that group as the South Carolina Healthcare Executive of the Year in 1990.
Biediger is one of 10 children, eight of whom graduated from Clemson. He and his wife, Jean, live in Columbia.
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