The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) held its Convocation ceremony on September 11, marking the start of the 2025–26 academic year. The event highlighted student achievements and recognized alumni who continue to serve as role models.
Ainara Garcia, a member of the Class of 2022 and currently a senior at Clemson University majoring in computer engineering, delivered the keynote address. During her time at GSSM, Garcia served as student body president, swim team captain, and ambassador.
In her speech, Garcia emphasized the importance of community over competition. “I really quickly realized that this was a place not about competition but about connection,” she said. “You’re not here to prove that you can do this alone… You’re here to grow safely, fully, and with an immense amount of support.”
Garcia also encouraged students to value both community and self-care during their studies. “Governor’s School gave me the first taste of independence, of leadership, of purpose. But more than anything else, it gave me my people,” she said.
The ceremony aimed to inspire current students by showcasing alumni who have continued their educational and leadership journeys beyond GSSM.
