By Ryan Rogers
On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the Snow Institute for the Study of Capitalism hosted a recognition ceremony to honor its graduating Lyceum Scholars. This year’s class, composed of sixteen Scholars, is the largest graduating class in program history. The Lyceum Scholars Program uses a great books approach to studying the moral, political, and economic foundations of a free society and, upon completion, fulfills the academic requirements for a Political and Legal Theory minor.
During the 2024/25 academic year, Charlotte Cross was awarded the the Department of Philosophy and Religion’s Excellence in Philosophy: Pre-Law Studies honor. Elise Bloom won the Edwin J. Freeman Award, given to the most outstanding senior in Industrial Engineering, and Boone Simms was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
In addition to their academic accomplishments and honors, several senior Lyceum Scholars worked tirelessly to publish the fourth edition of Clemson University’s first student-led humanities and social sciences journal, The Aurantiaco. Managing Editor Elise Bloom led a team of staff and editors that included Michael Stebbins, Kady
Bedard, and Charlotte Cross as well as numerous other undergraduate Lyceum students.
The Lyceum Fellows Program, which added over sixty new students this academic year, had eight graduates, several of them winning academic awards. Matthew Ployhart was given the Joan Brigwood Excellence in Russian award, and Kaden Liles was honored as the most Outstanding Senior in Undergraduate Research within the Department of Economics. Lyceum Fellow Brigid Alvis served as Editor-in-Chief of The Aurantiaco before graduating early in December.
After graduation, several Scholars plan to continue their education. Charlotte Cross will be attending the University of South Carolina School of Law while Michael Stebbins will attend NYU to study music. Boone Simms is attending the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Nick Carter and Sean Costigan will be entering the armed forces after graduating from Clemson’s ROTC Program. Other Lyceum graduates will be entering the workforce in the private sector, as teachers, or in the political sphere.
When asked about this year’s Lyceum Class, Dr. Spencer Krauss, Assistant Director of the Lyceum Program, said, “We are honored to have had the opportunity to become acquainted with this year’s graduating class of Lyceum students. They have exceptional virtues of heart and mind, and we have no doubt that they will impress others as much as they have impressed us. As they go on to exciting careers in business, education, law, and politics, we wish them the best and look forward to hearing of their accomplishments.”
About the Snow Institute for the Study of Capitalism
The Snow Institute for the Study of Capitalism is dedicated to exploring the moral foundations of capitalism. In pursuit of this mission, the Institute collaborates with students, the academic community and the general public to raise awareness of capitalism’s core principles and institutions. The Lyceum Program, founded in 2014, serves as the flagship initiative and remains the only University program focused on the study of liberty, capitalism, the American founding and moral character.
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