Andrew Goforth could easily write a brochure on “How to Get the Most from Your College Education.”
The past three years of the Lander University senior’s life tell a rich story of how experiences beyond the classroom can enhance the structure of a college curriculum.
Just home from a study abroad trip to the University of Stirling in Scotland – which was preceded by the “Rhetorical Recreation” study tour to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Salt Lake City, Utah – Goforth immediately became immersed in high school football. An avid sports enthusiast and high school athlete, Goforth was a volunteer coach last year for the Greenwood High School football team – a role he will continue in fall 2024. He returned from the cool, 50-something degree days in Scotland to a heat wave that requires high school athletes to practice in the early morning hours.
“It’s definitely been an adjustment,” said Goforth, who is a double major at Lander where he is pursuing a B.S. degree in history, secondary education, and a B.A. in English. “But I’m looking forward to this year’s schedule. We have a lot of great players who are returning to play, and I think it will be a very good year.”
Goforth, who hopes to become a high school coach and teacher after his graduation in May 2025, does not appear to let a day go with unfilled hours. Since 2021, he has worked at the Uptown Greenwood Museum and Railroad Historical Center and has served as a poll worker since 2020 with Greenwood County Voter Registration & Elections.
At Lander, he is a member of the University Singers, and he also sings in the chancel choir at First Presbyterian Church in Greenwood, where he is church historian, a Sunday School teacher and lesson facilitator for Wednesday night fellowship programs.
A member of the Greenwood Festival Chorale, which performs several concerts annually, Goforth couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sing at a local church in Scotland. He attended Logie Kirk, a church near Stirling, and sang in the choir on his last Sunday abroad.
He loved the camaraderie of the church members and said the experience was a highlight of his trip – along with the opportunity to experience the excitement of the Euro soccer championship games in which Scotland was a competitor.
“Scotland has a history of not qualifying for the championship,” he said. “But while I was there, they played well, and I was able to enjoy watching the games with the local people. There was a real sense of community and excitement among the people at pubs watching the games. Whether you like pubs or not, it’s a major part of community life, and people go there to watch the games and cheer on their team. It was a nice sense of community.”
He took literature and creative writing classes with students at the University of Stirling, where he was joined by U.S. and Scottish students. Campus life was different, he said, in that academic buildings and residence halls were separated by a loch, which Americans would consider a lake.
“The University of Stirling campus is very pretty, and I loved walking to campus each day,” said Goforth. “In preparation for the Lander trip out West, I tried to walk everywhere. I really learned to love walking places, and Scotland is very walkable. Now that I’m back, I’m trying to walk as much as I can.”
His love for the rolling hills and rural settings in Scotland led him to a commitment for his future. “Every two years, I’m going to Scotland.”
Goforth has met the rigorous demands of life as a Lander Honors College student and has earned President’s List and Dean’s List honors throughout the past six semesters at the University.
His passion for history is recognized by a commitment to several community service organizations. In 2021, Goforth was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to serve on the Cokesbury College Historical and Recreational Commission. A member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Goforth is on the Greenwood County 250 Committee, which is preparing for the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. He also completed an internship last year at the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Center, where he conducted tours for the public.
A member of Phi Alpha Theta, an honor society for students and professors of history, Goforth also is a member of Sigma Taul Delta, an international honor society for English students.
As he approaches his senior year at Lander, Goforth said he realizes, “The purpose of education is to prepare yourself to be in a community.”
He believes that the breadth of opportunities offered at Lander – many of which he pursued – gives him the preparation he will need after graduation.
“Be where your feet are,” he said. “Be prepared to go where you’re planted and continue to grow.”