Record Number of Students Receive Degrees from Georgia Southern University

May 16, 2011

Georgia Southern University awarded degrees to its largest graduating class ever during two ceremonies this week.

More than 22-hundred undergraduates received their degrees at a ceremony held this morning. Nearly five hundred doctoral, specialist’s and master’s degrees were awarded yesterday.

Georgia Southern alumnus and Chick-fil-A president and chief operating officer Dan Cathy served as Saturday’s commencement speaker. Cathy told the graduates, “Today you are going to receive a diploma that you can be very proud of, as I am, being a graduate myself.”

Cathy, who graduated from Georgia Southern in 1975, challenged students to keep up with progress, but to stay true to their values and beliefs. “I would encourage you to always be students,” said Cathy. “Let’s stay relevant, let’s stay meaningful for the generation we are to serve today…As responsible leaders know, they have to stay the course on the things that never change.”

In closing, Cathy congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments and announced that all 2,200 graduates would receive a card for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich.