Georgia Southern Celebrates Spring Commencement
More than 3,000 students received their degrees from Georgia Southern University this weekend in two ceremonies during the 85th annual spring commencement. A crowd of more than 20,000 people filled Paulson Stadium Saturday as nearly 2,500 students received their undergraduate degrees.
Luis Aguilar (‘76), a commissioner on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, served as the commencement speaker. He told the undergraduates the challenges they will face in life are just new opportunities to learn, and it’s always better to do the right thing even if that might seem the harder choice. “Change creates challenges, and challenges create opportunities,” said Aguilar. “Life is certain to bring you challenges. You can’t avoid them, but you should not fear them. America truly is the land of opportunity. America is the land where anything is possible. Challenges and obstacles don’t need to mean the end of the dream, but need to be seen as opportunities to come out stronger.”
Georgia Southern also presented Aguilar with an honorary doctoral degree. He received the Doctor of Public Service for his decades of service on the boards of state and national Hispanic organizations that have improved the lives of children and families.
On Friday, Dr. Michio Kaku, a theoretical physicist, internationally recognized authority on physics and New York Times best-selling author, spoke to more than 600 graduate students who received their degrees at Hanner Fieldhouse. “I believe one of the secrets to success is for you to have a role model,” said Kaku. “Find someone you admire and find out why that person became successful.”As the co-founder of string field theory, Kaku is continuing Albert Einstein’s dream of completing the unified field theory — an equation that will summarize all of the physical laws of the universe.
Stephanie Thomas is a graduate student who earned a spot in Georgia Southern history. She is the University’s first student to receive a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in the Logistics/Supply Chain Management program in the College of Business Administration. “This feels very awesome and great to be part of this opportunity,” said Thomas. “The College of Business Administration is doing so many great things and continues to add high caliber faculty with outstanding professors and researchers. The future for the logistics program at Georgia Southern is bright.”
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 125 degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.
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