Georgia Southern University Grants More Than 1700 Degrees During Fall Commencement

December 12, 2014

Georgia Southern University today held its 23rd Fall Commencement at Hanner Fieldhouse, 590 Herty Drive.

Georgia Southern University today held its 23rd annual Fall Commencement at Hanner Fieldhouse, 590 Herty Drive. University President Brooks A. Keel, Ph.D. conferred more than 1,700 graduate and undergraduate degrees during three separate ceremonies to accommodate the graduating class.

“Good morning Eagle Nation,” said Keel. “My name is Brooks Keel and I am the 12th President of the Greatest University in America!”

Twenty-two doctoral degrees were conferred, along with 298 Master’s degrees, 33 specialist degrees, and 1,354 Bachelor’s degrees from the University’s eight colleges.

Commencement speakers for this year’s ceremonies included University System of Georgia vice Chancellor for Educational Access and Success, Rob Anderson; Col. Thomas Tickner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District; and Georgia Southern alumnus Vic Reynolds (’79), district attorney of Cobb County.

“Whatever you do, do it with the best of your ability,” said Anderson. “The manner in which you live your life will be the most powerful message you can give anyone.”

Tickner, advised students that their education will serve as the backbone for challenges they will face on the road ahead, and Reynolds offered five pieces of advice to the graduates.

“It’s okay today if you don’t know what you’re doing, where you’re going or where you’re going to work. It will work out. Take a chance in your life and embrace that change that comes with it. Learn from the inevitable failures that will occur in your life, but take them and harness that strength to your advantage. Work hard. Whatever you do, even if it’s not something you want to do, work hard at it so you can get to the point where you want to be, and find your moral compass, and once you find it, set it, and then live by it.”

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers more than 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 and hands-on approach to education.