Georgia Southern University Holds Spring Commencement Ceremonies
Georgia Southern University awarded a record more than 2,600 degrees to graduates during its 84th spring commencement ceremonies held Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12. An estimated 23,000 guests packed Allen E. Paulson Stadium for the Saturday ceremony.
More than 2,200 undergraduates received diplomas during a ceremony held Saturday morning. Major General Jim Butterworth, Adjutant General, Georgia National Guard served as the speaker for the undergraduate ceremony. General Butterworth told graduates that life is much like a roadtrip, “In the road trip called life, the destination should involve the things you truly love. Do not let anyone or anything get in the way of reaching that destination. The trip will not always be easy, that is a given. Never accept defeat when you simply need to recalculate.”
During the ceremony, Colonel George Fredrick, professor of Military Science, recognized graduating ROTC cadets who have accepted commissions as officers in the U.S. Army. The capacity crowd recognized the new officers with a standing ovation.
More than 400 graduates received master’s and doctoral degrees during a ceremony held Friday at Georgia Southern University’s Hanner Fieldhouse. Graduates were addressed by Georgia Sen. Tommie Williams. This year’s graduates included Kevin Chapman, whose research for his master’s thesis resulted in the discovery of Camp Lawton. For decades, researchers believed the Civil War prison camp near Millen, Ga. had been stripped of all artifacts. Chapman’s research uncovered dozens of personal artifacts left behind by Union soldiers, and is leading to a deeper understanding of life and conditions at the camp nearly 150 years ago.
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 117 degree programs serving more than 20,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University is one of the Top 10 most popular universities in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report, and is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.
Posted in Archive, Press Releases
