Georgia Southern University Holds Fall Commencement

December 16, 2011

Georgia Southern University awarded nearly 1,300 degrees during its fall commencement ceremonies today at Hanner Fieldhouse.

The University awarded bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees during three ceremonies.  Graduates included traditional students who entered college right out of high school as well as students who returned to the classroom after time in the workforce. A number of students who pursued online education also received degrees at today’s ceremonies.

The Honorable Faye Sanders Martin, who graduated from Georgia Southern University when it was Georgia Teachers College, was the speaker for the day’s first ceremony. Martin was the first female attorney in Bulloch County, Ga., the first woman appointed to the Georgia Superior Court bench, and the first female chief superior court judge in the state, addressed graduates at the first ceremony of the day.

Martin told the graduates to think, “Why not me?” when pursuing their goals and professional pursuits, even if those goals seemed well out of reach. Martin also told the audience that one key to success is a dedication to the truth. “Believe in it and seek it and always speak it and you will re-kindle the American dream,” she said.

E. Lynne Weisenbach, who currently serves as Vice Chancellor for Educator Preparation, Innovation and Research at the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and

Dick Escue, senior vice president and chief information officer for RehabCare Group also served as speakers at today’s ceremonies.