Nearly 1,600 degrees, including approximately 25 doctoral degrees, 340 master's degrees, 35 specialist degrees and 1,200 bachelor's degrees, were awarded Friday during Georgia Southern University's 24th annual Fall Commencement, with three ceremonies held at Hanner Fieldhouse. Kathy Bradley, an author, speaker, columnist for the Statesboro Herald and prosecuting attorney who lives and works in Bulloch County, was the keynote speaker during the first ceremony at 9 a.m. At the second ceremony, held at 11 a.m., Lonice Barrett, special assistant in the office of Gov. Nathan Deal, the executive director of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Foundation and a 50-year alumnus of Georgia Southern, delivered the keynote speech.