More than 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students received degrees during three spring commencement ceremonies held May 4 and 5 at Georgia Southern University's Statesboro, Armstrong and Liberty campuses.

At the graduate ceremony held at Hanner Fieldhouse on May 4, Georgia Attorney General Christopher Carr spoke to around 800 graduates. Later that same day, W. Ray Persons, senior litigation partner at King & Spalding, spoke to more than 200 graduate and 600 undergraduate students at Savannah Civic Center. 

And on May 5, around 2,700 undergraduates gathered at Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro to receive their degrees and hear commencement speaker and GSU alumna Hala Moddelmog, the first female president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber.

All three speakers encouraged the graduates to be proud of their accomplishments, but to look forward to their future with confidence and courage. 

"Step out with confidence," Moddelmog said. "Be bold. Be proud of who you are and take a risk that might change your life. I promise you, you can do more than you think you can."