Over 1,200 graduates received diplomas Friday during Georgia Southern University’s 17th Annual Fall Commencement held at Hanner Fieldhouse in three separate ceremonies.
During the graduation ceremonies, a total of 32 students received doctoral degrees from the College of Education. Twenty-one countries and 22 states were represented, with s tudents ranging in age from 21 to 61. Women comprised 55 percent of the day’s graduates, and 92 percent of graduates were native Georgians, said GSU Spokesman Paul Floeckher.
Ceremonies were held at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and at 1 p.m.
Jefferson County High School Principal Molly Howard spoke during the 9 a.m. ceremony, when students from the College of Education, College of Health and Human Sciences and the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health. Howard was recently named the 2008 National High School Principal of the Year.
Ann Bordelon, senior vice president/chief audit executive of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. spoke during the 11 a.m. ceremony, when students graduated from the College of Business Administration and College of Information Technology.
Georgia Southern University alumnus Chris Hobson, senior vice president for Research and Environmental Affairs for Southern Company, spoke during the 1 p.m. ceremony, when students graduated from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology.
Hobson spoke about his experiences as a student at Georgia Southern in the ‘70’s, and told students they would feel “ great pride ... and great anticipation about what lies ahead” after graduation.
He talked about experiencing the very first Earth Day celebration and other milestones during his college experience, and told students “ I challenge you to be mindful about how such minor events can have an impact on your life.”
He recalled a Statesboro with “ No Wendy’s, no Wal-Mart , no Erk Russell .... no Starbucks ...” and said back then, there was little concern for the environment. Calling his college days “ literally the age of Aquarius,” he said “environment was just a word used in spelling bees.”
But then, the Clean Air Act was passed and the Environmental Protection Agency was established, and “there was no way I could know how important these events would be in my life,” he said.
“We now have clean air and water, we have safer weapons and we have more protected species,” he said. But today, “ Your class has greater challenges. You will have to rally the political, the social and the financial support ... develop technology that will take us through the next century.”
Hobson told the graduates to “ never stop being a student. There is something to be learned from everybody, especially those with backgrounds and experiences that are different from your own.”
After the 1 p.m. ceremony was over, the crowd was excited and exuberant as graduates joined their families outside the fieldhouse.
Dijon Burch, 23, from Gwinnette County, was surrounded by friends and family member as she exited the building.
“I am anxious, but feel great,” she said. “I am anxious for what the future holds.” The justice studies major plans to attend graduate school at Georgia State University.
Prince Walker, 24, smiled as he held a tiny girl in his arms who clung to his graduation gown. “I’m nervous, excited and ready for whatever,” he said. The Spanish major expects to begin teaching the foreign language in Cobb County next fall.
Elise Varnadoe, 22, from Toccoa, majored in psychology, but school isn’t over for her. She plans to attend graduate school as well, but the importance and excitement of graduation wasn’t lost on her Friday.
“I feel fabulous,” she said. “This is the best day of my life.”
Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at 489-9414.
During the graduation ceremonies, a total of 32 students received doctoral degrees from the College of Education. Twenty-one countries and 22 states were represented, with s tudents ranging in age from 21 to 61. Women comprised 55 percent of the day’s graduates, and 92 percent of graduates were native Georgians, said GSU Spokesman Paul Floeckher.
Ceremonies were held at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and at 1 p.m.
Jefferson County High School Principal Molly Howard spoke during the 9 a.m. ceremony, when students from the College of Education, College of Health and Human Sciences and the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health. Howard was recently named the 2008 National High School Principal of the Year.
Ann Bordelon, senior vice president/chief audit executive of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. spoke during the 11 a.m. ceremony, when students graduated from the College of Business Administration and College of Information Technology.
Georgia Southern University alumnus Chris Hobson, senior vice president for Research and Environmental Affairs for Southern Company, spoke during the 1 p.m. ceremony, when students graduated from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology.
Hobson spoke about his experiences as a student at Georgia Southern in the ‘70’s, and told students they would feel “ great pride ... and great anticipation about what lies ahead” after graduation.
He talked about experiencing the very first Earth Day celebration and other milestones during his college experience, and told students “ I challenge you to be mindful about how such minor events can have an impact on your life.”
He recalled a Statesboro with “ No Wendy’s, no Wal-Mart , no Erk Russell .... no Starbucks ...” and said back then, there was little concern for the environment. Calling his college days “ literally the age of Aquarius,” he said “environment was just a word used in spelling bees.”
But then, the Clean Air Act was passed and the Environmental Protection Agency was established, and “there was no way I could know how important these events would be in my life,” he said.
“We now have clean air and water, we have safer weapons and we have more protected species,” he said. But today, “ Your class has greater challenges. You will have to rally the political, the social and the financial support ... develop technology that will take us through the next century.”
Hobson told the graduates to “ never stop being a student. There is something to be learned from everybody, especially those with backgrounds and experiences that are different from your own.”
After the 1 p.m. ceremony was over, the crowd was excited and exuberant as graduates joined their families outside the fieldhouse.
Dijon Burch, 23, from Gwinnette County, was surrounded by friends and family member as she exited the building.
“I am anxious, but feel great,” she said. “I am anxious for what the future holds.” The justice studies major plans to attend graduate school at Georgia State University.
Prince Walker, 24, smiled as he held a tiny girl in his arms who clung to his graduation gown. “I’m nervous, excited and ready for whatever,” he said. The Spanish major expects to begin teaching the foreign language in Cobb County next fall.
Elise Varnadoe, 22, from Toccoa, majored in psychology, but school isn’t over for her. She plans to attend graduate school as well, but the importance and excitement of graduation wasn’t lost on her Friday.
“I feel fabulous,” she said. “This is the best day of my life.”
Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at 489-9414.