STATESBORO — More than 20,000 people packed into Georgia Southern University’s Paulson Stadium on May 8 to honor a record number of graduates at spring commencement. Approximately 2,400 graduates participated in the ceremony.
New Georgia Southern President Brooks Keel, who took office in January, served as the speaker at the event.
“This is the largest graduating class we have ever had, and one of the best classes we have ever had. I believe this is a sign of what the future holds for Georgia Southern,” he said. “I don’t know who is more excited, me or the graduates. This is my first graduation and I have been looking forward to this since day one.”
Along with the “traditional” graduates, Georgia Southern recognized 153 fully and 63 partially online graduates, the most ever for the university. An addition to spring commencement this year was recognition of the university’s newly-commissioned ROTC cadets. Another highlight came at the end of the ceremony as Freedom, the bald eagle that flies at Georgia Southern home football games, made his second flight at graduation.
Keel provided graduates with memorable advice saying, “Never, ever forget that you are an eagle. Your colors are true blue and white, and this will always be your house.”
Local graduates were:
Judson Alford from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Arts.
Andrew Allen from Clyo earned a BS in Civil Engineer Tech.
Ryan Ambrose from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Business Adm.
Erin Armstrong from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Sci in Kinesiology.
Michael Bailey from Guyton earned a BS in Construction.
Mark Barnes from Guyton earned a Master of Accounting.
Amber Beckum from Guyton earned a Master of Education.
Melva Brower from Guyton earned a Master of Education.
Michael Cabrera from Rincon earned a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Christine Carper from Rincon earned a Master of Education.
Kelley Carter from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Science.
Amy Clines from Rincon earned a Master of Education.
Sherry Cobb from Rincon earned a BS in Nursing.
Sherry Cobb from Rincon earned a Master of Science in Nursing.
Tiffany Collins from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Business Adm.
Lynsie Copeland from Guyton earned a Bachelor of General Studies.
Jessica Cowart from Springfield earned a BS in Education.
Brittany Dasher from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Science.
Robert Davis from Springfield earned a BS in Construction.
Adam Dozier from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Business Adm.
Christie Durden from Springfield earned a Master of Education.
Brandi Edwards from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Science.
Sean Etzel from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Business Adm.
Dion Feddes from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Science.
Jessica Fletcher from Guyton earned a BS in Education.
Krystal Gilbert from Springfield earned a Education Specialist.
Mary Ginn from Springfield earned a BS in Nursing, RN to BSN.
Brooke Gomes from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Arts.
Manning Graham from Rincon earned a BS in Manufacturing.
Michael Green from Guyton earned a Bachelor of General Studies.
Alania Greene from Bloomingdale earned a BS in Nursing, RN to BSN.
Nina Gulizia from Guyton earned a BS In Health Science.
Megan Gulledge from Springfield earned a Bachelor of General Studies.
David Henson from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Arts.
Jermaine Hill from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Science.
Roderick Jefferson from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Rebecca Jerome from Clyo earned a Bachelor of Business Adm.
Terri Johnson from Springfield earned a Doctor of Education.
Jane Kessler from Springfield earned a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Ashley Kieffer from Rincon earned a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Robin Kosoris from Rincon earned a BS in Information Technology.
Gregory Manior from Rincon earned a Education Specialist.
Michelle Matlosz from Guyton earned a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Matthew Mock from Guyton earned a BS in Information Technology.
Kathryn Morgan from Clyo earned a Education Specialist.
Sarah Morgan from Guyton earned a Bachelor of General Studies.
Sandra Nethels from Springfield earned a Doctor of Education.
William Peterson from Guyton earned a BS in Construction.
Michelle Pittman from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Science.
Sara Plaspohl from Rincon earned a Doctor of Public Health.
Reagan Powell from Rincon earned a Education Specialist.
Micah Rahn from Clyo earned a BS in Civil Engineer Tech.
Courteney Ray from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Sci in Kinesiology.
Brittany Raymond from Bloomingdale earned a BS in Biology.
Michael Rollins from Springfield earned a Bachelor of Arts.
Danielle Scudder from Rincon earned a Bachelor of General Studies.
Zachary Simpson from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Arts.
Heather Singh from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Science.
Caleb Stafford from Clyo earned a Bachelor of General Studies.
Holli Stewart from Rincon earned a BS in Nursing, RN to BSN.
Mary-Michael Thompson from Rincon earned a BS in Education.
Kenneth Thornton from Springfield earned a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Kimberly Turner from Rincon earned a BS in Education.
Kimberly Tyson from Rincon earned a Master of Arts in Teaching.
Carolyn VanZwoll from Rincon earned a Master of Science.
Justin Vickery from Springfield earned a BS in Manufacturing.
Dawn Vorel from Rincon earned a Master of Education.
Stephanie Weitman from Springfield earned a Master of Business Adm.
Jessica Wilder from Rincon earned a BS in Biology.
Maricel Williams from Rincon earned a BS in Nursing.
Brandon Williams from Rincon earned a Bachelor of Business Adm.
Amanda Williamson from Guyton earned a Master of Education.
Stephen Young from Jesup earned a Bachelor of Science.
Dustin Zahrt from Guyton earned a Bachelor of Arts.
Kelli Zoller from Springfield earned a BS in Education.
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 112 degree programs serving 19,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.
