When Blake Witmer got the call that she was the University of Georgia’s 2026 spring Commencement student speaker, she could barely see through the tears. But she knew immediately what she had to do: Call her family.
On FaceTime with her parents and sister, all die-hard Bulldog fans and UGA alumni, she felt like she was telling them she won the lottery. Although addressing the Class of 2026 doesn’t come with a monetary prize, for Witmer, it represents something just as meaningful. It’s a chance to reflect on a journey she already considers a win.
And she really does feel like she has won after four years as a Bulldog.
“There’s not another college like this, where a place impossibly big can feel like home,” Witmer said. “This was exactly where I wanted to be, so being able to share my story and close this chapter is really special.”
She credits her victory to the people who have made her time at UGA so special. And there are a lot of them.
People paving the way
Whether she was helping, listening or learning from them, Witmer has always been a people person. Her upcoming degree in public relations from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication solidified that passion as a career. These academic studies became further enhanced by student organizations across campus.
After spending three years with UGA Connect, a first-year student program within the Student Government Association, she built a community she couldn’t imagine her college career without. From member to peer leader to director, Witmer saw from all angles what it takes to help first-year students settle into campus life.
“My peer leaders became my mentors, and my small group became like my kids,” Witmer said. “And those relationships didn’t just last a semester. They lasted all of college.”
That experience also showed her the impact mentorship can have on a person. When the chance came to serve as a New Student Orientation leader, Witmer took the opportunity to build something truly special with her groups. Hundreds of students apply each year to serve as orientation leaders, welcoming and guiding an entire class of UGA first-year students before their first semester begins. Her father was also an orientation leader, so she’d seen firsthand how meaningful that role can be.
Relationships from these groups never went away either. Two years later, it’s still rare for Witmer to walk through campus without running into someone she knows.
“It was so fun, and truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to create, share and connect with people. It was exhausting, but completely worth it,” she said.
Creating content and community to remember
Witmer’s on-campus roles not only highlighted her outgoing personality but also gave her an opportunity to develop her social media skills. Her content creation for the Division of Student Affairs’ Instagram accounts put her on a path to become a Digital Dawg, a social media ambassador for the university.
“Getting to show what life here actually looks like was really special. It felt like I was representing more than just myself. I was representing the UGA experience,” she said. “I think there’s something so cool about going into someone else’s world and sharing a little piece of my life with everyone.”
She got to do this as the blog director for Strike Magazine, a student-run fashion and culture publication. In this role, Witmer brought the Classic City’s art and culture to life through her writing.
Finding new ways to tell stories launched Witmer into two public relations internships in New York City. Through the support of the Grady College’s advertising and public relations Maymester program in New York, Witmer was able to do this for the Public Relations Museum and Makeable, a design agency.
She says these experiences not only showed her the professional side of social media but also reflected her broader college experience — to love what you learn and learn what you love.
That’s why when Witmer’s not developing her public relations skills, she’s sitting at a canvas. By taking up a minor in studio art, she felt she was embracing that adage. She encourages all students to try to find joy in their academic career.
“There are so many opportunities that are going to come up. As long as you have an open mind, take full advantage of the things that come at you and put yourself out there, you’re going to have the best time,” she said. “The people whose doors are open, that say ‘hey’ to people in classes when they don’t know anyone, that smile at a stranger — those are the people that are going to be the most successful here.”
Witmer isn’t entirely sure what her next chapter holds, but that’s not a problem. She’s confident these experiences have prepared her for whatever comes next.
“The only error is not walking forth,” she said. “The worst thing that can happen is that you fail, and then you learn from it.”