Athens, Ga. – An estimated 1,512 students will be eligible to receive degrees at the University of Georgia’s summer commencement exercises July 31 at 9:30 a.m. in Stegeman Coliseum.
The exercises are a combined ceremony for undergraduate and graduate students who complete degree requirements at the end of summer semester. About 790 candidates for bachelor’s degrees and 722 candidates for doctoral, master’s and specialist in education degrees are anticipated to be eligible to participate in the ceremony. Final numbers won’t be known until the conclusion of final exams on July 30.
David Adelman, U.S. ambassador to Singapore and UGA alumnus, will be the commencement speaker.
Prior to his confirmation in March, Adelman served as a state senator in the Georgia General Assembly (2002-2010) and as an assistant attorney general. For the past 20 years, he has worked with the national law firm Sutherland Asbill and Brennan LLP. He has taught courses in political science as an instructor in the Honors Program at UGA. For many years Adelman represented indigent veterans on a pro bono basis before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. He also has served as a legal adviser to the state of Georgia’s largest domestic violence organizations.
Adelman received his bachelor’s degree from UGA, his master’s in public administration from Georgia State University, and his Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law.
As part of the ceremony, two undergraduates will be recognized as First Honor Graduates for having maintained perfect 4.0 grade point averages on all undergraduate-level work. The students include Brett Phillip Gressly from Canton who is graduating with a bachelor of business administration degree in risk insurance and management. Additionally, Cathy Sue Sutton from Buford is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in social work.
The South Parking Deck (zone S-11) and Carlton Street Deck (zone S-15) will be open at no charge for visitors and guests attending commencement. The Hoke Smith lot (S-12) will be reserved for disabled guests displaying proper placards. The McPhaul Center lot (S-10) will be reserved for members of the commencement platform party. Although currently under construction, all of the entrances to Stegeman Coliseum will be open to the public. The wheelchair entrance will be on the south side of the coliseum on Smith Street.
The ceremony will be broadcast live on University Cable Channel 15 and streamed live on the UGA Web site.
Fall semester classes at UGA begin Aug. 16 and commencement will be held Dec. 17 for students who complete degree requirements in the fall.
