One of the biggest rites in higher education takes place Friday, May 8, which is when the University of Georgia’s spring Commencement takes place. Congratulations to all of our soon-to-be new alumni. Here are some details about the events:
Undergraduate Commencement
When: 7 p.m. May 8
Where: Sanford Stadium
Number of graduates: 4,488 are eligible, with another 1,022 summer candidates invited to walk in the spring ceremony.
Speakers: Amy Robach of “Good Morning America” will give the address. A 1995 alumna of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Robach has been a news anchor for ABC’s “Good Morning America” since March 2014. The student Commencement speaker is Hayes Patrick of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who is graduating with bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology, with a focus on pre-medicine, from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
Graduate Commencement
When: 10 a.m. May 8
Where: Stegeman Coliseum
Number of graduates: An estimated 189 doctoral candidates and 990 master’s and specialist degree students are eligible to walk.
Speaker: University Professor Emeritus Gary Bertsch, who is now chairman of the international advisory group TradeSecure LLC, will address the graduates and guests.
Parking: Because Commencement falls on a Friday, a routine UGA workday, parking patterns on South Campus near the coliseum will be adjusted for graduate Commencement. The South Campus parking deck (zone S-11) and Carlton Street parking deck (zone S-15) will be open at no charge for visitors and guests. The Hoke Smith lot (S-12) will be reserved for handicapped guests with proper handicapped placards. The McPhaul Center lot (S-10) will be reserved for members of the Commencement platform party.
Video
Both ceremonies will be streamed live at http://www.ctl.uga.edu/ctlcable and broadcast live on Channel 15 of the University Cable System and Channel 181 of the Charter Cable System. In addition, ABC News will stream Robach’s Commencement address at http://www.abcnews.go.com/live.
General Information
– General seating tickets are not required for either event.
– No backpacks, bags larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 12 inches or unopened packages will be allowed at either venue.
– The undergraduate ceremony will end as usual with a fireworks sendoff. Graduates and guests are requested to remain in place at the conclusion of the ceremony. The west end zone sections of the stadium are fireworks safety zones and will be closed to the public until the all clear is given from security following the fireworks display. The announcement will be shown on the Jumbotron after the fireworks are complete.
– Motorists are asked to use caution when driving on Broad Street near the Arch as graduating students gather to take photographs. The university also will have a temporary platform in place Sunday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to allow students with disabilities to pass through the iconic structure.
– For more information on UGA graduation requirements and Commencement ceremonies, see http://commencement.uga.edu.
Social Media
Use #UGA15 with your tweets and posts. Check out the feed on our Commencement site.
– Twitter: twitter.com/universityofga
– Instagram: instagram.com/universityofga
– Facebook: facebook.com/uga.edu
