Commencement marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another, and the Class of 2025 carries with them all the lessons learned along the way.
During the undergraduate Commencement ceremony on Dec. 12 at Stegeman Coliseum, M. Douglas Ivester shared three secrets to his success during his keynote address: his parents; his wife, Kay; and his days at the University of Georgia.
“The University of Georgia gave me a degree, but the university also gave me much, much more,” Ivester said. “The University of Georgia gave me a field of vision — not a view of what was in front of me, but the unseen opportunities that a graduate could only dream of. And the University of Georgia gave me an attitude. It’s an attitude that I live by today. That attitude is to never let my memories be greater that my dreams.”
Ivester earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UGA in 1969 and currently presides over Deer Run Investments LLC. He joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1979 and just two years later became the youngest vice president in the company’s history. Ivester went on to assume the roles of senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer before his election as Coca-Cola’s chairman of the board and chief executive officer in 1997. He retired from Coca-Cola in 2000.
The Ivesters have been loyal supporters of the University of Georgia and have made significant contributions to the Terry College of Business. In 2019, the university dedicated one of the six buildings in Terry’s Business Learning Community in the Ivesters’ honor. Last year, they helped establish the M. Douglas & V. Kay Ivester Institute for Business Analytics and Insights.
In addition to their support of Terry College, the Ivesters have established Georgia Commitment Scholarships, helping talented students from Hall County afford a UGA education. This program provides four years of funding for students with demonstrated financial need. Additionally, the Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation has committed $1.1 million to establish the M. Douglas Ivester Scholar at the School of Medicine. The funds will be matched by the UGA Foundation, bringing the total value of the gift to $2.2 million — the largest scholarship fund donated to the School of Medicine to date.
Ivester told graduates he continues to add to his own bucket list and encouraged them to do the same.
“I intend to dream of achievements and experiences that I have not yet had, and that, my friends, is my message to you today,” he said. “Dream. Dream big. Dream constantly. Dream forever.”
At the conclusion of his remarks, Ivester was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for his notable contributions to the University of Georgia, his commitment to developing a generation of young leaders and his career defined by professional success.
“Walk away today proud — proud of your time here, proud of your degree, proud of your families, proud of your friends, and always be proud of the University of Georgia,” Ivester said.
Reid McAdams, a Morehead Honors College student who received his bachelor’s degree in finance from the Terry College of Business, served as the student speaker during the undergraduate ceremony and encouraged his fellow graduates to cross this threshold with gratitude for all those who helped along the way, reflection on all they’ve learned academically and personally and a vision for what comes next.
“The word ‘commencement’ does not mean only an ending. It means a beginning. We honor the work that brought us here, and we accept the work that now begins,” McAdams said. “The door in front of us is our beginning. May we walk through it with wisdom, pursue justice with strength, and practice moderation with grace. May we serve, not for applause, but for impact.”
Ron Walcott, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School, also encouraged graduates to reflect but keep an eye toward the future during his keynote address at the graduate Commencement ceremony later in the afternoon.
“I encourage you to do three things as you pursue your future goals: celebrate, leverage and pivot,” Walcott said. “Let me explain — I mean celebrate your accomplishments, fully leverage your graduate training to achieve your goals and pivot as needed to adapt to factors beyond your control.”
As a UGA alumnus himself, Walcott acknowledged the transformative power of a graduate education.
“Most importantly, celebrate your transformation.Even if you don’t feel it right now, trust me when I tell you that you have been transformed by your graduate studies,” Walcott said. “The ‘You Version 2.0’ includes a healthy dose of skepticism, exceptional critical thinking skills, a full arsenal of abilities, and deep knowledge in your area of study. Because of this transformation, you are ready for whatever comes next.”
A total of 3,234 students — 1,649 undergraduate and 1,585 graduate students — met requirements to walk in the university’s fall Commencement ceremonies. Of the graduate students, 344 were doctoral candidates, and 1,241 received their master’s or specialist degrees.
“The late Dr. Louise McBee, a revered UGA administrator and state representative, once said, ‘We are born obligated to pour back into the stream that nourished us — to replenish it for others. To the extent that we do that, we have lived a good and full life,’” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “Class of 2025, I hope that all of you will go forward from today and live good and full lives — creating opportunities for others to succeed, just as you have,” Morehead said.
Thirty-two students were recognized as First Honor Graduates during the undergraduate ceremony for maintaining a 4.0 cumulative GPA in all work completed at UGA, as well as all college-level transfer work done prior to or following enrollment at the university. Additionally, a posthumous degree was conferred on Fabian Gilberto Tejedor Rojas (Doctor of Philosophy).
“To our graduates, you represent tangible and inspiring evidence of the wisdom and foresight of those who drafted the charter of the University of Georgia and thus began in 1785 the great American tradition of public higher education,” Morehead said. “You leave here as the next generation of leaders of our state, nation and world. Whatever your future holds for you, your time here preparing for life and citizenship gives special meaning to the words in the university’s charter that call the young people of this state ‘the rising hope of our land.’”