Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia will hold summer Commencement exercises Saturday, Aug. 4 at 9:30 a.m. in Stegeman Coliseum. Approximately 1,476 students will be eligible to receive degrees.
The exercises will be a combined ceremony for undergraduate and graduate students who complete degree requirements at the end of summer semester. Approximately 742 candidates for bachelor’s degrees and 734 candidates for doctoral, master’s and specialist in education degrees are anticipated to be eligible to participate in the ceremony. Final numbers will be available at the conclusion of final exams on Aug. 3.
Pat Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of the Paley Center for Media and a magna cum laude graduate of UGA, will be the speaker for the Commencement ceremony. Mitchell holds bachelor’s (’65) and master’s (’67) degrees in English from UGA.
Mitchell has headed the Paley Center, which leads the discussion about the cultural, creative and social significance of television, radio and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public, since March 2006.
Her career in media began when she was recruited from college teaching by Look magazine, and during the next three decades, Mitchell worked for three broadcast networks and several cable channels, where she was a reporter, news anchor, talk show host, White House and special correspondent, producer and executive.
In addition to Mitchell’s address, JoyEllen Ashley Freeman of Milton will be recognized as a first honor graduate. Maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average during her academic career, Freeman will receive a bachelor of arts degree in English.
Prior to the ceremony, undergraduates and graduates are asked to assemble at the entrance of the lobby of the Coliseum Training Facility on Smith Street (across from Carlton Street parking deck entrance). Only undergraduates, graduates and faculty in cap and gown or credentialed UGA staff will be allowed in the Coliseum Training Facility.
The university’s Commencement website offers complete details on graduation and related activities, detailed parking options, inclement weather plans, and other information for graduates, their families and persons interested in attending the ceremony. The site is www.commencement.uga.edu.
The ceremony will be broadcast live on channel 15 of the university and Charter cable systems. It also will be streamed live at www.uga.edu.
Note regarding construction, traffic and parking: The university has issued a construction advisory that will remain in affect during the Commencement ceremony. Smith Street-from the back of the Hoke Smith Annex to Rutherford Street-and Sanford Drive-from Carlton Street to Smith Street-will be closed to vehicle traffic. Drivers will be able to turn onto Smith Street from Lumpkin Street and park in the Hoke Smith lots. A clear walking path will be marked from that lot to the coliseum. The Smith Street/Rutherford Street intersection at the Rankin Smith Building will be open, and vehicles travelling northward on Rutherford Street toward the coliseum will be able to turn right toward the Carlton Street deck. Any areas of construction into which pedestrians should not walk will be delineated with plastic orange fencing.
Due to the construction, disability parking will rerouted From the Hoke Smith lots to the McPhaul lot. UGA’s Parking Services will reserve the spaces closest to the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel for the easiest access to the coliseum. Overflow for disability parking will remain in the Coverdell lot.
In addition, pedestrians are urged to proceed with caution around exterior areas of the coliseum where construction scaffolding will be in place.
