Proud families cheered as Augusta University (AU) saw off its latest class of undergraduates on Friday, May 10.
The school held its 2024 Spring Commencement for its undergraduate class at the Marriott Convention Center twice, first at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m., in ceremonies that that brought a total of 1,584 graduates across the stage.
The morning program honored the graduates from the Colleges of Allied Health Sciences, Education and Human Development, the Hull College of Business and the Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, including The Augusta Press’ own Liz Wright, who graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
“This class has to overcome many challenges since 2020,” said the morning ceremony’s student speaker Rakiyah Lenon in her address, noting the difficulty many students in the Class of 2024 endured entering university amid the height of the COVID pandemic. “You were navigating in a different world. Some of us might have missed out on a high school graduation. Through it all, however, we’ve grown and blossomed into the people we are today. We are one for the history books.”
Lenon is also a communications grad, cum laude, who served as editor-in-chief of The Bell Ringer, AU’s student newspaper. In her speech she went on to extol the virtues of journalism, relating it to the success of her fellow graduates by referencing her own experience as a reporter.
“News has the power to make a difference,” Lenon said. “Yes, you have the power to make a difference… because your successful story today makes great news. As you grow into your respective careers, the news will be looking for you. I look forward to seeing your stories.”
Former Georgia Governor, and current Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, Sonny Perdue was the keynote speaker. In his presentation, he encouraged the graduation candidates to “remember [their] impact” on the world as they continue beyond academia, extolling virtues such as kindness, generosity and forgiveness.
“As the Arsenal Bell rings today, please remember these words I’ve talked to you about today aren’t isolated concepts. They intertwine,” Purdue said. “When you give, you experience joy, when you forgive, you open your heart and your space, and when you love, joy blossoms… Give generously, forgive wholeheartedly, love unconditionally.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
