The University of North Georgia will hold its spring commencement ceremonies May 2-3 in the Convocation Center at UNG’s Dahlonega Campus. This includes the graduate degree ceremony, which will be held for only the second time after debuting in May 2023.
The speakers for each ceremony include:
Graduate degree ceremony, 6 p.m. May 2
- Keynote speaker: Dr. Jeff Bearden, superintendent of Forsyth County Schools.
- Student speaker: Juan Velásquez Tercero, who is earning a Master of Business Administration and previously earned a graduate certificate in cybersecurity.
College of Arts & Letters, University College, 10 a.m. May 2
- Keynote speaker: Kaye Husbands Fealing, assistant director of the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences at the National Science Foundation.
- Student speaker: Neva Garrett, who is earning a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Mike Cottrell College of Business, College of Science & Mathematics, Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis, 2 p.m. May 3
- Keynote speaker: Kevin Paul Scott, co-founder of the leadership consultancy ADDO, which is Latin for “Inspire.”
- Student speaker: Savannah Geerdes, who is earning a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and a minor in computer science.
College of Education, College of Health Sciences and Professions, 6 p.m. May 3
- Keynote speaker: Dr. Katie Metrock (Williamson), ‘06, director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Pediatric Neuro-oncology Program.
- Student speaker: Noah Myers, who is earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
For more on the commencement speakers, read their biography information.
Graduate and ticket information
Graduates are encouraged to arrive one hour before their ceremony dressed in their gown and cap with its tassel.
To attend, all guests 2 years old and older must have a ticket. Each undergraduate was able to electronically claim up to six tickets, which can be printed or shown electronically, with the option to be added to the waitlist for one additional ticket. Graduate students were able to claim up to 16 tickets.
For those unable to attend the in-person event, the ceremonies will be streamed live on UNG’s Facebook page. UNG encourages everyone to celebrate their graduates with the hashtag #UNG24grad on social media.
The Public Safety Academy recognition ceremony is set for 6 p.m. May 1 for graduates of that program, which allows students to complete Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) basic law enforcement certification while earning a four-year degree in criminal justice.
More than 50 members of the Corps of Cadets are entering the U.S. Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve and will be commissioned collectively at 10 a.m. May 2 in the Convocation Center. Graduating National Service Leadership Track cadets will also be honored at the ceremony.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates will have a pinning ceremony marking their entrance into the field at 10 a.m. May 4 at the Convocation Center.
Other graduation events
UNG will host the following events in the lead-up to commencement:
Career Services Senior Signing Days
- April 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Student Center, Gainesville Campus.
- April 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Stewart Center, Dahlonega Campus.
Cap & Gown Countdown (photoshoot)
- April 25, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Volleyball Court, Gainesville Campus.
- April 30, 1-5 p.m., Drill Field, Dahlonega Campus.
UNG Grad Blast 2024
- April 30, 6-8 p.m., Alumni House Patio, Dahlonega Campus.
Get more information on these events on the UNG commencement webpage.
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