Monday, December 12, 2005

Writer: Larry B. Dendy, 706/542-8078, ldendy@uga.edu
Contact: Susan Landrum, 706/542-0015, slandrum@uga.edu

More than 2,200 expected to receive UGA degrees Dec. 17; Franklin College students among First Honor Graduates

Athens, Ga. – More than 2,200 University of Georgia students are expected to be eligible to receive degrees when the university holds two fall semester commencement ceremonies Dec. 17 in Stegeman Coliseum.

Exercises for students receiving bachelor’s degrees will be at 9:30 a.m., and a ceremony for candidates for doctoral, master’s and specialist in education degrees will be at 2:30 p.m.

UGA Registrar Rebecca Macon said about 1,795 undergraduates and 479 graduate candidates are expected to be eligible to receive degrees.  Final numbers won’t be known until the end of fall semester final exams on Dec. 16.

Corlis Cummings, interim chancellor of the University System of Georgia, will be the speaker for the undergraduate ceremony.  Cummings was appointed interim chancellor in August and will serve until early 2006 when Erroll Davis, chairman of Alliant Energy Corp., takes office as permanent chancellor. Cummings has worked in the University System office since 1995 and prior to becoming interim chancellor was senior vice chancellor for support services.

The speaker for the graduate ceremony is Julian Earls, director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH.  Earls, who has worked at the Glenn Center for 40 years, helped start an organization that provides college scholarships to African American students, and has been honored for his efforts to encourage and assist African American youths to strive for success in their lives.

As part of the undergraduate ceremony, Justin Golshir, a member of the graduating class, will speak on behalf of his classmates. Golshir, of Martinez, will graduate with a double major in international affairs and finance.

Sixteen graduating seniors will be recognized in the undergraduate ceremony as First Honor Graduates for maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average for their undergraduate studies.   Following are the names, hometown and major of the First Honor Graduates (Franklin College students’ names are in bold):

Charles A. Ball, Woodstock, international affairs and Spanish; Laura E. Barrett, Young Harris, public relations;  Kate E. Burnett, Atlanta, early childhood education; Amanda L. Carter, Hinesville, child and family development; Sherri L. Cook, Loganville, early childhood education; Christopher A. De La Motte Hurst, Marietta, international affairs; Felicia C. Fountain, Mount Vernon, biology; Amanda K. Hamsley, Hawkinsville, forestry; Holly M. Jarrell, Rome, English and psychology; Lyndie S. Miller, Nicholson, accounting; Lori E. Moates, Greensboro, marketing; Jennifer E. Peck, Lenoir City, Tenn., speech communication; Jessica R. Smith, Birmingham, Ala., accounting; Rebecca D. Trupe, Statesboro, psychology; Natascha Werner, Athens, telecommunications arts; Curtis T. Williams, Stockbridge, finance and real estate.

Details about both undergraduate and graduate ceremonies are available at http://www.reg.uga.edu/or.nsf/html/commencement.