Brenau University conferred degrees and celebrated graduates from The Women’s College, the Undergraduate School and the Sidney O. Smith Jr. Graduate School in a ceremony on Friday.
Some 324 students completed their studies during the spring semester, including 126 bachelor’s degrees, 146 master’s degrees and 52 doctoral degrees. Nearly 300 students and their families attended the ceremony at Free Chapel’s Gainesville Campus.
Brenau President David L. Barnett, Ph.D., congratulated students for advancing their professional development by earning a degree, but issued a challenge to continue growing.
“I encourage you to continue developing your character resume, your personal development, by focusing on the things that grounded the words of Pearce, loving your neighbor as you love yourself,” Barnett said. “I hope your experiences at Brenau have changed you forever. Our hope for you is that the Brenau experience has equipped you to change the world.”
Before graduation, a number of events were held to celebrate graduates, including ceremonies for students earning degrees in nursing, physician assistant studies and other healthcare fields and a Nyansapo Kente Stole Ceremony for all graduates hosted by the Black Faculty and Staff Association.
The Women’s College also held a Baccalaureate Ceremony on Thursday, May 1, to celebrate the success and unique talents of The Women’s College seniors. Faculty, staff, families, and friends attended the return of the Brenau tradition, featured in the first Women’s College commencement in 1879.
The ceremony was hosted by Debra Dobkins, Ph.D, assistant vice president and dean of The Women’s College, who is retiring after more than 27 years at Brenau.
“We are delighted tonight to reinvent the ceremony,” Dobkins said. “Our graduates are very special and one of our most active and hardworking classes here at Brenau.”