Brenau University will award more than 350 degrees to conclude the 2023 spring semester, and will celebrate graduates during its 144th commencement on May 5 and May 6. More than 300 graduates are expected to participate in two ceremonies.
Graduates from The Women’s College will receive their diplomas at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 5. All other undergraduates as well as candidates for master’s, specialists and doctoral degrees will receive their diplomas at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 6.
Each ceremony will take place on the front lawn at Pearce Auditorium on the historic Gainesville campus. President Anne A. Skleder will deliver the commencement address at both ceremonies.
“Commencement is my favorite time of the year at Brenau, and it is my honor to speak to this spring’s graduates,” Skleder said. “Brenau’s mission is to prepare students to live extraordinary lives and to successfully take on the challenges of their professions. I cannot wait to see how all of our students – soon to become alumni of this institution – transform our world with their talent and passion.”
A Nyansapo Kente Stole Ceremony, hosted by the Black Faculty and Staff Association, will be held ahead of commencement at 6 p.m. on May 2 in Pearce Auditorium. Students will be adorned with graduation stoles featuring the nyansapo, or wisdom knot, and will walk across the ceremonial kente cloth, or lappa, which symbolizes that the community offers support and protection as the graduates enter a new chapter. The ceremony is open to all graduates and undergraduates and all faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend.
On both days, guest seating is available starting one hour prior to each ceremony, and graduates should have received guest passes for family and friends attending. More details about graduation, including a parking map, can be found on the graduation webpage.
“Celebrating graduates at commencement ceremonies are pinnacle events at Brenau University,” Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Jim Eck said. “On behalf of the faculty, staff and administration of Brenau, we are immensely proud of our Spring 2023 graduates and all that they have accomplished during their time at Brenau.”
Brenau will stream all graduation ceremonies via https://vimeo.com/brenau for those unable to attend. The events will be streamed live and remain available for viewing after the event.
