Brenau University will award degrees to more than 330 students to conclude the 2024 spring semester. The university will celebrate its 145th commencement on May 3 and May 4, when about 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 3. 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 4.
Each ceremony will take place on the front lawn at Pearce Auditorium on the historic Gainesville campus. President David L. Barnett, Ph.D., will deliver the commencement address at both ceremonies.
“Earning a degree is a great personal achievement for our students, but it also represents the successful fulfillment of the mission of Brenau to prepare students for a lifetime of intellectual accomplishment and personal fulfillment,” Barnett said. “As president, I am honored to be part of this life-changing moment. I look forward to shaking the hand of every graduate and offering them my personal congratulations.”
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 and the rain plan for each ceremony, can be found on the graduation webpage.
A Nyansapo Kente Stole Ceremony, hosted by the Black Faculty and Staff Association, will be held ahead of commencement at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 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.
“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 2024 graduates and all that they have accomplished during their time at Brenau.”
Brenau will stream all graduation ceremonies on Brenau’s Vimeo channel for those unable to attend. The events will be streamed live and remain available for viewing after the event.
