University to Hold First Savannah Commencement; More Than 1,750 to Graduate in Five Ceremonies

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Mercer Seal

SAVANNAH/MACON/ATLANTA — More than 1,750 graduates will participate in Mercer University commencements during May in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah, including the first School of Medicine commencement for the Savannah campus. This also marks the second year for the University’s campus-wide outdoor commencement in Atlanta, which has become the University’s largest. The University will confer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees during five commencements.

In Macon, the School of Medicine’s Macon campus will hold the University’s first 2012 commencement ceremony on Friday at 3 p.m. in the University Center’s Hawkins Arena. The commencement speaker will be Dr. Darrell G. Kirch, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which represents the nation’s medical schools, teaching hospitals and academic societies.

In Savannah, the first class of medical students to graduate from that campus of the School of Medicine will also hear from Dr. Kirch. The ceremony will take place at the Savannah Arts Academy on Saturday at 1 p.m.

On Saturday, May 12, the Atlanta campus will hold its combined outdoor commencement at 8:30 a.m. on the upper field. The ceremony includes graduates from the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, McAfee School of Theology, and the Atlanta-area graduates from the Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, Tift College of Education and College of Continuing and Professional Studies. Mercer President William D. Underwood will deliver a charge to graduates.

Also on Saturday, May 12, the Walter F. George School of Law will hold its commencement at 10 a.m. in the University Center’s Hawkins Arena. Jim Petro, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, will deliver the commencement address.

The University’s final commencement on May 12 will include graduates from the Macon campus, as well as the Eastman Regional Academic Center and non-M.D. graduates from the Savannah campus. It will take place in the University Center’s Hawkins Arena at 3:30 p.m. The ceremony will include graduates from the Stetson School of Business and Economics, Tift College of Education, School of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts, Townsend School of Music and the College of Continuing and Professional Studies. U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss will give the commencement address at the ceremony.

Below is the complete listing for Savannah, Atlanta and Macon commencement dates, times and speakers.

Savannah

School of Medicine
Speaker: Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges
Saturday, May 5, 1 p.m.
Savannah Arts Academy
Candidates for Degrees: 38

Atlanta – Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus

Atlanta Commencement – College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics (Atlanta, Henry and Douglas), McAfee School of Theology, Tift College of Education (Atlanta, Douglas, Henry and Newnan) and College of Continuing and Professional Studies (Atlanta, Henry and Douglas)
Saturday, May 12, 8:30 a.m.
Upper fields – Atlanta campus
Candidates for degrees: 933

Macon

School of Medicine
Speaker: Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges
Friday, May 4, at 3 p.m.
Hawkins Arena, University Center
Candidates for degrees: 110

Walter F. George School of Law
Speaker: Jim Petro, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents
Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m.
Hawkins Arena, University Center
Candidates for degrees: 140

Macon Commencement – College of Liberal Arts, Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics (Savannah and Macon), School of Engineering, Tift College of Education (Macon and Eastman), Townsend School of Music and College of Continuing and Professional Studies (Macon and Eastman)
Speaker: Saxby Chambliss, United States Senator representing Georgia
Saturday, May 12, 3:30 p.m.
Hawkins Arena, University Center
Candidates for degrees: 544

About Mercer University
Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The University enrolls more than 8,300 students in 11 schools and colleges – liberal arts, law, pharmacy, medicine, business, engineering, education, theology, music, nursing and continuing and professional studies – on major campuses in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah and at four regional academic centers across the state. Mercer is affiliated with four teaching hospitals — Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, and The Medical Center and St. Francis Hospital in Columbus — and has educational partnerships with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Warner Robins and Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta. The University operates an academic press and a performing arts center in Macon and an engineering research center in Warner Robins. Mercer is the only private university in Georgia to field an NCAA Division I athletic program. www.mercer.edu
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