Mercer Commencement: More Than 1,800 to Graduate in Five Ceremonies Across the State

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MACON/ATLANTA/SAVANNAH –More than 1,800 graduates will participate in Mercer University commencements during May in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah. This marks the third 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 commencement ceremonies across the state.

The University will also confer three honorary degrees during the commencements to distinguished alumni and community members. The University will confer an honorary Doctor of Science degree to commencement speaker and distinguished Medical School alumna Dr. Jean Rawlings Sumner on May 3 at the School of Medicine ceremony in Macon. On May 11, in Atlanta, the University will confer an honorary Doctor of Science degree to Dr. John R. Seffrin, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society; and, at the Macon commencement, the University will award a Doctor of Humanities to musical pioneer and Macon native Richard “Little Richard” Wayne Penniman.

Mercer's commencement season begins on May 3 in Macon, when the School of Medicine's Macon campus will hold the University's first commencement at 1 p.m. in the University Center's Hawkins Arena. Dr. Sumner, in addition to being awarded an honorary degree, will serve as the commencement speaker. She was a member of the School's charter class and formerly served as a University trustee. In Macon, 114 students from the School of Medicine will participate in the commencement.

The School of Medicine will also hold the second commencement of the year, when the University's Savannah campus holds its ceremony for the second class of medical students to graduate from that campus. The ceremony will take place at the Savannah Arts Academy on May 4, at 1 p.m. In Savannah, the 41 participants from of the School of Medicine will hear a commencement address by Dr. William J. Hoskins, executive director of surgical activities at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

On May 11, 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. Dr. Seffrin will deliver the commencement address to the more than 1,000 candidates for degrees and their families.

Also on May 11, the Walter F. George School of Law will hold its commencement at 10 a.m. in the University Center's Hawkins Arena where 165 candidates will participate. Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author and 1980 graduate of the School of Law, will deliver the commencement address.

The University's final commencement on May 11 will include graduates from the Macon campus. It will take place in the University Center's Hawkins Arena at 3:30 p.m. with 536 participating degree candidates. 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. The commencement speaker will be retired Lt. Gen. Claude M. Kicklighter, CLA '55, former inspector general of the Department of Defense and Mercer trustee.

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

Savannah

School of Medicine

Speaker: William J. Hoskins, executive director of surgical activities at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Saturday, May 4, 1 p.m.
Savannah Arts Academy
Candidates for Degrees: 41

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)
Speaker: Dr. John R. Seffrin, chief executive officer at American Cancer Society
Saturday, May 11, 8:30 a.m.
Upper field – Atlanta campus
Candidates for degrees: 1,003

Macon

School of Medicine
Speaker: Dr. Jean R. Sumner, charter class member of the School of Medicine
Friday, May 3, at 1 p.m.
Hawkins Arena, University Center
Candidates for degrees: 114

Walter F. George School of Law
Speaker: Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author and 1980 Mercer Law graduate
Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.
Hawkins Arena, University Center
Candidates for degrees: 165

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: Claude M. Kicklighter, 1955 College of Liberal Arts graduate, former inspector general of the Department of Defense, Mercer trustee, and retired U.S. Army lieutenant general
Saturday, May 11, 3:30 p.m.
Hawkins Arena, University Center
Candidates for degrees: 536

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