Savannah Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, December 16 – 2 p.m.
Enmarket Arena in Savannah
Saturday, May 11 – 10 a.m.
Enmarket Arena in Savannah
The College of Arts and Humanities, College of Education, College of Science and Mathematics, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Parker College of Business, Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing
Saturday, May 11 – 3 p.m.
Enmarket Arena in Savannah
The Waters College of Health Professions and Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
Prepare for the Ceremony
Graduate Information
Academic Attire
Caps and gowns are required, and only academic attire approved for the ceremony may be worn. The University Honors Medallion as well as stoles—which include, but are not limited to, Honors Society scarves/cords and Sorority/Fraternity scarves—are approved graduation attire. We suggest candidates wear dark flat shoes, dark dresses or dark pants with their graduation gowns.
Tassels
For undergraduate students, tassels should be worn on the right side of the cap hanging over the right eye. At the ceremony, the President will ask you to move your tassel to the left side of the cap during the ceremony.
For graduate students, tassels should be worn on the left side of the cap hanging over the left eye. The mortarboard of the cap should be parallel to the ground.
Invitations and Commemorative Items
Diploma frames and other commemorative items are available at the University Store in the Student Union on the Armstrong Campus. You may also purchase merchandise online at the University Store’s website.
Invitations, thank you notes, and certificates can be ordered through Printing and Postal Services, on the corner of Arts and Science Drive or on the Printing and Postal Services online webstore.
Class rings can be ordered on the Herff Jones website.
Enmarket Arena in Savannah
Enmarket arena is a 9,500-seat arena that is bringing a new era of music, sports and entertainment experiences for Southern Georgia, utilizing the most innovative features to attract the world’s most sought-after performers. As the home of ECHL Savannah Ghost Pirates hockey team, Savannah will see an insurgence of hockey and other sporting events.
620 Stiles Ave,
Savannah, GA 31415
Guests and Family Information
Travel, Food and Lodging
We are excited to welcome families and guests of our graduates for our annual commencement ceremonies. Guests may learn more about our communities on our visitors page. Our out of town guests can view lodging and dining options through Visit Savannah.
Ticket Information
Students who choose to graduate in either Savannah ceremony at Enmarket Arena will be able to reserve up to 10 tickets for their guests. Guest ticket information will be emailed to graduating students through their Georgia Southern email account closer to the ceremony date. Each guest, regardless of age and including currently enrolled students, will need a ticket to enter Enmarket Arena.
Pictures
A professional photographer from GradImages will take a picture of your graduate as they cross the stage. A proof of this picture will be emailed to graduates Georgia Southern email addresses and mailed to their home address. Graduates can preregister for photos and receive 20% off if they decide to purchase.
Enmarket Arena in Savannah
Enmarket arena is a 9,500-seat arena that is bringing a new era of music, sports and entertainment experiences for Southern Georgia, utilizing the most innovative features to attract the world’s most sought-after performers. As the home of ECHL Savannah Ghost Pirates hockey team, Savannah will see an insurgence of hockey and other sporting events.
620 Stiles Ave,
Savannah, GA 31415
Venue Policies
Enmarket Arena’s policies, including the arena’s clear bag policy, will be in effect for the Savannah ceremony. Large bags, backpacks and purses are not permitted at Enmarket Arena. Clutches are permitted at 4.5″x6.5″ or smaller. All bags above this size MUST BE CLEAR and no larger than 14″x14″x6″ with a 2-pocket maximum. Clutches and clear bags are subject to search. Diaper bags and medical bags are permitted, but subject to search.
Please visit Enmarket Arena’s A-Z guide for complete information on the venue’s policies.
Faculty and Staff Information
Help Us Host Commencement
As Commencement is a respected University-wide event, the Commencement Committee is currently seeking faculty and staff volunteers to serve as hosts and candidate assistants for each ceremony.
As a Commencement Host, your primary tasks will be to greet guests, assist with guest seating and post-ceremony departure.
As a Candidate Assistant, you will need to ensure that students are in the correct college seating area, ensure each student has a GradPass, and that college rows have an equal number of students, in addition to other assigned duties throughout the ceremony.
Learn more about volunteering for commencement.
All volunteers should complete the form linked below by Friday, April 26.
Enmarket Arena in Savannah
Enmarket arena is a 9,500-seat arena that is bringing a new era of music, sports and entertainment experiences for Southern Georgia, utilizing the most innovative features to attract the world’s most sought-after performers. As the home of ECHL Savannah Ghost Pirates hockey team, Savannah will see an insurgence of hockey and other sporting events.
620 Stiles Ave,
Savannah, GA 31415
During the Ceremony
Decorum
Commencement is a special and significant occasion in your life. Many of your family and friends will come from a long distance to witness this memorable ceremony. Our faculty, staff and administrators have planned the program and arrangements with every consideration to make this an impressive and enjoyable event for all candidates and spectators.
Please follow these decorum guidelines for Commencement:
- Arrive an hour before the ceremony.
- Remain quiet and in your seat except when going to the stage or being recognized by your dean and the President. You are not allowed to leave before the ceremony concludes.
- No smoking.
- No alcoholic beverages.
- No balloons.
- Umbrellas are permitted, please bring a poncho in case of rain.
- Wear proper graduation attire. Candidates should wear dark, flat shoes and dress attire with graduation gowns.
- A stole associated with an honor society, a student organization/group represented on campus, or a department of Georgia Southern University may be worn at the commencement ceremony.
- Cell phone ringers must be turned off during the Commencement ceremony and only text messaging is allowed during the ceremony.
- No gathering for group photos during the ceremony.
- No use of selfie sticks or noise makers such as cowbells, horns, megaphones, etc. will be allowed.
- Other items not allowed into the ceremony include: Outside food/drink, posters
- Do not engage in other disruptive behavior during the ceremony.
Commencement Program
A commencement program listing the names of all candidates will be placed in the candidates’ seats at the ceremony.
A digital program is available below as well.
Live Webcast of Commencement
The commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live on the University’s Facebook page and an embed of the livestream will also be placed on the main commencement page during the time of the ceremonies. The Facebook Live event will begin approximately 5-15 minutes before the ceremony. Due to technical constraints, some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) do not permit the use of their systems to transmit such broadcasts. Should you not be able to view the broadcast, please contact your local ISP.
Enmarket Arena in Savannah
Enmarket arena is a 9,500-seat arena that is bringing a new era of music, sports and entertainment experiences for Southern Georgia, utilizing the most innovative features to attract the world’s most sought-after performers. As the home of ECHL Savannah Ghost Pirates hockey team, Savannah will see an insurgence of hockey and other sporting events.
620 Stiles Ave,
Savannah, GA 31415
Parking
Enmarket Arena Lot J is available for guests and graduates on a first come, first serve basis. Once Lot J is full, guests and graduates should use parking lot G (see diagram). Lots A and D are not available for guest or graduate parking. Parking is free and a pass is not required.
Candidate Information
Academic Attire
Caps and gowns are required, and only academic attire approved for the ceremony may be worn. The University Honors Medallion as well as stoles—which include, but are not limited to, Honors Society scarves/cords and Sorority/Fraternity scarves—are approved graduation attire. We suggest candidates wear dark flat shoes, dark dresses or dark pants with their graduation gowns.
Tassels
For undergraduate students, tassels should be worn on the right side of the cap hanging over the right eye. At the ceremony, the President will ask you to move your tassel to the left side of the cap during the ceremony.
For graduate students, tassels should be worn on the left side of the cap hanging over the left eye. The mortarboard of the cap should be parallel to the ground.
Accessibility
Candidates who need accommodations during the graduation ceremony due to limited mobility should contact the Student Accessibility Resource Center (SARC) at 912-344-2572.
On the day of the ceremony, they may also speak with a Guest Services representative upon arrival. ADA representatives will assist them with getting to their seat.
Candidate Arrival
Candidates should arrive to Enmarket Arena one hour prior to the ceremony.
Parking
Enmarket Arena Lot J is available for guests and graduates on a first come, first serve basis. Once Lot J is full, guests and graduates should use parking lot G (see diagram). Lots A and D are not available for guest or graduate parking. Parking is free and a pass is not required.
Photography
A professional photographer from GradImages will take a picture of you as you cross the stage. A proof of this picture will be emailed to you at your Georgia Southern email address and mailed to your home address so that you may decide if you wish to purchase these photos.
If you preregister, you can get 20% off of your purchase.
Candidate Seating
Seating for Enmarket Arena ceremonies will begin an hour before the ceremony. Graduates will enter through a separate entrance and security checkpoint on the far right of the building to get to their seats. Staff members will help direct you to your seat in the seating area. Please note that Enmarket Arena’s policies apply to the Commencement ceremony, including the clear bag policy. Please visit Enmarket Arena’s A-Z guide for complete information on the venue’s policies.
Note: Guests will enter through the main entrance and security checkpoint. All guests, regardless of age and including currently enrolled students, must have a ticket to enter.
Enmarket Arena Seating Diagram
Name Cards (GradPass)
A GradPass will be sent to you through Marching Order. You MUST have the electronic GradPass accessible on your cell phone or a printed copy of the GradPass before entering Enmarket Arena seating area. A printed copy is highly recommended. If you do not have the GradPass when you arrive at the ceremony, please see a staff member at the Candidate Check In table near the Candidate entrance. During the ceremony, you will present your GradPass to the scanner in front of the stage so your name can be read as you cross the stage. If you choose to use your cell phone to present your GradPass, make sure it is fully charged before you arrive. You can save it to your phone (make sure to turn your brightness all the way up and do not enlarge the QR code). We strongly encourage you to bring a printed copy of your GradPass in case anything happens to your cell phone.
Guest and Family Information
Accessibility
Visitors with accessibility concerns are strongly encouraged to arrive early to the ceremony. All guests, including ADA visitors, will enter through the main entrance at the front of the venue through the security checkpoint. Wheelchairs will not be available at the venue. Please come with a wheelchair if one is needed.
Additionally, guests may contact the Student Accessibility Resource Center for guest-related accessibility questions at 912-344-2572 or sarcsav@georgiasouthern.edu.
Guests Requiring American Sign Language
American Sign Language interpreting is available. The interpreter will be visible on the big screen from all seating areas.
Ticketing
All guests, regardless of age and including currently enrolled students, are required to have a ticket for entry to Enmarket Arena. There will be no charge for tickets.
Graduates that reserved guest tickets can print the tickets for their guests or email the tickets through the MarchingOrder system. If you are emailing the tickets to guests and sending multiple tickets to one email address, we recommend printing each ticket to expedite your entry into the ceremony.
Guests can either present a printed ticket (recommended) or display the ticket on their mobile device to be scanned. Each ticket contains a unique barcode that can only be scanned once. For this reason, it is important to print the entire PDF file to distribute multiple tickets rather than making a copy of the first page.
Graduates will not need tickets. Their cap and gown is their ticket.
Guest Parking, Entrance and Seating
Graduates and guests driving to Enmarket Arena should plan to arrive early. Parking is first come, first serve in Lot J. Once Lot J is full, guests and graduates should use parking in Lot G. Parking is free and no pass is required. Parking in Lot D is for arena staff only.
Guests may enter Enmarket Arena through the main front entrance. Tickets are required for entry. Guests and graduates will not be allowed to hold or reserve seats for other guests. Graduates will enter the arena through a side entrance. See candidate seating section for additional information.
Enmarket Arena’s policies will be in effect for the commencement ceremony, including the clear bag policy. Please familiarize yourself with Enmarket’s A to Z guide prior to the ceremony. Balloons are strictly prohibited, and other items not allowed into the ceremony include: Noisemakers, selfie sticks, outside food/drinks, posters.
Gates/doors open 1 hour prior to the start of each ceremony. Please note that the ceremonies begin promptly at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. with a processional.
Concessions
Concessions will be available for food and drink purchases.
Featured Commencement Ceremony Speaker
Dr. Jackie Brown-Pinkney
Read Dr. Jackie Brown-Pinkney’s Biography
Dr. Jackie Brown-Pinkney is a distinguished figure in the field of school social work, with an illustrious career spanning over three decades in the Effingham County School system. Her tireless dedication to improving the lives of students and families has left an indelible mark on her community and beyond. As a Georgia Southern quadruple eagle, Dr. Brown-Pinkney’s academic journey includes a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Work from Georgia Southern University, followed by a Master’s degree in Social Work from Savannah State University. She then furthered her educational pursuits with a Master’s, Specialist, and Doctorate in Educational Leadership, all earned from Georgia Southern University.
One of Dr. Brown-Pinkney’s most notable achievements is founding the Wesley J. Jenkins Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in loving memory of her nephew. Through this foundation, she orchestrates an annual Congenital Heart Walk, raising vital funds for congenital heart defect research and offering scholarships to high school seniors pursuing higher education. Her commitment to making a difference extends well beyond her professional role.
Dr. Brown-Pinkney’s pioneering spirit has fueled numerous impactful initiatives within the Effingham County School system. Notably, she spearheaded the creation of the school system’s first School Social Work and Homeless Education Programs, fundamentally reshaping how the district addresses the needs of its students. She has forged a path toward a more inclusive and compassionate educational environment by providing essential support services to some of the community’s most vulnerable and at-risk youth.
Beyond these transformative programs, Dr. Brown-Pinkney’s dedication to her community shines through her visionary leadership. She conceived the Young Leaders of Tomorrow mentoring program, which has guided and inspired countless young minds. Additionally, she introduced the Sources of Strength suicide prevention club, offering a beacon of hope to those in need. Her unwavering commitment is further evidenced in the Parents As Students Succeeding teen pregnancy program, empowering young parents to pursue education and brighter futures.
Her exceptional leadership qualities did not go unnoticed, as Governor Nathan Deal appointed her to the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists, a role she continues to fulfill under Governor Brian Kemp’s appointment. Dr. Brown-Pinkney’s influence extends to various other boards and organizations, including Family Connection of Effingham, Effingham Family Promise (as a charter board member), the State McKinney-Vento Advisory Board, the State School Social Worker Advisory Board, and the Advisory Board for Social Work at Savannah State University.
As a testament to her dedication to her profession, Dr. Brown-Pinkney currently holds the prestigious position of President of the School Social Workers Association of Georgia. She also imparts her knowledge and expertise as an Adjunct Professor for the Department of Social Work at Savannah State University.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Dr. Brown-Pinkney has received numerous accolades throughout her career. She has been named District School Social Worker of the Year twice, encompassing Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties. Furthermore, she earned the distinguished title of 2022 State School Social Worker of the Year and, most impressively, was honored as the 2023 National School Social Worker of the Year.
Dr. Brown-Pinkney’s leadership, compassion, and unwavering courage in the face of challenging situations epitomize her stewardship of social work. Her foremost commitment lies with her students, their parents, and the community she tirelessly serves. She consistently engages in professional development workshops to maintain the highest professional standards and actively seeks the latest resources and best practices.
Her integrity and professional judgment are beyond reproach, and she dedicates herself to uplifting and inspiring others to pursue their dreams. Dr. Brown-Pinkney’s community involvement extends to her participation in prestigious programs such as the Georgia Academy for Economic Development, Step Up Leadership Academy, City of Savannah Citizen Academy, Leadership Challenge, Leadership Effingham, Leadership Southeast Georgia, and Leadership Georgia. As a role model for social workers nationwide, she stays at the forefront of research on critical issues, trends, and relevant practices.
In summary, Dr. Jackie Brown-Pinkney stands as a paragon of excellence in the field of school social work. Her profound impact on her community, her advocacy for the welfare of students and families, and her tireless dedication to professional growth and leadership serve as an inspiration to all.
Featured Commencement Ceremony Speakers
Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.
Chris Ahearn
Read Chris’s Biography
Saturday, May 11, 3 p.m.
Dr. Candicee Childs
Read Candicee’s Biography
After the Ceremony
Ceremony Archives
You can view the archives of past commencement ceremonies on the archives section of the main commencement page.
Commemorative Items
Diploma frames and other commemorative items are available at the University Store in the Student Union on the Armstrong Campus. You may also purchase merchandise online at the University Store’s website.
Diplomas/Transcripts
Diplomas will be mailed to the graduates at their diploma mailing address or their permanent home address. Please remember to update your diploma address in WINGS to an address that will be valid eight weeks after completing all degree requirements. If there is no diploma address, the diploma will be mailed to the current mailing address. Diplomas should be mailed six to eight weeks after graduation for students who have applied for graduation and completed all requirements.
When applying for employment, transcripts should be used instead of diplomas. Three weeks after graduation, if requirements are complete, graduates may request a transcript with the degree conferred.
Photography
A professional photographer from GradImages took a picture of you as you crossed the stage. A proof of this picture was emailed to you at your Georgia Southern email address and mailed to your home address. See the email and mailed items to purchase the photos directly from GradImages.
Graduate Stories
Share your photos with #GSGrad24
