Brenau University celebrated 347 undergraduate and graduate degrees in a ceremony on Friday, May 1.
During the commencement ceremonies, 296 graduates participated, including 106 earning master’s degrees, 37 earning specialist degrees, 51 earning doctoral and terminal master’s degrees, and 102 receiving undergraduate degrees. Of those undergraduate degrees, 69 were awarded to graduates of The Women’s College.
Brenau President David L. Barnett was the keynote speaker. He congratulated all of the graduates for their perseverance during their academic studies.
“Perseverance is evidence of a response to an internal impulse that motivated you to begin a journey that culminated with you being here. An impulse that motivated you to become better at your chosen craft,” Barnett said. “Thank you for choosing to do ‘your thing’ better because all of our lives will be better as a result of your choice. Thank you for being brave enough to risk something big for something good. Those are becoming rare qualities in our world, but the world is yearning for it.”
“Thank you for being brave enough to risk something big for something good. Those are becoming rare qualities in our world, but the world is yearning for it.”
Brenau President David L. Barnett
Two students shared their experiences with the audience: Baxter-Bryan Scholarship winner Kristina Radovic and Maya Langdon, who earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy.
“If this journey has taught us anything, it’s that growth rarely feels like growth while it’s happening,” Langdon said. “There were nights when I questioned whether I was making the right career choice or whether I was capable of becoming a good clinician. Looking back, I can see that those moments weren’t signs of failure, they were part of the process.”
Radovic, an international student and member of the tennis team, recalled a moment in her first year where she was asked to define success.
“It’s easy to say you want to win. But it’s unfair to yourself if winning is your only measure of success because outcomes are often the one thing you cannot fully control,” Radovic said. “But if instead you choose to focus on the process, the long hours of work, the sleepless nights filled with excitement, the kindness you show along the way, the effort you give, the lessons you learn when you make mistakes, and the resilience you show when you try again, you will always remember this: You are far too complex to be defined by a single outcome.”
Commencement ceremonies, including the student remarks, can be viewed on the Brenau Vimeo page.
