May 12, 2008

Students finish chapter at GSW

Southwestern graduates 220

AMERICUS—Friday, May 9, marked a pivotal day in the lives of 220 Georgia Southwestern State University students. It was spring commencement in GSW’s Student Success Center.

Following a greeting from Regent Doreen Stiles Poitevint and a reflection from Elizabeth Kuipers, Ph.D., University of West Georgia President Beheruz N. Sethna, Ph.D., delivered the keynote speech. Addressing the crowd of future leaders, he offered three words of advice: to grow, serve and weave or weld.

“Commencement is not the end,” said Sethna. “It is called commencement for a reason…it is simply the start of your education through life.”

To compensate for a large number of graduates in 2007-2008 (approximately 520), Georgia Southwestern aims to increase enrollment by 10 percent in the fall. Some initiatives include collaborative degrees and transfer admission guarantees with state two-year colleges and restructured graduate degrees in the School of Education.

PHOTO AVAILABLE

Senior walk—Georgia Southwestern graduates make their way out of the Student Success Center following spring commencement.

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