Mercer University to Hold One Giant Commencement Ceremony in Atlanta

announced they're consolidating their commencement ceremonies for different programs at the Atlanta campus into one, giant ceremony to be held at the university next month. Here's a release from the school:

Mercer University Consolidates to One Atlanta Commencement; More Than 1,700 to Graduate in Four May Ceremonies

More than 1,700 graduates will participate in Mercer University commencements during May in Macon and Atlanta, including more than 1,000 in the university’s first campus-wide outdoor commencement in Atlanta. The Atlanta ceremony, now the university’s largest, consolidates the commencement schedule on the Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus from a high of six ceremonies last year to one. The university will confer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees during four commencements, consolidated from 10 ceremonies last year.

On Saturday, May 14, the Atlanta campus will hold its combined outdoor commencement at 9am on the upper fields. 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 Chancellor Dr. R. Kirby Godsey will deliver the keynote address.

In Macon, the School of Medicine will hold the university’s first 2011 commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 7, in the University Center Arena at 5pm. Physician and author Dr. William Rawlings Jr. will deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary Doctor of Sciences degree at the ceremony.

On Saturday, May 14, the Walter F. George School of Law will hold its commencement at 10 a.m. in the University Center Arena. Federal Circuit Court Judge Karen Nelson Moore will deliver the commencement address and will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws.

The university’s final commencement ceremony on May 14 will include graduates from the Macon campus as well as the Eastman Regional Academic Center and Savannah campus, and takes place in the University Center Arena at 3:30pm. For the first time, the ceremony will include graduates from the College of Continuing and Professional Studies, as well as graduates of the Stetson School of Business and Economics, Tift College of Education, School of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and the Townsend School of Music. Alberto Ibargüen, president and chief executive officer of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, will give the commencement address and will receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree during the ceremony.

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

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 County and Douglas County)

Speaker: Dr. R. Kirby Godsey, Mercer chancellor and author

Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m.

Upper fields – Atlanta campus

Candidates for degrees: 1,017

Macon

School of Medicine

Dr. William Rawlings Jr., physician, author and historian

Saturday, May 7, 5 p.m.

University Center

Candidates for degrees: 131

Walter F. George School of Law

The Honorable Karen Nelson Moore, circuit court judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m.

University Center Arena

Candidates for degrees: 131

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)

Alberto Ibargüen, president and chief executive officer of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Saturday, May 14, 3:30 p.m.

University Center Arena

Candidates for degrees: 501