Fall 2019 graduates challenged to be informed and active in communities

Fall 2019 graduates challenged to be informed and active in communities

December 13, 2019
Dayne Youngdayne@uga.edu
Graduates Call the Dawgs prior to convocation.

Pictures from the Fall 2019 Grady Convocation can be viewed on the UGA Grady Flickr gallery:

Fall 2019 convocation graduates:

Video of convocation:

Grady College graduates were celebrated and challenged to lead in their respective fields at the Fall 2019 Convocation ceremonies on December 12, 2019, at the Hugh Hodgson Performing Arts Center. More than 160 students graduated from Grady College this semester, many of whom participated in convocation.

Graduate students eligible for graduation included 25 MFA, Emerging Media and master’s in public relations students. Undergraduates who were recognized included 24 students with an advertising degree, 19 with a degree in public relations, 52 from the journalism program and 40 from entertainment and media studies.

Dean Charles Davis presided over the ceremony, giving an overview of Grady’s accomplishments this past year and praising students for their hard work, passion and academic excellence.

Randy Travis (ABJ ’82), investigative reporter for Fox 5 Atlanta and a recent Peabody Award winner, addressed graduates with a talk focusing on fulfilling the responsibility to be informed and challenge government leaders.

“This is a crucial time for journalism,” Travis said. “Rise to the occasion and do what you have been taught here. You have got the tools now and I know you have the confidence.”

Travis encouraged graduates to consume news from respected sources every day.

“Be an ambassador for news,” Travis said. “That means being informed.”

The distinguished senior speaker, a student chosen based on an audition among the graduates for the honor, was Peyton Lewis, a journalism major. She focused her remarks on the relationships she built at Grady College.

“It was so nice to know that I would always have someone in my corner to mentor me and grow me,” Lewis said. “I think we should all strive to be that person for someone else.”

Michael Gray (ABJ ’11), a member of the Grady Society Alumni Board,  concluded the platform of speakers by welcoming the students to the alumni ranks of the college and encouraging new alumni to stay involved through mentoring, coming to alumni receptions to meet current students and supporting Grady Giving Day.

“Your time here has afforded you the opportunity to build relationships that will be with you forever if you take the time to stay in touch,” Gray said.

 

Compilation video produced by Dayne Young