Fall 2023 Grady College graduates celebrate at Convocation

A overhead shot of the crowd and stage at Convocation.

Fall 2023 Grady College graduates celebrate at Convocation

December 15, 2023

Fall 2023 Grady College graduates were celebrated by family, friends, faculty and staff at Grady College’s Convocation ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, at the UGA Performing Arts Center. 

Just under 200 graduate and undergraduate students are graduating from the College this semester including 15 master’s students, over 60 advertising students, roughly 30 from the Department of Entertainment and Media Studies, nearly 50 journalism students and roughly 30 majoring in public relations. 

Before introducing the senior speaker, Dean Charles Davis welcomed all to the ceremony with a message of thanks to parents, family and friends and congratulations to all of the graduates. 

“No one graduating today would be here if not for the families and friends who have brought them thus far,” said Davis. “And to you students, my congratulations for all that you have accomplished. I’m in awe of your tenacity, your grit, your ability to roll with the punches and keep going – every one of you has my lasting respect and admiration.”

Following Dean Davis, senior speaker Audrie Uphues, a journalism major who is graduating Magna Cum Laude with certificates in New Media, Carmical Sports Media and Terry College of Business Entrepreneurship gave an address about the four traits — connection, toughness, resilience and composure — that make up “the DNA of a Champion.”

“As we stand on the threshold of a new chapter, reflect on these four traits, and remember what makes becoming a graduate of the University of Georgia so special,” Uphues told her classmates. “It’s the spirit of a champion that binds us together with a commitment to excellence that unites us. You are champions in your own right, and your dedication to excellence has not only earned you a degree but has also equipped you with the skills and wisdom to face whatever comes next.”

Pictures from Convocation can be found in the following UGAGrady Flickr albums: 

Pictures from the Graduation Celebration are also available to view on our Flickr account.

Two men in suits and one person in a sweater vest shake hands on stage during the Grady College Convocation ceremony. A table with a red University of Georgia banner and stacks of booklets is seen in the background.
A man in a light gray suit wearing a colorful stole walks confidently on stage at the Grady College Convocation. Two men in suits stand nearby, one at a podium. Red poinsettias decorate the stage against wooden paneling.
Two women smile and pose together outdoors; one wears a red dress and Grady College Convocation sash, the other a beanie and denim jacket. They make a triangle hand sign, with people standing in the background.
A young woman in a cream dress smiles and shakes hands with a man in a suit while receiving an award on stage at the Grady College Convocation. Two others stand nearby, one at a podium, during the ceremony.
Three young women dressed in white, smiling and posing together at an indoor Grady College Convocation event with festive holiday garlands in the background. Other people and a staircase are visible behind them.
A group of young adults dressed formally smile and pose for a selfie, holding red roses and certificates at the Grady College Convocation, with a bright indoor background.

Author: Jackson Schroeder, Jackson.Schroeder@uga.edu