VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University celebrated the Class of 2024 on Saturday, May 4. Due to weather, the normally large, outdoor ceremony was moved inside The Complex, home of Blazer basketball and volleyball, and three separate ceremonies celebrated the achievements of the most recent Blazer graduates.
Graduates of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and graduates of the Air Force ROTC were honored at 1:30 p.m.; the College of Arts, the College of Science and Mathematics, and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences were celebrated at 4:30 p.m. The Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration and the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services graduates finished the series with a 7:30 p.m. ceremony.
Richard A. Carvajal, 10th president of Valdosta State University, welcomed the assembly of students, friends, and family members and provided introductions. Carvajal honored the students’ perseverance by summarizing the group’s challenges to get to graduation day.
“When you first began your college journey, whether that was four years ago or 24 years ago, did you think this day would come? When classes or life challenged you, did you think it would come? and as if overcoming a global pandemic hadn’t been enough when a Category 4 hurricane hit Valdosta earlier this fall and halted every aspect of life, did you think it would come then? Well, it has!”
The Class of 2024’s nontraditional high school graduation due to the COVID-19 pandemic was acknowledged and highlighted throughout the VSU ceremonies. Many of the students who finished high school four years ago did so navigating hybrid instructional environments that involved online learning, and they may have graduated without the traditional end-of-year activities.
Julia Rafferty, a 2024 Blazer graduate, reflected on the difference between her high school and college experiences.
“I graduated high school from a bigger school, so instead of graduation, they sent everyone a PowerPoint with everyone’s names on it,” she recalled. “We just picked up my diploma from the school. I am very excited to graduate on May 4th. It still doesn’t feel real that I will get to walk across the stage. Because I have never had a graduation before, it just makes this time feel more special.”
Grayson Friedman looks forward to celebrating with family and friends without the constraints of COVID-19 safety protocols as she becomes a VSU alumna.
“My experience during the pandemic for graduation wasn’t as bad as I know it was for some people,” Friedman said. “We had an outdoor graduation with spaced seating and tickets to limit the guests that could attend. I am excited that now I will be able to celebrate in person close to others, going to grad parties and dinner with friends.”
During the ceremony, several awards for service were presented, and the VSU Honors College graduates were highlighted. Cum laude (with distinction), magna cum laude (with great praise), and summa cum laude (with highest distinction) graduates were recognized. Then, Carvajal conducted the conferral of degrees.
Each ceremony concluded with graduates watching a video of the VSU Chamber Singers performing the VSU Alma Mater. The graduates then moved their cap tassels from right to left to signify the completion of their academic journey.
Carvajal enthusiastically stated, “We’re proud of you, and we can’t wait to follow what we trust will be a fantastic journey ahead.”
Students were treated to confetti and pyrotechnics in The Complex in preparation for fireworks later at night.