On December 14-15, Georgia Tech hosted its 256th commencement ceremony. The event takes 6 months of planning, involves 150+ volunteers across campus, and over 6,000 balloons were used during the weekend.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivered the keynote speech at the undergraduate commencement ceremony on December 15 at McCamish Pavilion on the Tech campus. Rice, who is the Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy in the Stanford Graduate School of Business, served as the 66th Secretary of State in the administration of George W. Bush from 2005 to 2009. She is the second woman and first African American woman to hold the post. She also served as national security advisor under President Bush, the first woman to hold that position.
In addition to the ceremony, graduates and their guests are invited to the President's Graduation Celebration. The President's Graduation Celebration (PGC) provides an opportunity for graduates, their families, their friends, and the campus community to celebrate Georgia Tech traditions and the momentous occasion that is Commencement. At the celebration graduates and their guests have a change to:
- Meet and greet President Peterson, Provost Bras, faculty, staff, and other students' families.
- Take photos with Buzz and the Ramblin' Wreck.
- Purchase Georgia Tech merchandise.
- Pick up honor cords from the Registrar's Office.
- Visit with representatives from the Alumni Association.
- Mingle with beloved faculty and staff who have assisted them throughout their Georgia Tech career.
- And more!
The Honors Program has participated in the PGC for several years and uses it as an opportunity to celebrate with their graduates and present them with their stoles and certificates. Joining the celebration this year, the Center for Career Discovery & Development (C2D2) gave gifts to students who graduated with the Co-op program designation.
