The University of Georgia Griffin campus held its Spring Graduation Celebration and Brick Ceremony for the 33 members of the Class of 2026 on May 6, representing four of colleges that offer degrees at UGA Griffin. This was the 39th graduation celebration held at the local campus and the graduates will join over 700 students who have completed their degrees at UGA Griffin.
During the ceremony each student graduating from UGA Griffin is honored with a lasting mark on campus, a brick featuring their name and class year is installed in the walkways around the Student Learning Center. This tradition is unique to the Griffin campus and in previous years, graduates’ bricks were placed at the Naomi Chapman Woodroof Pavilion.
Jeffrey Dean, Assistant Provost and Campus Director for UGA Griffin, opened the program by congratulating the students on their many accomplishments throughout their time on the Griffin campus.
“We have faced a multitude of challenges in recent years ranging from Covid to tornadoes and all sorts of other obstacles in between. But you persevered, overcame the challenges, and are now graduating,” said Dean. “We are very pleased to celebrate your graduation and salute your achievement by holding this Griffin campus graduation and brick-laying ceremony.”
He added the students have much support from not only their families and friends, but from the UGA Griffin campus community as well. Dean asked the students to join him in celebrating those who helped them get to where they are today, leading to applause erupting from the graduates.
Following the welcome, graduate Macray Metz introduced the keynote speaker for the ceremony, Tracy Roper. Roperis the team director for launch support in transitions in operations at Chick-fil A where he currently serves the West, Southwest and Midwest regions. Metz noted that what truly sets Roper apart is his unwavering belief in the power of persistence, perseverance and purpose- values that resonate deeply with you as you step into your own futures.
Roper spoke to the crowd about being a good leader and being intentional with the plans they have for their lives. He told the story of how he and his oldest daughter used to visit old cemeteries at her request. They would look through the graves and come up with stories about each person and how their lives had gone. Roper noted that before spinning the tales about each grave they would look at two things- the date of birth and the date of death.
“But what is always in the middle of these two dates?” Roper asked the crowd. “A dash. What are you doing with your dash and what will you do with the remaining time with your dash?”
Roper stated it did not matter how old you were, or whether you were graduating or here supporting someone, the message of what are we doing with our dash applies to everyone. He said for him the most important part is having intentionality, which he described as being hyper-focused, purposeful thoughts, planning, looking ahead and thinking about what it is you want to do.
“You are all here today because you had a goal. I don’t know if you wrote it down or if your parents drove it into your brain when you were little, whatever did it you had a goal…but guess what they call this a commencement service for a reason. Your life is now just beginning. You may think I’ve been in school for all these years, I’m 20, 30 or even 50 years old but you’ve now got a restart. What are you going to do? You’ve got to be intentional and purposeful knowing what you want the end of your life to look like.”
Roper ended his speech by telling the graduates that his hope is they would grasp every day, see it as a gift, number it knowing you have limited time and make the most of their dash.
Also speaking during the ceremony was the student speaker, Madeline Choate. Choate is a Franklin College of Arts and Sciences graduate, with a Bachelor of Science degree. She spoke to her classmates and professors about her time on the UGA Griffin campus and what everyone meant to her.
“I began my time here with a mix of nerves and optimism, and, if I’m being honest, with the intention of simply getting through it. There was a lot unfolding in my personal life, in every direction, and yet I was met with professors and support staff who encouraged me, comforted me, and taught me far beyond what I expected,” she stated.
Choate thanked everyone who made an impact on her while she worked towards her degree. She also spoke directly to the graduating class stating while she knows everyone may not have everything figured out for where they go next in life, she hopes they understand they don’t have to go it alone- which she learned while at UGA Griffin.
“So, as we move forward, I hope what we carry with us isn’t just what we learned, but how we learned to live through it with attention, with discipline, and with a little more trust than we had before. Our journeys weren’t perfect, but they were meaningful. Thank you and congratulations.”
After the ceremony, students, family and friends were invited to a reception in their honor held in the Student Learning Center on campus.
Following is a list of 2026 UGA Griffin graduates and their degrees:
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
- Sarah Ahern, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
- Ibukunoluwa Adelekan, Master of Science
- Miranda Barr, Master of Science
- Macray Metz, Master of Science
- Osian Nzoyisenga, Master of Science
- Jose Rolando Orellana, Master of Plant Protection and Pest Management
- Mahsa Rahnama, Master of Science
- Maria Ali, Doctor of Philosophy
- Xueyan Hu, Doctor of Philosophy
- Minji Hur, Doctor of Philosophy
- Jordan Knapp-Wilson, Doctor of Philosophy
- Hwa Eun Lee, Doctor of Philosophy
- Saptarshi Mondal, Doctor of Philosophy
- Samikshya Rijal, Doctor of Philosophy
- Yufei Sui, Doctor of Philosophy
- Zia Williamson, Doctor of Philosophy
- Zhihan Xian, Doctor of Philosophy
- Tongzhou Xu, Doctor of Philosophy
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Madeline Choate, Bachelor of Science
- Emily Cooper, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
- Haley Robocker, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
Mary Frances Early College of Education
- Diana Lopez, Master of Education
- Erika Gallman, Education Specialist
- Linda Groce, Education Specialist
- Leeanne Mullinax, Education Specialist
- Dolph Woods, Education Specialist
- Randall Bogard, Doctor of Education
- Shanda Brand, Doctor of Education
- Hector Cuevas, Doctor of Education
- Christine Joy Ginther, Doctor of Education
- Alli Hurtado, Doctor of Education
- Sarah Ray, Doctor of Education
Terry College of Business
- Sarah McClure, Bachelor of Business Administration