Prepare for the Ceremony
Everything you need to know before walking across the stage. From approved academic attire and graduation invitations to stadium directions and guest accommodations, this section helps graduates and their families get ready for a smooth and memorable Commencement day at Georgia Southern. Find details on caps and gowns, seating, photos, and how to volunteer to help make the event a success.
Academic Attire
Caps and gowns are required, and only academic attire approved for the ceremony may be worn. The University Honors Medallion as well as stoles—which include, but are not limited to, Honors Society scarves/cords and Sorority/Fraternity scarves—are approved graduation attire. We suggest candidates wear dark flat shoes, dark dresses or dark pants with their graduation gowns.
Tassels
For undergraduate students, tassels should be worn on the right side of the cap hanging over the right eye. At the ceremony, the President will ask you to move your tassel to the left side of the cap during the ceremony.
For graduate students, tassels should be worn on the left side of the cap hanging over the left eye. The mortarboard of the cap should be parallel to the ground.
Invitations and Commemorative Items
Diploma frames and other commemorative items are available at the University Store on the Statesboro Campus. You may also purchase merchandise online at the University Store’s website.
Invitations, thank you notes, and certificates can be ordered through Printing and Postal Services, in the Main Dining Commons or on the Printing and Postal Services online webstore.
Class rings can be ordered on the Herff Jones website.
Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro
Allen E. Paulson Stadium, home of the Georgia Southern Eagles football team, is a 25,000-seat capacity stadium on the Statesboro Campus. Construction was complete and the stadium was dedicated on Sept. 29, 1984, with a 48-11 rout of Liberty Baptist. The game was a fitting end to four years of planning and hard work — four years of dreaming of one of the finest football facilities in America.
1332 Southern Dr.,
Statesboro, GA 30458
Travel, Food and Lodging
We are excited to welcome families and guests of our graduates for our annual commencement ceremonies. Guests may learn more about our communities on our visitors page. Our out of town guests can view lodging and dining options through Visit Statesboro.
Ticket Information
Guest tickets will not be required for guests of graduates who choose to participate in the ceremony at Allen E. Paulson Stadium.
Pictures
A professional photographer from GradImages will take a picture of your graduate as they cross the stage. A proof of this picture will be emailed to graduates Georgia Southern email addresses and mailed to their home address. Graduates can preregister for photos and receive 20% off if they decide to purchase.
Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro
Allen E. Paulson Stadium, home of the Georgia Southern Eagles football team, is a 25,000-seat capacity stadium on the Statesboro Campus. Construction was complete and the stadium was dedicated on Sept. 29, 1984, with a 48-11 rout of Liberty Baptist. The game was a fitting end to four years of planning and hard work — four years of dreaming of one of the finest football facilities in America.
1332 Southern Dr.,
Statesboro, GA 30458
Venue Policies
Both graduates and guests must comply with the policies that are required by Paulson Stadium fan code of conduct. Those guidelines are available at the Fan Code of Conduct page. Clear bags will not be required.
Help Us Host Commencement
As Commencement is a respected University-wide event, the Commencement Committee is currently seeking faculty and staff volunteers to serve as hosts and candidate assistants for each ceremony.
As a Commencement Host, your primary tasks will be to greet guests, assist with guest seating and post-ceremony departure.
As a Candidate Assistant, you will need to ensure that students are in the correct college seating area, ensure each student has a GradPass, and that college rows have an equal number of students, in addition to other assigned duties throughout the ceremony.
Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro
Allen E. Paulson Stadium, home of the Georgia Southern Eagles football team, is a 25,000-seat capacity stadium on the Statesboro Campus. Construction was complete and the stadium was dedicated on Sept. 29, 1984, with a 48-11 rout of Liberty Baptist. The game was a fitting end to four years of planning and hard work — four years of dreaming of one of the finest football facilities in America.
1332 Southern Dr.,
Statesboro, GA 30458
During the Ceremony
Help us create a respectful and memorable experience for all graduates and guests. Review our guidelines on graduation attire, behavior during the ceremony, and what items are permitted in the stadium. Find details about the printed and digital Commencement programs, livestream access, parking, shuttles, and stadium amenities to ensure a smooth and celebratory day.
Decorum
Commencement is a special and significant occasion in your life. Many of your family and friends will come from a long distance to witness this memorable ceremony. Our faculty, staff and administrators have planned the program and arrangements with every consideration to make this an impressive and enjoyable event for all candidates and spectators.
Please follow these decorum guidelines for Commencement:
- Arrive an hour before the ceremony.
- Remain quiet and in your seat except when going to the stage or being recognized by your dean and the President. You are not allowed to leave before the ceremony concludes.
- No smoking.
- No alcoholic beverages.
- No balloons.
- Umbrellas are permitted, please bring a poncho in case of rain.
- Wear proper graduation attire. Candidates should wear dark, flat shoes and dress attire with graduation gowns.
- A stole associated with an honor society, a student organization/group represented on campus, or a department of Georgia Southern University may be worn at the commencement ceremony.
- Cell phone ringers must be turned off during the Commencement ceremony and only text messaging is allowed during the ceremony.
- No gathering for group photos during the ceremony.
- No use of selfie sticks or noise makers such as cowbells, horns, megaphones, etc. will be allowed.
- Other items not allowed into the ceremony include: Outside food/drink, posters
- Do not engage in other disruptive behavior during the ceremony.
Commencement Program
A commencement program listing the names of all candidates will be placed in the candidates’ seats at the ceremony.
A digital program is available below as well.
Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro
Allen E. Paulson Stadium, home of the Georgia Southern Eagles football team, is a 25,000-seat capacity stadium on the Statesboro Campus. Construction was complete and the stadium was dedicated on Sept. 29, 1984, with a 48-11 rout of Liberty Baptist. The game was a fitting end to four years of planning and hard work — four years of dreaming of one of the finest football facilities in America.
1332 Southern Dr.,
Statesboro, GA 30458
Public WiFi is available at Paulson Stadium. Find and connect to: “GoEaglesWifi” to utilize the free internet access. A password is not required to login.
Live Webcast of Commencement
The commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live on the University’s Facebook page and an embed of the livestream will also be placed on the main commencement page during the time of the ceremonies. The Facebook Live event will begin approximately 5-15 minutes before the ceremony. Due to technical constraints, some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) do not permit the use of their systems to transmit such broadcasts. Should you not be able to view the broadcast, please contact your local ISP.
Parking & Shuttles
Parking is available at Paulson Stadium and other locations on campus. To minimize traffic congestion, carpooling is encouraged.
Shuttles will be available on commencement days. The shuttles will begin running one hour before each ceremony and run for one hour after each ceremony.
Each parking lot stop is listed below:
View the parking and shuttle maps below:
Academic Attire
Caps and gowns are required, and only academic attire approved for the ceremony may be worn. The University Honors Medallion as well as stoles—which include, but are not limited to, Honors Society scarves/cords and Sorority/Fraternity scarves—are approved graduation attire. We suggest candidates wear dark flat shoes, dark dresses or dark pants with their graduation gowns.
Tassels
For undergraduate students, tassels should be worn on the right side of the cap hanging over the right eye. At the ceremony, the President will ask you to move your tassel to the left side of the cap during the ceremony.
For graduate students, tassels should be worn on the left side of the cap hanging over the left eye. The mortarboard of the cap should be parallel to the ground.
Accessibility
Candidates who need accommodations during the graduation ceremony due to limited mobility should contact the Student Accessibility Resource Center (SARC) at 912-478-1566.
On the day of the ceremony, they may also speak with a Guest Services representative upon arrival. ADA representatives will assist them with getting to their seat.
Candidate Arrival
Candidates should arrive at Paulson Stadium an hour before the ceremony. Enter through gates 9 and 11 and proceed to the seating area on either side of the Bishop Building, based on your college for undergraduates and degree level for graduate students (masters, specialist, doctorate).
- Stadium Parking Map
- Shuttle Map
- Stadium Seating Map – May 13
- Stadium Seating Map – May 14
- Stadium Seating Map – May 15
Parking
Parking is available at Paulson Stadium and other locations on campus. To minimize traffic congestion, carpooling is encouraged.
Shuttles will be available on commencement days. The shuttles will begin running one hour before each ceremony and run for one hour after each ceremony.
Each parking lot stop is listed below:
Photography
A professional photographer from GradImages will take a picture of you as you cross the stage. A proof of this picture will be emailed to you at your Georgia Southern email address and mailed to your home address so that you may decide if you wish to purchase these photos.
If you preregister, you can get 20% off of your purchase.
Candidate Seating
Seating for the Paulson Stadium ceremonies will begin an hour before each ceremony. Please enter at the west end of Paulson Stadium — gates 9 and 11. Please proceed to the seating area on either side of the Bishop Building. Your seating location is determined by your college for undergraduate students and by your degree level for graduate students. Staff members will help direct you to your seat in the seating area.
Name Cards (GradPass)
A GradPass will be sent to you through Tassel. You MUST have the electronic GradPass accessible on your cell phone or a printed copy of the GradPass before entering the stadium seating area. If you do not have the GradPass when you arrive at the stadium, please see a staff member at the Candidate Check In table near the entrance to Paulson stadium. During the ceremony, you will present your GradPass to the scanner in front of the stage so your name can be read as you cross the stage. If you choose to use your cell phone to present your Grad Pass, make sure it is fully charged before you arrive. You can save it to your phone (make sure to turn your brightness all the way up and do not enlarge the QR code.) We strongly encourage you to bring a printed copy of your GradPass in case anything happens to your cell phone.
Accessibility
Visitors with accessibility concerns are strongly encouraged to arrive early to the ceremony. A designated handicap parking area is available on a first-come, first-served basis. A state handicap parking permit is required.
See map below.
If one or more of your guests require accessible seating, all guests in your party should enter Paulson Stadium through the Media Gate or Gate 13 and sit together in the accessible seating area, which is located along the South Concourse adjacent to sections A and G, and along the North Concourse in sections H through P, sections 101 through 113. See map below. Reservations are not required and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Due to the design of Paulson Stadium, the walkway to the concourse is an inclined distance and all who experience mobility issues are strongly advised to be prepared with mobility devices (i.e. wheelchairs, scooters, walkers) and/or personal assistance. Wheelchairs will not be available at the venue. Please come with a wheelchair if one is needed.
Additionally, guests may contact the Student Accessibility Resource Center for guest-related accessibility questions at 912-478-1566 or sarcboro@georgiasouthern.edu.
Guests Requiring American Sign Language
American Sign Language interpreting is available. Guests who need access and desire close proximity to the ASL interpreter may choose to sit in Section J of Paulson Stadium.
Ticketing
Tickets for guests are not required at Paulson Stadium. Graduates will not need tickets. Their cap and gown is their ticket.
Guest Parking, Entrance and Seating
Relatives and friends may enter Paulson Stadium through Gates 1, 5, 7, 8, 12 or 13. Guests and candidates will not be allowed to hold or reserve seats for other guests.
Gates/doors open 1 hour prior to the start of each ceremony. Please note that the ceremonies begin promptly at 10 a.m. with a processional.
Carpooling is encouraged, and shuttles are available at three locations around campus to transport guests to the stadium.
Certain items are not permitted into the stadium including: Balloons, selfie sticks, noisemakers, outside food/drinks, posters.
- Stadium Parking Map
- Shuttle Map
- Stadium Seating Map – May 13
- Stadium Seating Map – May 14
- Stadium Seating Map – May 15
Concessions
Concessions will be available for food and drink purchases.
Featured Commencement Ceremony Speakers
Tuesday, May 13
10 a.m. Ceremony
Hemant Goel
Read Hemant’s Biography
Hemant Goel is a distinguished veteran of the health care software industry with four decades of experience.
Goel is president and CEO of FinThrive, a health care financial software company headquartered in Plano, Texas. FinThrive supports more than 4,000 hospitals and clinics across the U.S., employing nearly 2,000 individuals in the U.S. and India. Over the past decade, FinThrive has assisted hospitals in recovering more than $12 billion from insurance companies, processing an excess of $6 billion in hospital claims annually on behalf of the institutions it serves.
Prior to this, Goel served as CEO of Capsule Technologies, a company specializing in critical care device connectivity, serving 37 countries globally. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Capsule Technologies swiftly developed ventilator surveillance software to help health care professionals monitor patients without entering their rooms and offered this technology free of charge to any hospital in need. This innovation garnered widespread recognition in the health care industry, earning Hemant and his team the “Healthcare Heroes” award.
Born in India, Goel relocated to the U.S. six months after earning a mechanical engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in 1985. He later obtained his MBA from Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina in 1992.
Wednesday, May 14
10 a.m. Ceremony
Younghoe Koo
Read Younghoe‘s Biography
Georgia Southern alumnus Younghoe Koo (’17) is the placekicker for the Atlanta Falcons, a position he’s held since 2019 that’s brought him recognition as one of the most prolific scorers in the NFL.
He became the first Eagle football player to be named a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, annually presented to the top U.S. college football placekickers. He was the program’s first Football Bowl Subdivision All-American and set a career record for career field goal percentage.
Koo is sixth on the NFL’s all-time leaderboard in field goal percentage and is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. He’s a record-setting player, known for the most made field goals in a single season with 37, and is the first player in franchise history to make at least eight field goals of at least 50 yards without a miss.
He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2020 after leading the league in scoring that year. He continues to be one of the Falcons’ most proficient scoring players and has been named National Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week and Month on multiple occasions.
Koo has a passion for giving back to both the Korean and American communities and hosts an annual youth football camp. He also serves as the face of Positive Athlete Georgia, an organization that recognizes high school athletes who serve their communities in the most positive ways.
Thursday, May 15
10 a.m. Ceremony
Brig. Gen. Vincent E. Buggs
Read Vincent’s Biography
Retired Brig. Gen. Vincent E. Buggs (‘90) is the founder and CEO of Embrace the Power and Power Pony Express Sports LLC, where he works to mentor and train individuals to achieve their personal and professional goals. He has received numerous awards over his 30-year military career, including the Legion of Merit, Joint Service Awards, Distinguished Star from El Salvador and the Polish Bronze Medal.
Buggs holds a master’s degree in global history from the American Military University and a master’s in strategic studies from the U.S. Air War College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in German from Georgia Southern.
After the Ceremony
Explore what happens after you walk the stage. From ordering commemorative items and accessing professional photos to reviewing diploma delivery timelines and viewing past ceremonies, this section has everything you need to close out your Georgia Southern journey.
Ceremony Archives
You can view the archives of past commencement ceremonies on the archives section of the main commencement page.
Commemorative Items
Diploma frames and other commemorative items are available at the University Store in the Student Union on the Armstrong Campus. You may also purchase merchandise online at the University Store’s website.
We Want to Hear from You!
Did you attend Commencement? Share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions to help us improve future ceremonies.
Diplomas/Transcripts
Diplomas will be mailed to the graduates at their diploma mailing address or their permanent home address. Please remember to update your diploma address in WINGS to an address that will be valid eight weeks after completing all degree requirements. If there is no diploma address, the diploma will be mailed to the current mailing address. Diplomas should be mailed six to eight weeks after graduation for students who have applied for graduation and completed all requirements.
When applying for employment, transcripts should be used instead of diplomas. Three weeks after graduation, if requirements are complete, graduates may request a transcript with the degree conferred.
Photography
A professional photographer from GradImages took a picture of you as you crossed the stage. A proof of this picture was emailed to you at your Georgia Southern email address and mailed to your home address. See the email and mailed items to purchase the photos directly from GradImages.
