Image: The Department of Communication Studies held its annual commencement exercises on Thursday, May 3, 2018 in the University of Georgia Chapel. The event featured two addresses, one from graduating senior Jonas Taylor and a second from program alum Hannah Kay Herdlinger. A member of Lambda Pi Eta and a graduate of UGA’s entrepreneurship program, Taylor encouraged his classmates to see their graduation day as a beginning to lives of service in the communities in which they will go on to live and work—lives, Taylor insisted, for which the class of 2018 had been prepared and, indeed, had already begun during their time at UGA. In her speech, Herdlinger, who worked under Cheryl Sandburg at Facebook before founding the non-profit Thread Talk, offered graduates practical advice for how to approach life after UGA. Among her pearls of wisdom: Be bold. Take risks. A simple gesture, like an old-fashioned letter written to someone you admire, can open doors you never imagined would be open to you. The event culminated with the conferral of 70 degrees, including 62 Bachelor of Arts, 4 Master of Arts, and 4 Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Degree recipients are listed in alphabetical order below. Click here to view and download commencement photos on/from the Communication Studies Flickr page. UGA Communication Studies Class of 2018 Doctor of Philosophy Kristin Andersen (Advisor: Dr. Analisa Arroyo) Anna Dudney Deeb (Advisor: Dr. Belinda Stillion Southard) Mengfei Guan (Advisor: Dr. Jiyeon So) Logan Gramzinski (Advisor: Dr. Edward Panetta) Master of Arts Nizia Alam (Advisor: Dr. Jiyeon So) Sarah Caban (Advisor: Dr. Analisa Arroyo) Elaine Hanby (Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Monahan Nathan Rothenbaum (Advisor: Dr. Celeste Condit) Bachelor of Arts Madison Akins Ashmal Ali Shirley Moore Allen Kaila Anderson Caroline Barfield Kati Baynes (C) Kevin Blum Ariel Bowen Gabrya Brackins Sarah Ann Bradford Trevor Bramblett Macy Cantrell Taylor Carman (M) Ashley Cavalcante Caliope Clements(C) Mary Grace Crawford Micayla Crenshaw John Cropp Carly Cullen Andrew Darrow Antonio Del Sesto Taylor Dowse Desrea Elcock Emma Faulk Anna Furr Lillian Huckabee Abigail Irwin (M) Carley Kleban (C) Gracyn Lastinger Justin Lee (C) Grace Main Katharine Manroe (M) Graham Mayne (C) Carolyn McBride Gina McLoughlin Marlee Middlebrooks (M) Garrett Mixon Andrew Moody Sarah Mount (C) Hannah Norton Anthony Olivieri Alexis Osborne (M) Anna Pitts (M) Brandi Ja’lise Raines Natalie Ray Rebecca Rasmussen Megan Reeves (C) Sarah Rovi Kevin Sheppard (C) Claire Shirey Nicholas Shumate Payten Slaughter Andare’ Chase Smith Breanna Smith Hannah Leigh Smith (C) Lauren Smith Karin Sowieja (C) Robyn Spreen Emma Strong Blanca Tavera (M) Jonas Taylor Taylor Todriff (C) Carson Travers (C) Grant Tucker Shakela Uddin Caroline Watkins Abby Williford Sawyer Wilson Mason Wittner Marlin Wright Landon Yarborough (C) *(S) Summa cum Laude 3.9 – 3.99 GPA *(M) Magna cum Laude 3.7 – 3.89 GPA *(C) Cum Laude 3.5 – 3.69 GPA The department wishes to thank the numerous people who assisted with commencement and helped make it a success. Congratulations to all graduates! Type of News/Audience: Alumni Faculty/Staff Students
