Academics 5/10/2021 4:22:00 PM

Twenty-Five Student-Athletes Conferred Degrees At Savannah State’s 198th Commencement

198th COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM (CLICK HERE)

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Twenty-five student-athletes were conferred their college diplomas this weekend during the 198^th Savannah State University Commencement.

The spring graduation was divided into three separate events, as each of the school's colleges held their own ceremony so COVID-19 safety policies could be followed.

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences held their ceremony on Friday at 9 a.m. followed that evening at 5 p.m. by the College of Business Administration and College of Education. On Saturday at 9 a.m., the College of Sciences and Technology held their ceremony.

Among the guest speakers was Savannah native and newly elected Senator Raphael Warnock. Warnock was elected to the U.S. Senate in January, 2021. For more than 15 years, he's served as the Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the former pulpit of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Also speaking was Chatham County Board of Commissioner Chairman Chester Ellis. The Commissioner is a Savannah State alumna, earning his bachelor's degree in 1974.

Within the group of student-athletes earning degrees were several who graduated with honors.

Christian Harkey (baseball) earned his degree in Biology, graduating with the highest honors, Summa Cum Laude. Liz Ortiz (volleyball) earned her degree in Chemistry, also gradating Summa Cum Laude.

Jedaiah Daniels (volleyball) graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Marketing. Alyssa Clements (golf) earned a degree in Biology, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Jaylen Sewell (track and field) earned her bachelors in Biology, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Larson Ashford (men's basketball) also graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors, earning his degree in Global Logistics and International Business.

Ta'Kyla Austin (women's basketball) earned her bachelor's in Mass Communications with Cum Laude honors. Karen Perez (track and field) graduated with Cum Laude honors, earning her degree in Global Logistics and International Business. Max Tracey (baseball) graduated with Cum Laude honors and his degree in Marketing.

A total of 37 Savannah State student-athletes graduated during the 2020-21 academic year.

U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock speaks with the class of 2021 during graduation ceremonies this weekend.
[Photo courtesy Office of Marketing and Communications]

Savannah State President Kimberly Ballard-Washington shares a gift with U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock during the 198th Commencement.
[Photo courtesy Office of Marketing and Communications]

ABOUT SAVANNAH STATE ATHLETICS
Savannah State Athletics began in 1902 with a football game on Thanksgiving Day. Over the last 119 years, the Tigers have continually fielded varsity athletics. Savannah State holds championships in multiple divisions and conferences across several of its programs, and has produced professional baseball players, basketball players, football players, an NFL Hall of Famer, and multiple Olympic athletes. Today, the Tigers' 15 sports compete at the NCAA Division II level with 12 sports competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

ABOUT SAVANNAH STATE
Established in 1890, Savannah State University is the oldest public historically black college or university in Georgia and the oldest institution of higher learning in the city of Savannah. The university's 3,488 students select majors from 30 undergraduate and five graduate programs in four colleges — Business Administration, Education, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Sciences and Technology. To learn more, visit SavannahState.edu.

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