Alpharetta Residents Graduate from Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University awarded degrees to its largest graduating class ever during two ceremonies this May.

More than 2,200 undergraduates received their degrees at a ceremony held in Paulson Stadium and nearly 500 doctoral, specialist's and master's degrees were awarded their degrees in Hanner Fieldhouse the day before, according to a Read Media release.

Georgia Southern alumnus and Chick-fil-A president and chief operating officer Dan Cathy served as Saturday's commencement speaker. Cathy told the graduates, "Today you are going to receive a diploma that you can be very proud of, as I am, being a graduate myself."

Cathy, who graduated from Georgia Southern in 1975, challenged students to keep up with progress, but to stay true to their values and beliefs.

"I would encourage you to always be students," said Cathy. "Let's stay relevant, let's stay meaningful for the generation we are to serve today...As responsible leaders know, they have to stay the course on the things that never change."

The following students have recieved degrees:

Richard Feliccia from Alpharetta

Stephanie O'Neil from Alpharetta

Susan Crowe from Alpharetta

Katie Kline from Alpharetta

Kathleen Fownes from Alpharetta

Ian Starks from Alpharetta

Kailey Pullen from Alpharetta

Devran Gopal from Alpharetta

Hayley Wise from Alpharetta

Brian Lockwood from Alpharetta

Samantha Cohen from Alpharetta

Scott Chaney from Alpharetta

Sean Dillard from Alpharetta

Cory Watson from Alpharetta

Navette Bates from Alpharetta

Lindsey Schultz from Alpharetta

Sasha Johnson from Alpharetta

Andrew Moye from Alpharetta

Donald Singer from Alpharetta

Lindsey O'Connor from Alpharetta

Patricia Quilichini from Alpharetta

John Di Pietro from Alpharetta

Shaina Contigiani from Alpharetta

Jeanine Blackman from Alpharetta

Martin Mainini from Alpharetta

Joe Villarreal from Alpharetta

Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 20,000 students.