小蝌蚪APP

鈥楾his Is Just the Beginning鈥�

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Posted on December 11, 2021

Thomas Becnel

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During Fall Commencement weekend at the 小蝌蚪APP, Gov. Kay Ivey told graduates to always be proud of their journey and promised them that their best is still to come.

鈥淲hile commencement marks the end of a chapter 鈥� and in many cases, marks the end of the chapter that is school 鈥� take it from me, this is just the beginning,鈥� Ivey said Saturday at the USA Mitchell Center. 鈥淵our best and your most exciting days are still ahead.鈥�

On Friday and Saturday, there were 1,388 candidates for graduation, along with 16 summer doctoral graduates. There were 59 cum laude graduates, 49 magna cum laude graduates and 41 summa cum laude graduates.

Thousands of families and friends crowded into the Mitchell Center, cheering the names of their graduates. Dozens of students decorated their ceremonial caps with personalized messages.

鈥淒one!鈥� 鈥淢astered It.鈥� 鈥淭each the Change You Wish to See.鈥� Also, 鈥淐ase Closed鈥� and 鈥淚f You鈥檙e Reading This, I Graduated.鈥�

Sheryn Negre, a nursing degree candidate from Daphne, wore a cap with a twist on a Harry Potter reference: 鈥淢ischief Managed 鈥� and Bandaged.鈥�

鈥淚t was a tough journey,鈥� Negre said. 鈥淚 was in the accelerated program, just 12 months, and it was so stressful. So now I鈥檓 celebrating.鈥�

For David Campbell, a 58-year-old who completed the Emergency Medical Services program in the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions, his first trip across the stage may not be his last.

鈥淚鈥檝e worked in EMS for more than 30 years, but I wanted to finally get my degree,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淣ow I want to work on my master鈥檚.鈥�

The speaker at Friday afternoon鈥檚 commencement program was Owen Bailey, CEO of USA Health, who drew several laughs from the Mitchell Center crowd. Friday鈥檚 ceremony honored graduates in nursing and allied health. 

鈥淵ou know, when I think back on all the many commencement speeches that I鈥檝e heard in my life, do you know what message has really stuck with me after all this time?鈥� he said. 鈥淣othing. I mainly remember that the speakers talked too long. So I鈥檒l keep it short today.鈥�

Bailey went on to describe, briefly,  USA healthcare workers who are alumni who saw the need for change and made a difference for patients and families.

鈥淭he people who change lives and make lasting impacts are the people who never say 鈥榯hat鈥檚 not my job鈥� or 鈥榯hat鈥檚 the way we鈥檝e always done it,鈥欌�� he said. 鈥淭hey have a spirit of gratitude and serving others.鈥�

Parents in the Mitchell Center included George and Jean Dunigan, who came to support their daughter Mercedes, an elementary education major, who is the first member of the family to graduate from college. The couple drove down from Grove Hill, Alabama, and showed up early.

鈥淲e left at 7 this morning 鈥� it was raining and storming, and traffic on I-65 was terrible,鈥� George said. 鈥淏ut we wouldn鈥檛 miss it. She鈥檚 our baby. The last one.鈥�

On Saturday morning, Gov. Ivey accepted an honorary degree from South. She said students should be proud of the dramatic growth and change at the University.

鈥淵ou鈥檝e seen wonderful new facilities constructed, including a new alumni center that will be your home when you return to campus,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e also seen an array of new state-of-the-art health facilities. And last, but certainly not least, you鈥檝e seen an awesome new football stadium.鈥�

The governor encouraged graduates to remain in 鈥淪weet Home Alabama,鈥� and make a difference in their home state.

鈥淓very single one of you are walking away from today with incredible achievement,鈥� Ivey said. 鈥淣ow, I challenge each of you to ask yourself how you individually can use your talents to make Alabama and our world a better place.鈥�

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Follow South on and to view Commencement photos. 

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