Diana Gamzon answers all of your commencement queries
By Gray Chapman
SCAD-Atlanta will be hosting its second annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 31, at the Georgia World Congress Center. The ceremony is for graduates of SCAD-Atlanta and their guests.
The ceremony will include a speech from President Paula Wallace, in addition to a special guest speaker (who had not been announced at press time). The ceremony will also recognize outstanding students’ academic accomplishments by presenting two Presidential Medals, an Excelsus Laureate and four Outstanding Academic Achievement awards.
Students participating in the commencement ceremony are required to rehearse on Friday, May 30 at 4 p.m. in the Georgia World Congress Center, Room A412. Students can take MARTA, drive or take the SCAD shuttle to the Congress Center. In order to take this shuttle, students must meet at 3 p.m. on the front porch of SCAD-Atlanta.
The ceremony will take place 6 p.m., but students must report to the Congress Center by 4 p.m. for the student line-up. SCAD will provide another shuttle to the venue. Students must meet at 3 p.m. at the front of the school in order to ride the shuttle. Participating students who would like to invite guests are required to pick up tickets from the Student Resource Center. Tickets are mandatory for guest
admission. Each student will be allotted eight guest tickets; students must present their SCAD ID card
and fulfill all graduation requirements in order to pick up their tickets.
Diana Gamzon, senior events and conferencing coordinator, said that there are some “insider tips” that will be helpful to students. “The Georgia World Congress Center is huge. Look for Building A, and
park in the ‘green lot’ — it’s the closest to our building.” Green lot parking will cost about $8-10, she said. Although each student only receives eight tickets for their guests, tickets are transferable. “There is no way to acquire extra tickets, but if a student has extras, another student can definitely use theirs,” she said. Additionally, SCAD will provide guest transportation via shuttle, but reservations are required.
Gamzon said that there will be a meeting for graduation participants on Friday, May 16, and
students are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting in order to answer questions. Beyond
graduation, Gamzon said there will be a “GradFest” celebration on Friday, May 30, following the
rehearsal. GradFest will take place at the top of the SCAD-Atlanta parking deck and is open to the entire SCAD community — faculty, staff, and all students.
The graduation ceremony, according to Gamzon, illustrates the rapid growth of SCAD-Atlanta. “Last year, graduation was in the Hub. We’re definitely expanding enough to need a larger venue,” said Gamzon.
The commencement ceremony will include graduates as well. At last count, there were 169 graduating students participating in the commencement ceremony. Gamzon said to be on the lookout for the graduation speaker announcement. “We’re pretty excited, and I believe we’re announcing it next
week — so listen out for that!”
For more information about the commencement ceremony, visit the graduation Web site at www.scad.edu/atlgraduation.