Savannah State Confers Degrees to Nearly 400 Graduates During 208th Commencement Ceremony

The university awarded degrees to more than 390 graduates, marking a milestone for students representing the university’s five colleges – Business Administration, Sciences and Humanities, Engineering Technology and Computing, Media, Arts and Communication, and Hyundai College of Education.

Dr. Deretta Cole Rhodes, Executive Vice President and Chief Culture Officer for the Atlanta Braves, delivered a powerful keynote address, urging the graduates to embrace their unique journeys and lead with purpose.

“As graduates of Savannah State University, you carry with you something powerful, something enduring, a legacy grounded in light and truth,” Dr. Rhodes told the graduates. “You understand what it truly means to say ‘you can get anywhere from here’. What you have accomplished is extraordinary. But hear me clearly, this is not your finish line, this is your launch point. Today is the first day of boldly charting your dreams with tools no one can take from you. Not your degree, not your discipline, not your resilience, and not your purpose. Savannah State has given you more than knowledge. It has given you the formation to think critically, to lead courageously, and to stand firmly in who you are even when the world tries to define you otherwise.”

Reflections from the Class of 2026 were shared by Ms. Mya Yvonne Lomax, an undergraduate business marketing major and Army ROTC commissioning officer, and Territa Naomi Williams, a graduate student obtaining a master’s in public administration.

The university also honored its top academic performers. Ms. Lomax and Mr. Jinorri Jovel Wilson, an undergraduate computer science technology major, were recognized as the top undergraduate students, both graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Adding to his academic standing, Mr. Wilson, who hails from Montego Bay, Jamaica, received the prestigious Second Mile Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a graduating senior for exceptional achievement, leadership, and service.

“Mr. Wilson has been a shining example of leadership and excellence,” said SSU President Dr. Jermaine Whirl. “He has demonstrated exceptional perseverance and an unwavering dedication to service that reflects the very best of the Savannah State University spirit.”