As UNC Greensboro’s newest alumni get ready for Commencement Day, many add flourishes to their mortarboards. These decorations tell the stories of what brought them to this point, the people who inspired them, the doubts they quashed, and the dreams they’re ready to bring into reality.
But the matching blue of the undergraduates’ robes on May 8 — and the black of the graduates’ robes on May 7 — will speak to another truth: Wherever their futures take them, they stand united as Spartans.
Degrees in hand, our graduates move forward having already changed the trajectory of their own lives. They seized opportunities, built real-world skills, and persevered through challenges that open the door to economic stability, social mobility, and meaningful work.
Words of wisdom to carry forth
This semester’s undergraduate ceremonies will be led by performance-minded UNCG students with a knack for building excitement in audiences.
Jiyah McLaughlin will deliver the Undergraduate Commencement speech at First Horizon Coliseum. She will describe her expectations when she first set foot on campus and what surprised her along the way. She will talk about what goes beyond her paper degree and describe the community, the commitments, and the moments that shaped her.
McLaughlin earned her bachelor of arts in media studies with minors in sociology, new media and design, and photography. She represents the excellence of UNCG students as president of its Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society chapter.
Before Chancellor Gilliam and the faculty process to their seats, drama major Seania Burnett will welcome everyone in the traditional hype video.
Once all the names have been read, fellow theatre classmate Christian Bartney will lead the turning of the tassels. Then Fatima Galvan-Ruiz, also of media studies, will deliver the send-off, with the customary ringing of the bell, alongside alumna Jana Welch Wagenseller ’76.
Honors by the thousands
Nearly 3,000 diplomas will mark the accomplishments that culminate this semester. UNCG will confer 2,030 undergraduate degrees, 704 masters’ degrees, and 79 doctoral degrees.
The undergraduates studied in 67 different majors with 255 different advisors. More than 800 of all the graduates will do so with honors.
Forty-two of the grads are aged 50 years or older. Among them, Dr. Andra James, an ob-gyn and professor emeritus at Duke University, who returned to school 30 years after earning her MD. She will leave UNCG with a bachelor of arts in history. James plans to do volunteer work in public service.
The youngest is Lael Metzger, an 18-year-old psychology major who transferred to UNCG from Guilford Technical Community College. Her faculty mentor, Dr. Jessica Caporaso, is one of this year’s Thomas Undergraduate Research Mentor Awardees.
Another standout is Janae Wofford. The Goldwater Scholar has already logged hours in the lab as an undergraduate, discovering plant-based antibiotic alternatives with Dr. Nadja Cech. Wofford was accepted into every graduate school she applied to. She’ll continue her education and research at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., with support from a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. It is the oldest fellowship of its kind and is awarded to only 16% of its applicants.
Special guests prove Spartan success
Brian Hall is the Master’s and Doctoral Commencement speaker. The president of real estate at Samet Corporation earned his master of business administration from UNCG. Over a 17-year-long real estate career, Hall has developed more than 5 million square feet of industrial and medical spaces across the Carolinas.
Dr. Jeff Sarbaum, Sue W. Cole Distinguished Senior Lecturer of Economics, will also demonstrate the excellence formulated in the Bryan School of Business and Economics. He will receive the prestigious UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award.
This semester, UNCG will confer two honorary degrees to philanthropists responsible for two professorships. Healthcare entrepreneur Susan Morris Safran ’77 has supported health education at her alma mater. Her $1 million gift in 2023 established the Susan Morris Safran Endowed Professorship in Nursing. The second, Randall Kaplan, created the Randall R. Kaplan Distinguished Professorship in Innovation, elevating Bryan School faculty who advance the workforce’s most in-demand skills.
After the commencement ceremonies conclude and the caps and gowns are put away, McLaughlin, Bartney, Galvan‑Ruiz, and Burnett will seek other stages for displaying their talents. Other Spartans will put their skills to work by serving patients and communities, leading in their own classrooms, or launching careers built with hands‑on experience. Some, including Wofford, will continue their momentum in graduate study and research.
Because being a Spartan means graduating ready to work and to uplift the community while doing it.
Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
CELEBRATE OUR GRADS!
Graduates and their families are encouraged to share their accomplishments on social media by tagging the University accounts and using the hashtag #UNCGGrad. Visit UNCG’s digital swag page for Commencement-themed graphics and templates.
Mention @UNCG in celebratory posts on Instagram and X and @uncgreensboro on TikTok.
