After much consideration and out of respect for everyone’s health, East Georgia State College is hosting its Fall 2020 Commencement Ceremony virtually.
EGSC Virtual Commencement will be presented December 12 at 10 a.m. on EGSC’s YouTube and Facebook page. To view the ceremony and more information about the event, visit http://www.ega.edu/2020-Fall-Commencement.
EGSC celebrates the wonderful accomplishments of the graduates and wants to share this special occasion with everyone. The traditional graduation ceremony would be held in the gym on the EGSC Swainsboro campus, but with social distancing rules and restrictions, the event is better suited to be held virtually this semester. The decision to have a virtual celebration will honor the graduates and their hard work, while also keeping families and friends safe and healthy.
In November, EGSC gave each graduate the opportunity to have photos taken in their cap and gown at no cost to be featured in the virtual ceremony. If students could not attend the photo sessions, they were able to submit a photo if they chose to participate. During EGSC Virtual Commencement each graduate’s photo will appear when their name is called.
EGSC Virtual Commencement will begin with a welcome from former EGSC President Dr. Bob Boehmer, followed by student speakers, an alumni speaker, and a guest commencement speaker. Students will also perform God Bless America and the EGSC Alma Mater.
The commencement speaker for the ceremony is Dr. George Fredrick, Director of Military and Veteran Services at Georgia Southern University.
A native of Fairfax, S.C., Dr. Fredrick was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Texas State University as an Infantryman in 1987, with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. He also holds two master’s degrees — a Master of Military Art and Science from Ft. Leavenworth School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) and a Master’s in Personnel Administration from Central Michigan University, a Specialist in Education Administration from Columbus State University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Georgia Southern University. His military education includes completion of the Infantry Officers’ Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), Joint and Combined Warfighting School (JPME), Ranger School, Airborne School and Air Assault School.
Prior to becoming Director of Military and Veteran Services in February of this year, Dr. Fredrick was the Scholarship and Enrollment Officer Army ROTC at Georgia Southern. In this position, he developed and continued to implement a recruitment strategy that directly contributed to meeting and surpassing recruiting mission requirements. He designed, developed and wrote Army ROTC recruiting promotional video for Army ROTC recruiting in the State of Georgia. He was also responsible for identifying, recruiting and retaining the highest quality Cadets for the nation and the Army.
Early in his career at Georgia Southern University, he was a Professor of Military Science. Under his leadership, he transformed an ROTC program that was already doing well into a program that was nationally ranked as one of the top eight programs in the nation. The program received the first McArthur Award and continued to receive the award in 2009, 2010, 2015, and in 2016.
He is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3d OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (3d OLe), Army Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Award, and the Korean Service Medal.
Serving as ROTC Battalion Commander and U.S. Army Officer at Georgia Southern University, George Fredrick was promoted to the rank of Colonel in April 2011. He is affectionately known by colleagues, students and friends as “Colonel Fred.”
The alumni speaker for the virtual ceremony is Alexandra Rios
Currently, Rios is the Bilingual Multimedia Journalist/Reporter at NBC Right Now in Kennewick, Washington. As a journalist and photographer, Rios uses her camera as a tool to help the world understand the experience of minorities in the United States.
Rios graduated from the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications in 2019. She was a multimedia intern at the UGA Office of Sustainability, a bilingual multimedia journalist at UGA Grady Newsource, a digital journalist at UGA Grady Mobile News Lab and a visual journalist at UGA's photojournalism department. Rios was also a multimedia journalist intern at WALB 10 News. Rios served as the UGA vice president of National Hispanic Journalist Association, UGA social media coordinator of National Press Photographers Association and director of social media assistant of DiGamma Kappa Professional Broadcast Society.
Prior to transferring to UGA, Rios was a Correll Scholar and 2017 Cum Laude graduate with an Associate of Arts in Communication Arts at East Georgia State College. As an Ambassador at EGSC, she was very involved in student life. She is from Swainsboro and aspires to be an international reporter.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the EGSC student body will be Student Government Association President, Precious Coleman. Coleman is from Eastman, Ga., and her parents are Derrick Coleman and Pamela Clark. She is a member of the Spring 2021 graduating class of EGSC majoring in Criminal Justice.
In addition to serving as SGA President, she is also an active member of the African American Union (AAU) as well as a member of the Criminal Justice Club.
Following graduation from EGSC, she plans to attend Mercer University to pursue her bachelor’s degree in information technology with a minor in Data Analytics.
Kevin Hunter, an EGSC-Statesboro student, will present the Reflection for the ceremony. Hunter is from Valdosta, Ga. Since joining the EGSC student body in 2019, he has been actively involved in student life. He is a member of the African American Male Initiative (AAMI) as well as the Student Government Association, where he serves as vice president.
As a Criminal Justice major, Hunter plans to continue his education by attending Georgia Southern University after he graduates from EGSC to complete his bachelor’s degree. Following graduation from Georgia Southern University, he will be commissioned in the Army as a lieutenant. His goal is to one day work as a Field Agent for the FBI.
Twin sisters Megan and Morgan Bryant will perform God Bless America and EGSC’s Alma Mater during the event.
The Bryants are from Reidsville, Ga. They are daughters of Phyllis Gaffney and George Brown. Known around campus for their singing talent, they are sometimes referred to as the “Singing Twins.” Megan is a nursing major and would one day like to be a neonatal nurse. She plans to attend Ogeechee Technical College to obtain her LPN license following graduation. Morgan is currently serving as the President for the African American Union (AAU) on the Swainsboro campus. She is majoring in Criminal Justice.
Megan and Morgan have honored EGSC during their time at the college by singing at various events. The twins will be graduating during the virtual ceremony. EGSC asks that the community join the virtual ceremony December 12 at 10 a.m. to help celebrate the achievements and hard work of the graduating class. To view EGSC Virtual Commencement and for more information about the event, visit http://www.ega.edu/2020-Fall-Commencement.
