Friends and family of graduates take to the front lawn on Brenau's historic Gainesville campus for photos after the first winter graduate commencement at the school.

’Tis the Season … for Diplomas!

Written by David Morrison, posted on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 · Leave a Comment

With weather more comparable to a May graduation day than the season for Christmas wreaths on the university president’s door, Brenau University in December awarded 455 undergraduate and graduate diplomas at the institution’s first winter commencement exercises in its 137-year history. Brenau President Ed Schrader called the occasion of the two ceremonies in historic Pearce Auditorium “a day of culmination, a day of beginnings.” Graduates received diplomas for degrees ranging from Doctor of Nursing Practice, one of Brenau’s three health science clinical doctorates, to an array of bachelor’s degrees in disciplines like the arts, education, sciences and business administration.

Brenau traditionally schedules two commencement exercises the first weekend in May – one for the Women’s College and the second for coeducational undergraduate and graduate programs.

However, many students enroll in courses that they complete after the May graduation and have had to wait until the following May to receive their diplomas – or skip the cap-and-gown ceremony
altogether. “We thought if we scheduled a winter commencement, more of them would want to participate,” said Nancy Krippel, provost and vice president of academic affairs.

And they did. Combining the 455 eligible to receive diplomas at the winter commencement (298 graduate students, 43 Women’s College students and 114 other undergraduates) with the 215
undergraduate degrees and 143 graduate degrees conferred in May brings the total number of 2015 Brenau degrees to 813.

: Ellie Anglin smiles as she meets Dr. Schrader on the stage of Pearce Auditorium during the 2015 Winter Undergraduate Commencement.

: Women’s College and undergraduate students cross the stage in Pearce Auditorium to receive their diplomas and shake hands with University President Dr. Ed Schrader.

: Alumni Director Jenny Dell was just another proud brenau graduate as she looks to her family in the balcony of Pearce Auditorium during the winter graduate commencement.

: Friends and family of graduates take to the front lawn on Brenau’s historic Gainesville campus for photos after the first winter graduate commencement at the school.

: Friends and family of graduates take to the front lawn on Brenau’s historic Gainesville campus for photos after the first winter graduate commencement at the school.

: Brenau’s Ann Marie Holman ,a graduate of the masters in gerontology program, hugs her son U.S. Army Communications Specialist Byron Brown her surprised her by coming to the graduation from Ft. Hood in Texas. Shes worked so hard, I just had to be here, Byron Brown said. I couldn’t miss it.

: Brenau’s Ann Marie Holman ,a graduate of the masters in gerontology program, hugs her son U.S. Army Communications Specialist Byron Brown her surprised her by coming to the graduation from Ft. Hood in Texas. Shes worked so hard, I just had to be here, Byron Brown said. I couldn’t miss it.

: Dr. Vince Yamilkoski carries the scepter as the faculty recesses from commencement.

: Brenau University President Ed Schrader address the graduates during the school’s first winter commencement service.

: Brenau’s Ann Marie Holman, a graduate of the masters in gerontology program, waits for the winter commencement to begin.

: Brenau University President Ed Schrader address the graduates during the school’s first winter commencement service.

: Dr. Vince Yamilkoski carries the scepter as the faculty enters Pearce Auditorium for winter commencement.

: Allison Carling with her husband Jediah.

: Brenau Executive Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement leads her fellow Winter 2015 commencement participants in moving their tassels of their caps from one side to the other to show that they were no longer students but graduates.