Savannah State University Savannah, Georgia </>n Hnx Uerttas et dMe we ^04nm^w€wn&n£ Saturday, the Seventh ofMay Two Thousand and Eleven Ten O' Clock in the Morning Tiger Arena Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation http://www.archive.org/details/onehundredsevent11sava mm wm u ] avannah State University Mission Statement Savannah State University, the oldest public historically black university in the State of Georgia, develops productive members of a global society through high quality instruction, scholarship, research, service, and community involvement. The University fosters engaged learning and personal growth in a student-centered environment that celebrates the African-American legacy while nurturing a diverse student body. Savannah State University offers graduate and undergraduate studies including nationally accredited programs in the liberal arts, the sciences, and the professions. Jn3rn^}£}2 noiaaiM nMo ^o 3J£i2 3fh ni ^}i2i3vinn Aosid \ihohonid oildnq arfo ^tiziavinU 3i£}2 ri£nn£V£2 Y^ilfiup rigid rlguoifb yiaiDoz kdolg £ Ito ziadmam svbonbcnq zqobvab £igt03D t 3rfT jnafTiavlovni ^innmrnoo bn£ 3Divi32 rtoi£323i .qirkifilorbz noiiDin:i2ni t c t baisJnao-JnabuJz £ ni rilwoig knoziaq bn£ §nim£3l b3g£§n3 213120} yii2i3vinU 32i3vib £ gnhnnnn alirlw ^D£§al n£oh3mA-n£3iilA aril 23i£id3b:> i£rb mamnoiivna zaibuiz 33£ub£i§i3bnu bfi£ 3J£ub£i§ zidBo ^ii2i3vinU 3J£i2 rl£nn£V£2 .\bod insbun aril bn£ 23on3i32 aril <2ii£ kiadil 3fb ni 2m£i§oiq baiibaioofi yllfinobfin gnibnbni t .znoizzaloiq > l<" *•,-Q'. ';!*'• t ,-.' History of Savannah State University On November 26, 1890, enabling legislation was passed by the Georgia General Assembly to establish a school for the education and training of colored students, which was to operate as a part of the University of Georgia. One hundred and twenty-one years later, the college has become Savannah State University, the oldest public historically black university in Georgia. A preliminary session of the new college was held in the Baxter Street School Building in Athens, Georgia, with Richard Robert Wright, Sr., as principal. On October 7, 1891, the new college, named the Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youths, moved to its present location inThunderbolt, Georgia. Wright was president and there were five faculty members: Loring B. Palmer, A.B.; Frank Cobb, A.B.; Alexander Ashton; Reverend Leigh B. Maxwell, A.B.; ReverendJames M. Simms, proctor and steward; and Decatur Suggs, vice-president. The university awarded its first baccalaureate degree to Richard R. Wright, Jr., in 1898. He went on to become the first black man to receive a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania (1911), and later to become the president ofhistoric Wilberforce University. During Wright's tenure as president (1890-1921), President William McKinley (1898) and PreWsident William Howard Taft (1912) visited the campus and spoke to students and faculty in the Peter Meldrim Hall. Cyrus Gilbert Wiley, class of 1899, and the first alumnus to become president of the university (1921- 1926), followed Wright. Benjamin F. Hubert, who came to Georgia State College from Tuskegee Institute, served as president from 1926-1947. It was during his tenure that the college became a full- time degree granting institution, without high school and normal programs, and became a member of the University System of Georgia (1932). The name of the college was changed to Georgia State College in 1932. In 1950, the name ofthe college was changed to Savannah State College and in 1996, the name was changed to Savannah State University. The Significance Of The Academic Mace Observing the centuries-old convocation procedures, each Marshal in the SavannahState University AcademicProcessioncarriesanofficialmace,whichisindicativeofthepower,dignity,andmagisterium vested in the University. The mace is a club-shaped staff that originated in the Middle Ages as a weapon. Eventually, it gained a ceremonial character and is presently employed most often by legislative forums and academic enterprises. The official mace and stand ofSavannah State University were designed and made from mahogany wood by Dr. Ernest S. Brown, Associate Professor Emeritus ofCivil Engineering Technology. Savannah State University Motto The University motto is "Lux Et Veritas" (Light and Truth). 2- Academic Regalia Modern academic dress has evolved from a type ofapparel prescribed by English Medieval Universities to distinguish their schools from the lay person in dress at a time when everybody wore robes or gowns. When American colleges and universities desired to adopt some suitable system ofacademic apparel a halfcentury ago, it seemed best to agree on some definite system which all might follow. Accordingly, this attire has consisted ofthe cap, the gown, and the hood, the latter two now differing according to the degree the wearer has received. The modern cap, in academic dress, has the same design for all degrees: black and square-shaped with a tassel hanging from the center. However, the colorofthe tassel usually differentiates the field ofstudy for which the degree was granted, the gold tassel being worn by doctors or by presidents ofcolleges and universities; but it may be added that the black tassel is correct for all degrees. The gown, unlike the cap, differs appreciably in design according to the degree conferred on the wearer. The gown for the bachelor's degree has pointed sleeves. It is designed to be worn closed. The gown for the master's degrees, worn open or closed, has an oblong sleeve, open at the wrist, like the others. The sleeve base hangs down in the traditional manner. The rear part of its oblong shape is square cut, and the front part has an arc cut away. The doctor's gown, worn open or closed, has long sleeves faced with velvet; three bars ofvelvet are midway the sleeves. The trimmings ofthe doctor's gown may be black or the color associated with the field ofstudy. The hood, while not an article ofdress, is however, the most distinctive feature ofthe academic attire. It is ablack, crow-shaped badge oradornment with anoval opening and worndown the back. It enables one to quickly determine not only the degree held by the wearer but also the college or university from which he is graduated. The colors lining the hood and the size and the shape ofthe hood make this distinction. The bachelor's and master's hoods are three feet and three and a halffeet in length, respectively; the doctor's hood is fourfeet in length and is made with a wide panel. Hoods may be worn for only those degrees actually held by the wearers. Members of the governing body of a college or university, and they only, whatever their degrees may be, are entitled to wear doctor's gowns (with black velvet), but their hoods may be only those ofdegrees actually held by the wearers or those especially prescribed for them by the institution. In some colleges and universities, it is customary for the president, chancellor, or chiefofficer to wear a costume similar to that worn by the head ofa foreign university. The chiefmarshal may wear a specially designed costume approved by the institution. For all academic purposes, includingtrimmingsofdoctor'sgowns, edgingofhoods, andtasselsofcaps, thecolorassociated with different subjects as prescribed by the revised American Intercollegiate Code is as follows: Arts, Letters, Humanities White Oratory (Speech) Silver Gray Business Drab Philosophy Dark Blue Economics Copper Physical Education Sage Green Education Light Blue Public Administration Peacock Blue Law Purple Science Golden Yellow Library Science Lemon Social Work Citron Music Pink Theology Scarlet At Savannah State University, the lining ofthe hood has an orange chevron on a blue background to represent school colors. A faculty member wears the color ofhis alma mater. -3- Commencement Speaker USN Rear Admiral Nevin Carr, P> Jr., Chief of Naval Research Director, Test and Evaluation and Technology Requirements Rear Admiral Carr has spent his Navy career at sea in cruisers and destroyers, operating in the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Indian Ocean, ArabianGulf, North andSouthAtlantic, South Pacific, Baltic, Caribbean, Arctic and Red Seas. Shipboard tours included USS King (DDG 41); USS McCandless (FF 1084); USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51); USS Vella Gulf (CG 72); Cruiser/Destroyer Group 8 staff embarked in USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69); and the 2nd Fleet staff embarked in USS Mt. Whitney (LCC 20). He commanded USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) and USS Cape St. George (CG 71), winning Battle Efficiency Awards and Golden Anchors in both tours. While in command of Cape St. George, the ship participated in combat operations insupport ofOperation Iraqi Freedom in both the European and Central Command theaters. Ashore, Carr has served in the Office ofthe Secretary ofDefense where he worked on the Arleigh Burke, Ticonderoga and Seawolf programs, and several Ballistic Missile Defense programs. He later served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as requirements officer for the Aegis Cruiser and Destroyer programs, and was executive assistant to the commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Following promotion to flag rank in 2006, he was assigned as the deputy director of Surface Warfare for Combat Systems and Weapons, and later as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (International Programs) and director, Navy International Program Office. Carr graduated in 1979 from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture. He earned a Master ofScience in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. In December 2008, he became the 22nd Chief ofNaval Research, with additional duties as director, Test and Evaluation and Technology Requirements. -4- . , ,, Order of Procession The Chief Marshal The Class Marshals Candidates for Masters' Degrees Candidates for Baccalaureate Degrees Faculty Emeriti The Faculty The Presidential Party The academic regalia, the academic processional, and the ceremonial program are part of an ancient tradition oflearning. This tradition is a unified, solemn occasion at which only applause is appropriate. The audience is asked to refrainfrom any otherform ofexpression and to reserve celebrations until the program is concluded. Savannah State University Hymn Original words and music by Randolph Fisher and Hillary Hatchett J. Lyrical Revision hy Ms. LaGina M. Frazier Refrain Let us give thanks andpraises to Where Savannah meets the sea, Our Alma Mater, S.S.LJ. Where grassy plains andpalms abound, Thine honor, pride, and eminence Where the Flow'rs are gems ofloveliness We raise in prayerful reverence There S.S.Li, isfound. Guide us stillfrom day to day, We adore each beauteous scene and hall Be Thou mindful lest we lose our way; Our all we pledge to Thee! Help us know that life, short or long, In our hearts we 11 build a shrinefor You Means unceasingworkfor weak and strong. We hail Thee, S.S.U.! -5 Order of Ceremony Earl G. Yarbrough Sr., Ph.D., President Presiding Prelude "Largo" Handel Professor Nan Poole Spicer, Organist *Academic Procession "War March ofthe Priests" Felix Mendelssohn Professor Nan Poole Spicer, Organist Presentation of Colors, National Anthem Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Color Guard "The Star-Spangled Banner" Invocation Pastor Larry L. Broxton Christ Memorial Baptist Church Savannah, Georgia Selection "The Road Not Taken" Music by Randall Thompson Poem written by Robert Frost Savannah State University Concert Choir Professor Nan Poole Spicer, Organist Introduction of Stage Guests Dr. Earl G. Yarbrough Sr. Introduction of Speaker President Commencement Address Rear Admiral Nevin P. Carr Jr. ChiefofNaval Research Arlington, Virginia Introduction of Academic Deans Dr. Mostafa Sarhan Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Selection "I Know I've Been Changed" Arranged by Damon Dandridge Savannah State University Concert Choir Professor Nan Poole Spicer, Organist Presentation of Awards Dr. Earl G. Yarbrough Sr. President's Second Mile Award Presentation of Candidates Dr. Emily Crawford for the Master of Interim Dean, Graduate Studies Business Administration Degree Presentation of Candidates Dr. Emily Crawford for the Master of Public Administration Degree -6-