Dalton State College Graduates ReceiveDiplomas in 2021
DaltonState College is proud to announce the graduation of its class of2021. With the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, thegraduates have shown resilience and determination in earning theirdegrees.
Thisyear's commencement ceremony was held in a hybrid format, withstudents having the option to attend either in-person or virtually.The ceremony was held at the very place where the graduates first setfoot on campus – the Mashburn Hall Lawn. It was a wonderful way tocelebrate their achievements while also maintaining safety protocols.
TheClass of 2021 consisted of 485 students, 54% of whom were female and46% male. The most popular majors were nursing, businessadministration, biology, and psychology. The class included studentsfrom 17 countries, including the United States, India, Mexico, andSouth Korea.
Thegraduation ceremony began with a procession of faculty and staff, whowere all dressed in academic regalia. This was followed by thenational anthem, which was beautifully sung by a member of the musicdepartment. President V. Keenan commented on how proud he was of eachgraduate's resilience and determination to endure a year like noother. He also reminded the graduates that their education doesn'tstop with their degrees, but it's the beginning of a lifelonglearning journey.
Thekeynote speaker was Dr. Biren Amin, a medical doctor, and a DaltonState alumnus. He shared his inspiring story of how he came toAmerica as an immigrant and worked hard to become a medical doctor.He encouraged the graduates to never give up on their dreams and touse their education to make a positive impact in the world.
Thehighlight of the graduation ceremony was, of course, the presentationof diplomas to the graduates. Each graduate was called by name andreceived their diploma on stage. It was a moment of pride and joy forboth the graduates and their families. As an added surprise, thestudents were given a special edition Dalton State College face maskas a commemoration of their graduation.
Thevaledictorian of the Class of 2021 is Emily Long, who graduated witha perfect 4.0-grade point average. She addressed her fellow graduatesand shared her journey of how she overcame her fears and insecuritiesto accomplish what she thought was impossible. She encouraged herclassmates to continue to push themselves beyond their limits andnever settle for mediocrity.
TheClass of 2021 has shown that even during the toughest times, they area resilient, determined, and innovative group of individuals. Theyhave overcome the challenges brought by the pandemic and are nowready to take on the world. With their education, they willundoubtedly make significant contributions to their communities andthe world at large.
Inconclusion, Dalton State College is proud of the Class of 2021 andwishes them all the best in their future endeavors. The graduationceremony not only marked the end of their journey but also thebeginning of what we know will be a lifetime of success for each andevery one of them. Congratulations, graduates!