Elise Aleman, a ����Vlog Master of Fine Arts (MFA) graduate, spent much of her adult life in South Florida working as a graphic artist. She moved to Savannah, Georgia, in 2017 to pursue a new calling in painting. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Aleman decided she wasn’t done yet.

Aleman dreamed of becoming an art teacher, and she wanted to have a graduate degree to boost her applications. While looking for a master’s program, she was recruited by a friend to look at Georgia Southern. Shortly thereafter, she became a member of Eagle Nation.

As she developed her portfolio in the graduate program, she found herself going to a familiar source.

In the 1960s, there was a wave of immigration from Cuba into the U.S. This pattern of immigration was called the “Freedom Flights.”

When she was just seven years old, Aleman and most of her family were on one of those planes in July of 1967. 

The Communist regime believed all who left the island were deserting their nation, and they took many of the families’ belongings in retaliation. 

“When people would get on the flights, the military was at the airport,” she said. “They would go through all your bags, they take anything  that either they wanted to keep for themselves or just to be spiteful. A lot of the time, they would take photographs and just throw them out.”

To avoid losing their family pictures, Aleman’s mother left their photos with relatives in Cuba.

After landing in the U.S., they settled in a small community in New Jersey where they learned a new language and way of life.

Over time, deliveries began arriving in their new home in the Garden State. They held the family photos they had left behind, sent by relatives who had been protecting them.

“I use the photographs from Cuba that were sent to us when we came in,” she said. “There’s a series in my scope that I did that is about those photographs and immigrating here. I wanted to make people see them and really connect with it in their own way.”

Those paintings were featured in a recent art exhibition, “Theopoetics Prothesis,” on the University’s Armstrong Campus in Savannah, which explored the intersections of her faith, exile and transformation through two parallel yet interwoven bodies of work. One aspect reflected on her family’s immigration from Cuba, and considered how cultural displacement shapes identity, memory and faith. The other engaged directly with biblical themes, using scripture as a foundation for conceptual exploration.

“My goal was to make both scripture and personal history compelling and relevant,” she said. “The Bible is more than just a religious text—it’s a multidimensional tapestry of history, poetry, prophecy and metaphor. Likewise, the story of exile and displacement is not just my own but a universal narrative of survival, adaptation and faith. I wanted viewers to engage with these layered meanings, finding connections between the sacred, the personal and the collective.”

As Aleman prepares to graduate this week, she’s reflecting on the journey her family took to make it possible. She’s also grateful to the Georgia Southern community for welcoming her, despite the age gap between her and other MFA students.

“Those students, especially in the grad program, they just embrace you,” she said. “I never felt like an outsider. ‘Oh, there’s the old lady,’ you know? We have a very tight group in the fine arts program.”

For LeNesha Cunningham, returning to college wasn’t just about finishing a degree, it was a homecoming. The Liberty County resident reflects on how she discovered her passions at ����Vlog as she prepares to receive her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.

Growing up in a military family, Cunningham was no stranger to moving from one city to another. The place she truly felt at home was her final childhood stop in Liberty County, where she graduated high school. She started taking college classes after graduation, but her studies were cut short when her mother became ill and she returned home to help look after her younger siblings. While caring for her family, Cunningham fell in love and married a soldier stationed at Fort Stewart. They would go on to have three children together and make their own journeys to different duty stations, but the road brought them right back to Liberty County to raise children of their own. When Cunningham learned her oldest son had special needs, she returned to college to become an even better mom.

“I realized I needed to learn some things to help me be able to raise him, so I got an associate’s degree in child development,” said Cunningham. “I really applied everything I learned there to raising my children.”

When Cunningham’s husband returned home from his fourth deployment, she went to work at Fort Stewart’s child development center and became the lead teacher. The demands of the job and home life left little time for her studies, but Cunningham never lost sight of her dream to earn a bachelor’s degree. Cunningham began looking at options to continue her education and saw that Georgia Southern’s Armstrong Campus fit her schedule perfectly. She enrolled and quickly realized she loved too many subjects to major in just one, so she selected an interdisciplinary degree with concentrations in history and communications. Cunningham believes the two topics make a great pair to bring people together.

“I really believe in talking to people and learning their stories,” said Cunningham. “People’s stories relate to their cultural identities, so that’s where history comes in. Why do people in these cultures have their particular beliefs? It helps you learn and accept someone else’s way of living.”

Cunningham puts her passion for connecting with others into practice by working with charitable organizations across her community. She has served at the YMCA for nearly a decade, helped organize blood drives, hosted parties for students who made honor roll and spoken to the county youth commission. She credits the time and support she received from her professors at Georgia Southern for her success in taking a leadership role in her hometown.

“One of the things that really helped me at Georgia Southern was building my confidence with public speaking,” said Cunningham. “I took Advanced Public Speaking and I was terrified when we had to do our own version of a Ted Talk. After I did mine, my professor encouraged me to audition for the real Ted Talk circuit. My professors really believed in me and introduced me to so much.”

SAVANNAH, Ga., April 22, 2024 — ����Vlog has named five acclaimed speakers for the University’s Spring 2024 Commencement ceremonies on May 7, 8, 9 and 11.

Approximately 4,200 students will graduate with associate, baccalaureate, master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees this semester during five ceremonies in Statesboro and Savannah. Candidates will have the option to choose the location where they would like to graduate. 

The dates, colleges and speakers for each ceremony are: 

Tuesday, May 7 – 10 a.m. — Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro

College of Arts and Humanities, College of Science and Mathematics, Waters College of Health Professions and Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

Mackenzie Anderson is the global director of Corporate Communications at Nike in Beaverton, Oregon. Since joining in 2019, Anderson has driven storytelling efforts for Nike’s executives and purpose initiatives across sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, and social and community impact. She is also a member of the Women of Nike Leadership team.

Prior to joining Nike, Anderson held a variety of roles leading global sustainability and strategic communications at The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta. She also served as Chief of Staff to the Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer. Previously, she led business communications and media relations for the Atlanta Braves.

A proud graduate of ����Vlog, earning a bachelor’s in communications with an emphasis in public relations, Anderson started her career as a spokesperson for the world’s largest aquarium, Georgia Aquarium. In this role, she won two Emmy® awards for a television series on ocean conservation.

She has been named to PRWeek’s 40 Under 40 and served on the board of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Emerging Leaders.

Wednesday, May 8 – 10 a.m. — Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro

Parker College of Business and College of Education

Alton M. Standifer, Ph.D., serves as Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence and Chief of Staff to the Provost at the University of Georgia (UGA). In this capacity, Standifer leads the Office of Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness and the Office of Institutional Diversity, and has overall responsibility for the operations in the Office of the Provost. 

In this role, Standifer leads a focused effort to develop and implement strategies and initiatives designed to advance academic excellence goals and create an environment at the institution where faculty, staff and students feel that they can learn, grow and thrive. He supports UGA’s particular focus on rural, economically disadvantaged, first-generation, underserved, military and transfer students. Standifer is also responsible for matters related to the University’s institutional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. 

Prior to joining UGA, Standifer taught middle school math and coached basketball in his hometown of Monticello, Georgia.

Standifer earned a doctorate in public administration and policy from UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs, where he now also serves as an adjunct faculty member. He received a bachelor’s in middle grades education and a master’s in higher education administration from Georgia Southern.

A member of the UGA Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2022 and the ����Vlog 40 Under 40 Class of 2023, Standifer was selected by the University System of Georgia to participate in its 2022-2023 Executive Leadership Institute. In addition, he is a member of the 2022 class of Leadership Georgia and currently serves as program chair for the Class of 2024. He is also a 2020 graduate of LEAD Athens and served as president of the ����Vlog Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2020 to 2022. 

Thursday, May 9 – 10 a.m. — Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing

Kim Greene is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Georgia Power, and is a strong voice in the energy sector, especially on issues related to safety, emerging technologies, innovation and STEM-related education. She is a respected thought leader and advocate for the future of energy – from national energy policy to the overall customer experience.

Prior to her current position, Greene served for five years as chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company Gas. 

Throughout her career, she has taken on diverse and challenging roles across all areas of the utility industry including engineering, operations, finance, external affairs and asset management and trading. She has also held executive roles for Southern Company’s subsidiaries as well as the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), including chief executive officer for Georgia Power and Southern Company Gas; chief operating officer for Southern Company; president of Southern Company Services; chief generation officer for TVA; group president for TVA’s Strategy and External Relations; and chief financial officer for TVA.

Greene currently serves on the board of directors for the Atlanta Committee for Progress, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, Valero Energy Corporation, the Georgia Research Alliance and the Rowen Foundation. She serves on the board of trustees for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and The Woodruff Arts Center, and on the Board of Governors for the Georgia Historical Society. Greene is also a member of the Atlanta Rotary Club.

Most recently, the Atlanta Business Chronicle named Greene as one of Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs. In 2022, she was awarded the Edison Electric Institute’s inaugural Thomas F. Farrell, II Safety Leadership and Innovation Award by her industry peers for her significant contributions to improving safety in the utility industry. She is a member of the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame, a recipient of the University of Tennessee’s Distinguished Alumna Award and the University of Tennessee’s Nathan W. Dougherty Award, the most prestigious honor bestowed by the College of Engineering.

A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Greene earned a bachelor’s in engineering science and mechanics from the University of Tennessee, a master’s in biomedical engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a master’s in business administration from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Greene also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Saturday, May 11 – 10 a.m. — Enmarket Arena in Savannah

College of Arts and Humanities, College of Education, College of Science and Mathematics, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Parker College of Business, Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing

Chris Ahearn is the director of research and trade development for the World Trade Center Savannah, where he facilitates and oversees all aspects of partner-specific research, international lead development, and planning and receiving of inbound and outbound delegations. He also manages the Savannah side of TradeBridge, a partnership between World Trade Center Savannah, the Savannah Economic Development Authority and the county of Wexford, Ireland.

Ahearn graduated from ����Vlog with a bachelor’s in psychology and a minor in Irish Studies. He then attended Dublin City University in Ireland where he earned a master’s in international relations. Following that, Ahearn spent 12 years working in higher education and nonprofit organizations in Chicago, Illinois. In 2022, Chris returned to Georgia to begin the position with World Trade Center Savannah.

Saturday, May 11 – 3 p.m. — Enmarket Arena in Savannah

Waters College of Health Professions and Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

Candicee Childs, M.D., is an emerging beacon of inspiration in the fields of medicine and literature. At present, she is a resident physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, the largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, with a focus on child and adolescent psychiatry. 

Her literary work, including the Amazon bestseller Christian memoir, “Lemons, Lemonade, and the Lemonade Stand,” reflects her passion for living life with purpose and making a positive impact on those around her. 

Dr. Childs is also a public speaker, model, fitness enthusiast and mentor. Most recently, she presented at TEDxSavannah in 2023 where she discussed embracing empathy while also protecting your mental wellness. 

From Savannah, Childs earned a bachelor’s in chemistry with a minor in Spanish from Valdosta State University, a Master of Health Administration from ����Vlog and a Doctor of Medicine from Augusta University – Medical College of Georgia. She also has two certifications in nutrition and personal training from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

����Vlog, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 155 different degree programs serving more than 26,100 students through 10 colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia with expert faculty, the University is focused on public impact research and engaging learning opportunities through knowledge and know-how that prepare our students to take ownership of their lives, careers and communities. Visit .

That decision changed his life.

“I didn’t notice it at first when I wanted to do stuff like this,” he said. “For me personally, I just want to do something to inspire other people and to build a community with the people that reach out to others.”

Despite having next to no experience operating a camera, it didn’t take long for a passion to grow within his heart. Within a year, he changed his career path.

“It was basically what you would call a blind leap of faith,” he admitted. “I didn’t know how to run a camera. I didn’t know anything as far as replay, audio and all that other stuff. I had no knowledge or anything of it. But of course, over time, I built up my knowledge on it and was able to grasp it really quickly.”

Georgia Southern’s multimedia landscape isn’t only developed in the classroom. The athletics department’s GATA Productions broadcasts many of Eagle Nation’s sports events. In many cases, the team making the broadcasts happen are students.

After learning the ropes in the classroom and on the field, Hamilton was recruited to take his talents off-campus with the world-famous Savannah Bananas and the recently launched Savannah Ghost Pirates.

The skills Hamilton and Johnson earned are not isolated to singular positions. By learning the foundations of film and television and acquiring hands-on experiences working for professional sports teams, they also harnessed leadership skills to guide rookies and professionals on game days.

Johnson said being in the fast-paced world of live sports can be stressful, and there are high expectations for broadcasters. One lesson he’s learned during his tenure was the power of empathy and support for the crew.

“It’s important for a person to learn every single aspect of the broadcast team,”  Johnson said. “Especially camera operators and how they feel and what they’re actually having to go through. It seems like a lot of technical directors don’t seem to know the struggles of it.”

Not only are the new graduates getting professional-grade experience running sports broadcasts, but it’s also  happening in a region experiencing a boom in sports culture. 

“Being a part of the beginning of anything is just amazing,” Johnson said. “Especially in the sports world. It’s a once in a lifetime chance to be the first one to work on a sport, the first one to work on a team.”

Many students strive to make a significant impact on their communities before they graduate. Jordan Bordeaux is one of them. 

As an undergraduate student at the University of Wyoming, Bordeaux worked in health promotion and wellness. That experience prompted her to look into graduate programs for public health.

“I enjoy public health because it is such an inclusive area of study, and really focuses on health and wellness in both a micro and macro level,” said Bordeaux, who is from Douglas, Wyoming.

She chose the based on the quality of education and affordability, and for its emphasis on project-based learning and access to graduate assistantships that could help fund her educational endeavors. 

As part of her independent study, Bordeaux assisted in migrant farm clinics and collaborated on a capstone presentation that focused on the mental health of migrant farmworkers. The independent study also allowed her to use Spanish to communicate health and wellness concepts. 

“This class was one of the most impactful parts of my master’s program,” Bordeaux said. “Thanks to the program, I improved my Spanish-speaking and expanded my knowledge on the Latino & immigrant community and the migrant farmworker experience.”

Bordeaux said she is grateful for all the amazing opportunities Georgia Southern provided to her during her time as a student. 

“Georgia Southern really provided hands-on learning experiences that have helped shape my future and endowed me with a broad range of transferable skills,” Bordeaux said. “That, I believe, will help me in a variety of concentrations.”

“My plan for the future is to work in a community setting, where I can educate and empower others in topics around sexual health, healthy relationships, mental health and substance use,” Bordeaux said.

Emma Franceschina’s childhood bedroom rarely had the same look twice.

Her passion for interior design started at a very young age when she would frequently rearrange her bedroom furniture.

“My mom is kind of the inspiration for that,” she said. “She’s always moving around our furniture in the house. Every time I go home, something’s different. The furniture is shifted around in the living room or in the kitchen or in the dining room or something.”

That blended family background of artistic creativity and math is now leading to what she hopes will be a successful career.

A community college student in Maryland, Franceschina transferred to Georgia Southern in 2019. She was impressed with the impact the program was making. So, she transferred within the Academic Common Market, which is a multi-state network of universities allowing students to pay in-state tuition for a school outside state borders.

Not only did this transfer connect her with her field, but it also connected her to her family. It wasn’t until after she applied for Georgia Southern when she discovered she had family who had attended the school as well decades ago.

“Professors would bring people in to speak to us and tell us what the real world is like, and I actually got some jobs that way,” she said. “My second studio was in my second semester in the program. We had someone come and we did a little competition with our studio. My team ended up winning.”

This wouldn’t be the last award she would win for her work with her designs. Franceschina has a collection of awards from reputable organizations.

In the coming weeks, she will be traveling to NeoCon, an interior design conference in Chicago, to see a work pod she designed for a contest come to life.

“I’m getting to see something I’ve designed actually come to fruition at NeoCon, and I’m going to be able to touch it and walk into it and see it, which is going to be so cool,” she said. “Last year, I went to NeoCon by myself wandering the halls like this little itty bitty design student just like a little fly on the wall. And this year this is going to be a very different experience.”

The upcoming graduate notes the COVID-19 pandemic may be transforming her industry; changing the way people think about their living and working environments.

“It was a great step forward for people realizing the importance of interior design,” she said. “I think the industry will see an uptick in people seeking out designers who know what they’re doing, and who know the way around some issues: if you live in a smaller space and have that space for work versus play.”

With a trumpet serenade from Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy (’75), congratulations messages from high-profile alumni, and a special note from country music star Cole Swindell, ����Vlog has created a star-studded virtual commencement ceremony to celebrate more than 4,300 Spring 2020 graduates.

When COVID-19 health concerns forced all University System of Georgia institutions to cancel their graduation ceremonies, Georgia Southern staff quickly mobilized to brainstorm alternatives. 

Organizers wanted to make the ceremony personal to each graduate and also make it memorable. It needed to be distinguished, meaningful and appropriately celebrate the students’ work and success.

The result is a video being produced for each college that will include a slide on the screen listing each graduate’s name, their degree, and — for those who submitted it — their picture and a “thank you” to special supporters. As the names appear on screen, viewers will hear a faculty member read each student’s name, just as would happen in a regular ceremony.

In addition to the students’ names, the video will include the national anthem, the alma mater, remarks from the university president, the provost and the college dean, and some heartfelt pre-recorded messages from alumni and Georgia Southern supporters. Contributors include U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Miami Dolphins Running Back Matt Breida (’16) and Inspector General of the U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Leslie C. Smith (’85).

“Until we can meet again in person, I hope this virtual ceremony will be special for our graduates,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “Our world has changed significantly in the last few months, but one thing has remained constant: our commitment to our students. I’m very proud of how our exceptional faculty and staff have responded with innovative ideas such as this.”

The videos are being produced by the University’s Multimedia Development Center, led by Emmy award-winning Director Art Berger. His team is editing together more than 4,000 slides with graduate names and combining them with the recorded remarks.

The schedule for the ceremonies is:

• Friday, May 8 at 9 a.m.: Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing
• Friday, May 8 at 11 a.m.: College of Arts and Humanities
• Friday, May 8 at 1 p.m.: College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
• Friday, May 8 at 3 p.m.: College of Education
• Saturday, May 9 at 9 a.m.: College of Science and Mathematics
• Saturday, May 9 at 11 a.m.: Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
• Saturday, May 9 at 1 p.m.: Parker College of Business
• Saturday, May 9 at 3 p.m.: Waters College of Health Professions

Each ceremony will be live-streamed on the and through the commencement website at GeorgiaSouthern.edu/Commencement. Each ceremony will also be archived on the commencement site.

University officials still hope to announce a rescheduled date for in-person ceremonies for Spring 2020 graduates. Those who do not participate in the rescheduled ceremony are invited to participate in the Dec. 11 and 12 commencement exercises.

����Vlog, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit .

With a trumpet serenade from Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy (’75), congratulations messages from high-profile alumni, and a special note from country music star Cole Swindell, ����Vlog has created a star-studded virtual commencement ceremony to celebrate more than 4,300 Spring 2020 graduates.

When COVID-19 health concerns forced all University System of Georgia institutions to cancel their graduation ceremonies, Georgia Southern staff quickly mobilized to brainstorm alternatives. 

Organizers wanted to make the ceremony personal to each graduate and also make it memorable. It needed to be distinguished, meaningful and appropriately celebrate the students’ work and success.

The result is a video being produced for each college that will include a slide on the screen listing each graduate’s name, their degree, and — for those who submitted it — their picture and a “thank you” to special supporters. As the names appear on screen, viewers will hear a faculty member read each student’s name, just as would happen in a regular ceremony.

In addition to the students’ names, the video will include the national anthem, the alma mater, remarks from the university president, the provost and the college dean, and some heartfelt pre-recorded messages from alumni and Georgia Southern supporters. Contributors include U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Miami Dolphins Running Back Matt Breida (’16) and Inspector General of the U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Leslie C. Smith (’85).

“Until we can meet again in person, I hope this virtual ceremony will be special for our graduates,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “Our world has changed significantly in the last few months, but one thing has remained constant: our commitment to our students. I’m very proud of how our exceptional faculty and staff have responded with innovative ideas such as this.”

The videos are being produced by the University’s Multimedia Development Center, led by Emmy award-winning Director Art Berger. His team is editing together more than 4,000 slides with graduate names and combining them with the recorded remarks.

The schedule for the ceremonies is:

• Friday, May 8 at 9 a.m.: Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing
• Friday, May 8 at 11 a.m.: College of Arts and Humanities
• Friday, May 8 at 1 p.m.: College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
• Friday, May 8 at 3 p.m.: College of Education
• Saturday, May 9 at 9 a.m.: College of Science and Mathematics
• Saturday, May 9 at 11 a.m.: Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
• Saturday, May 9 at 1 p.m.: Parker College of Business
• Saturday, May 9 at 3 p.m.: Waters College of Health Professions

Each ceremony will be live-streamed on the and through the commencement website at GeorgiaSouthern.edu/Commencement. Each ceremony will also be archived on the commencement site.

University officials still hope to announce a rescheduled date for in-person ceremonies for Spring 2020 graduates. Those who do not participate in the rescheduled ceremony are invited to participate in the Dec. 11 and 12 commencement exercises.

����Vlog, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit .

When Rebecca Hooper, a senior marketing major at ����Vlog, heard there would be no graduation ceremony at Paulson Stadium this year, she decided to build her own.

In Minecraft, that is.

On Tuesday, March 17, during spring break, Georgia Southern announced the cancellation of its in-person Spring 2020 Commencement ceremonies for Statesboro and Savannah. Since that time, the University has announced an online ceremony for graduates on May 8 and 9 and hopes to be able to hold a rescheduled in-person ceremony on or before commencement in December.

As the news broke, Hooper and her friend were playing Minecraft, a sandbox video game which allows users to create digital worlds where they can build as many landscapes and structures as they like. As they played the game and chatted online, Hooper had what seemed like a crazy idea.

“I was like, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we built the stadium?’ I just said it as a joke at first, but then the next day rolled around and I started on it. And then it kept on going and going and I couldn’t stop,” she said.

Two days later (and more than eight hours of digital construction), Hooper had created Glenn Bryant Field and the home side of the stadium. She also built a commencement stage complete with a jumbotron that said, “Hail Southern! One More Time!” Knowing that no ceremony would be complete without Freedom’s Flight, Hooper added “Freedom” on the stage. However, the closest thing she could find to the University’s bald eagle mascot was a green parrot, who let out a little squawk and bobbed up and down.

Hooper posted a , with a comment that said, “GSU said no graduation in Paulson. I said Minecraft graduation in Paulson .” The response was immediate and overwhelming.

“We don’t deserve heroes like you,” said one student. “This is amazing! Hail Southern!” said another. WTOC TV responded, too, asking Hooper if they could share her work with their viewers.

“I posted on Twitter and Facebook and both of them blew up,” said Hooper. “On Twitter it has 1,395 likes and 22,000 views. I was not expecting that on my tiny little account.”

Hooper has big plans for her virtual stadium. She’s planning on doing some online tours through Twitch, a video game playthrough app. She’s also invited her friends to help her finish building the stadium, complete with Bishop Fieldhouse, press boxes, sky boxes, and the large parking lot where she hopes to invite people to build their own virtual tailgating structures.

“A tailgate graduation sounds awesome,” she said.

All told, Hooper has put more than 20 hours into the project so far, and plans to keep working on it, inviting people to help or visit, and hosting tours for her fellow graduates. Some of her friends tell her she’s crazy to spend all this time on a pet project, but she says she doesn’t see it that way anymore.

“Yeah, this is what I’m born to do in life,” she said, laughing. “I had a lot of fun doing it. It didn’t seem like a lot of work to me. It was just me completing a service for my fellow seniors.”

When Rebecca Hooper, a senior marketing major at ����Vlog, heard there would be no graduation ceremony at Paulson Stadium this year, she decided to build her own.

In Minecraft, that is.

On Tuesday, March 17, during spring break, Georgia Southern announced the cancellation of its in-person Spring 2020 Commencement ceremonies for Statesboro and Savannah. Since that time, the University has announced an online ceremony for graduates on May 8 and 9 and hopes to be able to hold a rescheduled in-person ceremony on or before commencement in December.

As the news broke, Hooper and her friend were playing Minecraft, a sandbox video game which allows users to create digital worlds where they can build as many landscapes and structures as they like. As they played the game and chatted online, Hooper had what seemed like a crazy idea.

“I was like, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we built the stadium?’ I just said it as a joke at first, but then the next day rolled around and I started on it. And then it kept on going and going and I couldn’t stop,” she said.

Two days later (and more than eight hours of digital construction), Hooper had created Glenn Bryant Field and the home side of the stadium. She also built a commencement stage complete with a jumbotron that said, “Hail Southern! One More Time!” Knowing that no ceremony would be complete without Freedom’s Flight, Hooper added “Freedom” on the stage. However, the closest thing she could find to the University’s bald eagle mascot was a green parrot, who let out a little squawk and bobbed up and down.

Hooper posted a , with a comment that said, “GSU said no graduation in Paulson. I said Minecraft graduation in Paulson .” The response was immediate and overwhelming.

“We don’t deserve heroes like you,” said one student. “This is amazing! Hail Southern!” said another. WTOC TV responded, too, asking Hooper if they could share her work with their viewers.

“I posted on Twitter and Facebook and both of them blew up,” said Hooper. “On Twitter it has 1,395 likes and 22,000 views. I was not expecting that on my tiny little account.”

Hooper has big plans for her virtual stadium. She’s planning on doing some online tours through Twitch, a video game playthrough app. She’s also invited her friends to help her finish building the stadium, complete with Bishop Fieldhouse, press boxes, sky boxes, and the large parking lot where she hopes to invite people to build their own virtual tailgating structures.

“A tailgate graduation sounds awesome,” she said.

All told, Hooper has put more than 20 hours into the project so far, and plans to keep working on it, inviting people to help or visit, and hosting tours for her fellow graduates. Some of her friends tell her she’s crazy to spend all this time on a pet project, but she says she doesn’t see it that way anymore.

“Yeah, this is what I’m born to do in life,” she said, laughing. “I had a lot of fun doing it. It didn’t seem like a lot of work to me. It was just me completing a service for my fellow seniors.”