Auburn will celebrate the accomplishments of its fall graduates during the university's commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Neville Arena. Gerald Pouncey, a distinguished attorney and 1982 chemical engineering alumnus, will deliver the keynote address and offer insights and experiences during the day's three ceremonies.
“Commencement is always a special time when we celebrate the achievements of our graduates,” said President Christopher B. Roberts. “Our fall ceremonies symbolize our students' hard work, dedication and resilience. I look forward to honoring their accomplishments and the bright futures they will undoubtedly create.”
Families and friends will have the opportunity to celebrate the graduates as the university confers 1,852 degrees to 1,332 undergraduate students and 515 graduate students, including 105 doctoral candidates and 410 students who have earned master's and education specialist degrees.
The weekend will highlight the numerous achievements of the university’s newest graduates, including several prestigious scholar finalists, 20 students commissioned into the military services, 131 veterans, 34 student-athletes and nearly 200 first-generation college students. Ranging in age from 19 to 68, the graduates represent 41 states and 33 countries.
As the current chairman of Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, in Atlanta, GA, Pouncey will deliver the commencement address to more than 16,000 graduates and guests. Pouncey, a prominent figure in environmental law and sustainable development figure, specializes in redeveloping brownfield properties with significant environmental impacts. One of his most notable projects is the acclaimed Atlantic Station Redevelopment in Atlanta, recognized as the nation's best Brownfield redevelopment.
During the 6 p.m. ceremony, Auburn University will also confer an Honorary Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) to Charles E. Gavin III. A 1959 textile engineering graduate, Gavin is a pioneer in the textile and surfactant chemical industries. As the founder of MFG Chemical Inc., a company that revolutionized dyeing conventions in the carpet industry and became a top supplier to Fortune 500 companies, Gavin has made significant contributions to engineering innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development. His accolades include induction into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame, the Outstanding Auburn Alumnus in Textile Engineering, the Distinguished Auburn Engineer Award, and the Auburn Alumni Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. Gavin's philanthropic efforts have significantly advanced the institution through generous donations and support for scholarships, fellowships and research facilities, many of which bear the Gavin family name.
Saturday's ceremonies will begin at 8 a.m. with graduates from the Harbert College of Business, the College of Human Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts, followed by a ceremony at 1 p.m. for the Graduate School. The final ceremony of the day will take place at 6 p.m., honoring graduates from the Colleges of Agriculture, Architecture, Design and Construction, Education, Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Nursing, Sciences and Mathematics and the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.
Tickets are required for entry into Neville Arena, and all graduates and guests must use the main entrances; the Scholarship Entrance is reserved for those with accessibility needs. A comprehensive list of prohibited items and parking details is available online. Guests without tickets can watch the ceremonies via live stream on the commencement website, and a live stream viewing location for guests without tickets is available in the Village Dining Hall.
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