Hundreds graduate at AU fall ceremony

A roar a jaguar would have been proud of rose Friday afternoon as Augusta University graduates filed into James Brown Arena.

The 2018 fall commencement took place on a wet, chilly day, but AU President Brooks A. Keel noted in his opening remarks that it was a fine day for a graduation ceremony.

Erica Langsam was thrilled to be graduating Friday.

"It's been a long time coming," she said.

The Greenbrier High School graduate has worked two jobs in addition to taking classes since 2011. A change in direction in the middle of her college career to follow her true passion, art, slowed the process down, as did an internship with Disney. But it was all worth it, she said. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in arts.

To those students still working on a degree, Langsam advised: "Follow your passion even if it means you don't make as much money because you will be much happier." Oh, and get valid parking passes instead of learning the hard way, she said.

Keynote speaker Sandra Carraway – Columbia County's school superintendent and an AU alumnus – also advised the graduates to follow their dreams and to live purposeful lives. Work on your purpose every day, adapt and adjust when problems arise, care about yourself and others and evaluate your progress along the way, she said in wishing the graduates peace and joy in life.

Many of the graduates worked their way through school, like Langsam and Paul Wheeler. Wheeler has worked in the university's IT department full time while earning a bachelor's degree in computer science. It's been 16 years since he first started then dropped out of college before going back again. His boss made it easy for him to attend classes by letting him work early or late around his classes, Wheeler said.

Wheeler's advice for those still working on a degree: "Go to class. Shocking, I know, but go to class, study and ask questions and you'll get good grades."