University Registrar Kay Anderson celebrates her 100th GCSU Commencement

Dr. A. Kay Anderson, assistant vice president for Enrollment Management and University Registrar, plans and produces Georgia College & State University's commencement ceremonies. Over the past 17 years, Anderson has overseen 99 separate commencement ceremonies. This Saturday, Dec. 14, will be Anderson's 100th commencement ceremony at GCSU.

While Anderson organized a rehearsal for members of the December 2024 commencement platform party Thursday afternoon, friends and colleagues from throughout the campus community gathered in the back hallway of the Centennial Center. The guests surprised Anderson as she got ready for the rehearsal. President Cathy Cox gave a speech to Anderson and the assembled crowd, and presented Anderson with a miniature version of the ceremonial Mace (wooden baton) that is carried into every commencement ceremony during the procession.

President Cox said, "Kay has orchestrated 99 ceremonies, and it truly is like she is conducting an orchestra. From the work she does with her Enrollment Management colleagues to staffing each area that needs manpower, from working with facilities to make sure Centennial is pristine for our guests to directing the Academic Deans and Marshalls, to responding to and meeting with students and their families. And most importantly ensuring that we begin each ceremony ON TIME...Kay is truly the behind-the-scenes mastermind of Georgia College Commencement!"

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Anderson organized a total of 47 commencement ceremonies in one semester to allow for social distancing and the wellbeing of the graduates and their guests.

GCSU hosts a December commencement ceremony at the end of the fall semester, plus at least two commemencement ceremonies at the conclusion of each spring semester; in the spring, the number of total graduates from all four academic colleges means more than one ceremony is required to accomodate the volume of students and their guests.

This Saturday, more than 300 degrees - including graduate and undergraduate - will be conferred on this year's December class of 2024. Kay Anderson will once again be in charge of making it an unforgettable celebration for hundreds of graduates, their families and friends.