The University of South Alabama held two commencement exercises in a single day for the first time in the school’s 52-year history, celebrating degrees for 2,020 graduates and pushing the university’s all-time graduate total past 80,000.
University officials said the decision to split the ceremony into two sessions reflected the continued growth of graduating classes at the Mobile-based university, allowing more space for families and friends to attend in person rather than condensing an increasingly large number of graduates into a single event.
Dr. Richard Lapchick, a sports sociologist and longtime social activist who founded the National Consortium for Academics and Sports, addressed one of the sessions, urging graduates to advocate for equality and speaking about issues including human trafficking.
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus addressed the second session, using his remarks to honor veterans and active-duty service members while encouraging graduates to vote and dedicate their lives to serving others. Mabus, a former Mississippi governor and U.S. ambassador, also urged the graduating class to show extra gratitude toward parents, teachers and other mentors who supported them on the path to graduation.
Family members packed the venue for both ceremonies, with many wiping away tears as their graduates crossed the stage to receive diplomas. The day capped a week of commencement-related activities at the university, including a Friday event that set aside time to spotlight several standout students from the class of 2015.
University administrators said they intend to continue holding two separate ceremonies in future years following the successful debut of the format, citing positive feedback from graduates and families who appreciated the additional space and shorter individual ceremony times.
The milestone comes as South Alabama continues to grow its enrollment and academic offerings, with the university’s total number of graduates now exceeding 80,000 since its founding in the early 1960s. School officials pointed to the record class size as evidence of the university’s expanding role as a regional hub for higher education along the central Gulf Coast.