Shortly after graduating from the University of Georgia in May 2016 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Jace Jordan landed his dream job. "Thanks to the strength of the career services at UGA," Jordan said, "I had the luxury of searching for more than just a paycheck upon graduation."

Jordan was looking for an employer that would invest in him through continued professional development and training on the job, and EY perfectly fit that description. "I am excited to have the strong combination of a UGA degree and a burgeoning career at EY that will prepare me for any step that I take next," Jordan said.

Over the years, EY has been one of many companies that commit to hiring UGA's graduates and helping them launch successful careers. In May, UGA honored the top 25 employers of the 2016 graduating class during an awards luncheon held at the Terry College Executive Education Center in Atlanta.

Of the 2016 graduating class, 567 graduates were hired by the honored companies. Eighty-four percent of the 567 graduates remained in Georgia; 16 percent selected jobs that led them out of state.

"It's such an honor to partner strategically with the University of Georgia. We - the university and businesses - have the mutual responsibility to prepare students and help them succeed in the workforce, and there's no institution in the Southeast that I'd rather team up with than UGA," said Lauren Barrs, southeast region campus recruiter for EY.

These strategic partnerships create valuable opportunities for UGA graduates and benefit employers as well. Tom Sturdevant, a senior human resource manager at Georgia-Pacific, says UGA students create a positive first impression when meeting with hiring managers and recruiters.

"Most importantly, we've noticed how their level of preparedness and professionalism transfers to the workplace," Sturdevant said. "UGA provides its students with professional experiences through numerous organizations and opportunities, which also help individuals develop the leadership and interaction skills we value so much in our work environment."

Kelly Kerner, vice president for development and alumni relations, hosted the event. "It is important to us that we recognize these companies," Kerner said. "UGA is committed to preparing students for productive and impactful careers, and these companies give them their first opportunities in the workforce. It's a win-win for all."

The top 25 employers (in alphabetical order) are: Aon, AT&T, Banfield Pet Hospital, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chick-fil-A, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, CVS Health, Deloitte, Delta Air Lines, EY, Georgia-Pacific, Insight Global, KPMG, Kroger, Macy's, Newell Brands, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Protiviti, State Farm, SunTrust, The Home Depot, University of Georgia, UPS, Walmart and Wells Fargo.