On a brilliant spring evening between the hedges in Sanford Stadium, more than 4,500 University of Georgia undergraduates were serenaded into alumni status with a performance of “Georgia on My Mind” by keynote speakers and UGA alumni David Haywood and Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum. 

More than 5,800 students received their undergraduate or graduate degrees in Commencement ceremonies on May 4. They heard words of wisdom from the guest speakers about the importance of education and were urged to follow their dreams and passions. 

Haywood and Kelley, Terry College of Business alumni and members of the multiplatinum and award-winning trio Lady Antebellum, shared how the lessons they learned in the classroom helped them chase their dreams outside the classroom.

Haywood spoke about how they started writing music together while pursuing their degrees. When they graduated in 2004, they each took jobs in the business world but continued to find time to write together. It was Charles’ brother, Josh, who encouraged them to make the move to Nashville to write music professionally. 

“It was a bit of a risk for us to go to Nashville,” Haywood said, “but at the same time, it wasn’t really that big of a risk at all” because they had their UGA degrees.

Kelley also reminded the undergraduates about the importance of being open to things they haven’t even dreamed of yet: “There is more than one clear path and direction.”

Haywood and Kelley concluded with a performance of the 1930 classic “Georgia on My Mind” made famous by Georgia native Ray Charles. 

Prior to that, student guest speaker Hunter Glenn Smith, who received his bachelor’s degree in political science, reminded the new graduates that education also comes from untraditional means.

“We are a community of stories,” he said to the 4,576 undergraduates who became the 215th graduating class from UGA. “It is the lessons taught outside the classroom that most help us learn to live, grow and lead.”