Higher education tests students in a variety of ways, but the Class of 2025 leaves the University of Georgia well-prepared to spread its wings and fly.

Jarryd Wallace, keynote speaker as well as four-time Paralympian and two-time bronze medalist, shared lessons he learned from the tests he’s faced during UGA’s undergraduate Commencement ceremony held May 9.

“That’s what trials do — they forge something in us that comfort never could. They teach us to keep going when nothing makes sense. To believe when hope feels distant. To see ourselves not by what we’ve lost, but by who we’re becoming,” Wallace said.

Wallace, who received his bachelor’s degree from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences in 2019, came to UGA on a track scholarship. While he was a student-athlete, complications from compartment syndrome changed his plans, requiring his leg to be amputated from the knee down.

Now, he is a four-time world record holder and three-time world champion, with a personal best of 10.71 seconds in the 100 meters and a long jump mark of 26 feet, 6 inches — just shy of 9 yards.

“I didn’t just get back to running after my amputation, I learned how to fly,” he said.

Wallace shared three lessons with the university’s newest graduates.

First, he reminded them that life is hard but to embrace the journey, because trials present their greatest opportunities for growth.

Second, Wallace told them that while goals determine direction, they do not define success. True success is measured by what they learn along the way.

Lastly, he reiterated that who a person is matters more than what they do. The best way for anyone to discover their purpose is by serving those around them.

“It’s the journey, not the destination, that shapes us most. So, if you’re in the middle of something broken, don’t run from it. Embrace it. Life is hard, but the journey is worth it,” Wallace said.

Kate Hall received a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and served as the undergraduate Commencement student speaker. In her remarks, she spoke of the Arch as an entryway.

“By embracing all that UGA has to offer us, we are metaphorically passing through the Arch and opening up an entire gateway to opportunities to better our futures,” Hall said. “No matter what your journey here has looked like, I encourage you to take a moment to thank the people who got you to today. We couldn’t be here without the support of those who push us to be better, the pillars and the foundation of our personal Arch.”

Hall shared the many ways she and her classmates passed through an Arch of their own during their college education.

“The Arch is a story — a story that encompasses the people, the places, the experiences, the adventures, the education, the growth — all of it wrapped into one iconic symbol,” Hall said. “When you see the Arch, or you hear the name of the great University of Georgia, I hope you feel a sense of pride. Pride not only in belonging to such a great institution, but also pride in yourself. Finally, we can actually pass through the Arch, and we can look back and see how far we’ve come — and how the gateway was really open to us all along.”

Fellow student Grace Johnson’s journey led her to the Commencement stage for a performance of “Georgia on My Mind” that had flashlights in the air and the crowd on its feet. Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication during the undergraduate ceremony.

Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor and University Professor K. Paige Carmichael was the keynote speaker for the graduate Commencement ceremonies held May 8.  Carmichael, who is a faculty member in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s department of pathology, spoke about the journey of graduate school.

“This moment is more than just a milestone. It’s your launchpad for your flight into the future,” Carmichael said. “You see, graduate school is not just about acquiring knowledge, it’s about creating knowledge. It’s about transformation. It’s about pushing yourself beyond limits you once thought were fixed.”

She encouraged each graduate to be the kind of person who says “yes” to the ideas no one else sees yet, who dreams loudly, who lifts others as they rise and who dares to leap, even when the path isn’t clear.

“Here’s the thing — baby birds don’t wait for the wind to be perfect before they leap from the nest. Pilots don’t get to see the entire route before takeoff. And neither will you. You’ve got to trust your wings — even if they still feel brand new,” Carmichael said. “You’ll hit turbulence. You might even crash-land once or twice. But the beauty of flying isn’t in never falling, never failing. Like with that baby bird, it’s in learning to rise again, with your wings a little stronger each time.”

A total of 8,781 students — 5,971 spring undergraduates and 953 expected summer undergraduates, along with 1,857 graduate students — met requirements to walk in the university’s spring Commencement ceremonies and had their degrees conferred by UGA President Jere W. Morehead. Of the graduate students, 260 were doctoral candidates, and 1,597 received their master’s or specialist degrees. Additionally, Gleaton Pace Jones posthumously received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing.

“To our graduates, I hope you will remember the relationships you formed with your classmates, advisors, professors and others you met during your time here. These relationships will become even more important to you in the future as you look back upon the profound influence they have had on your life,” Morehead said. “Remember the deep ties that bind us together, and remember that, wherever you go, throughout your life, you are part of the UGA family.”

A total of 152 students were recognized as First Honor Graduates during the undergraduate ceremony for maintaining a 4.0 cumulative GPA in all work completed at UGA as well as all college-level transfer work done prior to or following enrollment at the university.

“You should be proud of what you have accomplished so far. But know that your work is just beginning,” Morehead said. “As UGA alumni, we do not rest on our laurels, nor do we forget the purpose of our education. We expect uncommon things from you — because you are a graduate of the University of Georgia.”