The University of Tennessee at Knoxville

05/20/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/20/2024 09:53

Graduates Celebrate Achievements, Booker Awarded Honorary Degree

More than 5,300 graduates crossed the commencement stage at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, celebrating their achievements alongside family, friends, classmates and mentors. Over the course of 11 ceremonies held May 16-18, the university awarded more than 5,600 undergraduate, graduate, law and veterinary medicine degrees.

Along with this year's graduates, Chancellor Donde Plowman recognized an honorary degree awarded to the late Bob Booker, Tennessee's first Black state representative and a leader in Knoxville's Civil Rights movement. Plowman presented the honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the College of Arts and Sciences to Booker at his home in East Knoxville in February, a little more than a week before his passing.

In a video played during the college's commencement ceremony on Saturday, Booker shared his appreciation for the recognition and offered advice to the graduates.

"I thank you for this moment of reflecting on how savoring and important the occasion is for a high honor like this, and I'm grateful," he said. "You who are about to graduate today have had some of the greatest experiences of your lives, and professors steeped in their particular fields have given their best thinking.

"But it is my fervent prayer that you will leave this place and work hard at your chosen profession, and also that you will use your experience in education to help guide your community. Our world is still too full of hate, violence, intolerance and injustice. Only an enlightened public can change that."

Honorary degrees are reserved for those whose life's work has made the world better - through discovery, art, community engagement, leadership or service - and are granted through the campus administration, the Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees.

This spring's graduating class included approximately 811 first-generation college students, 276 honors students and 119 international students. Thirteen Air Force ROTC cadets and 28 Army ROTC cadets were commissioned. Additionally, 344 graduates earned service medallions to wear during their commencement exercises, commemorating their service to campus and the Knoxville community.

Additional ceremonies were held with other speakers:

Grabenstein, inspired by his years as an improvisational comedian, encouraged graduates to follow the field's traditional "yes, and" rule in pursuit of new opportunities.

"Saying 'Yes, and' is a proud Tennessee tradition," he said. "So step boldly into your next chapters. Be a true Vol for Life. Don't let no be all you know. Say yes and you never know where you might end up."

Take a look at some highlights from the ceremonies.

Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Keith Carver fist bumps a graduate crossing the stage.
Supporters gather in Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center to cheer on the university's spring 2024 graduates.
Graduates toss their caps.
Two graduates embrace after crossing the commencement stage.
A graduate smiles while looking at supporters in the crowd.
Graduates celebrate their commencement.
A graduate's cap reads "Accounting is fun!"
A graduate smiles as they are hooded.
Graduates talk while they wait for a commencement ceremony to begin.
A graduate takes a selfie with a supporter.
A graduate cheers while crossing the commencement stage.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Maggie Palmer (865-974-3993, [email protected])