Commencement 2021
May 19–20
Undergraduate Student Awards
![Ciara M. Zdanowicz](https://georgian.edu/wp-content/uploads/Ciara-Zdanowicz.jpg)
Academic Excellence Award
- Ciara M. Zdanowicz
![Allyson G. Ferry](https://georgian.edu/wp-content/uploads/Allyson-Ferry.jpg)
Kingdon Gould Jr. Award
- Allyson G. Ferry
Faculty Award
![Sachiko Komagata, Ph.D.](https://georgian.edu/wp-content/uploads/Sachiko-Komagata-Ph.D.jpg)
Virginia Graham '31 Award For Teaching Excellence
- Sachiko Komagata, Ph.D.
2021 Graduate Spotlights
![american flag with dog tag illustration](https://georgian.edu/wp-content/uploads/flag-and-dog-tag-768x512.jpeg)
‘God Has a Plan as God Always Does’: A Veteran Student’s Story
Veteran student Michael Boyle ’20, shares some of his experiences as a Marine Corps veteran and college student.
![GCU student in front of fountain](https://georgian.edu/wp-content/uploads/commencement-header-768x512.jpg)
Celebrating Their Success: Grads Ready for the Future
The Class of 2021 graduates are all about the business of breaking barriers, challenging norms, and disrupting old ways of doing things. We salute their success and are proud to
![Savannah Ruotola](https://georgian.edu/wp-content/uploads/Savannah-Ruotola-graduate-01-768x520.jpg)
Celebrating Their Success: Savannah Ruotola ’21
Savannah Ruotola ’21, a marketing major, is among the many GCU young alumni who know what it means to put the Mercy core values into action—even before graduation.
![social work graduate tyrek cooper next to a tree](https://georgian.edu/wp-content/uploads/Tyrek-Cooper-01-768x511.jpg)
Celebrating Their Success: Tyrek Cooper ’21
Tyrek Cooper ’21 is all about putting in work—in class, in the community, and in his calling: social work. In four short years, he’s worked numerous jobs on campus, held leadership positions, and helped others—just as he was helped before arriving at Georgian Court University.
![Ashley Rosales '21 tosses her cap in front of the Apollo Fountain](https://georgian.edu/wp-content/uploads/Ashley-Rosales-graduate-768x511.jpg)
Celebrating Their Success: The Rosales Family
Cousins and first-generation college students Ashley and Alan Rosales arrived at Georgian Court with different views of what a degree would mean for them. Although they took separate paths to achievement, each found success in their own way.