UGA undergraduate ceremony set for Friday in Sanford Stadium

The University of Georgia will host Spring graduation ceremonies on Thursday and Friday with a total of 8,318 students receiving degrees.

UGA Today, an online media outlet for the university, reported that the ceremony for 6,627 undergraduates will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Sanford Stadium.

The graduate ceremony for masters and specialist degrees, begins at 10 a.m. Thursday in Stegeman Coliseum. The doctoral ceremony is at 2 p.m.

Parking is free, but a clear bag policy is in effect for those entering the stadium.

Graduation ceremonies at many colleges and universities across the U.S. have had their venues changed due to pro-Palestinian protests. A pro-Palestine event is planned in Athens on Friday at the Arch in downtown Athens, where others have been staged in recent days.

The UGA ceremony has not changed from its original announcement.

"The University of Georgia’s Commencement ceremonies will be held as scheduled,” UGA spokesman Greg Trevor said this week.

More: Petition from UGA faculty asks university to lift suspensions of protesting students

The graduation address will be given by Allison Schmitt, a UGA alumna, and decorated American athlete, who is a mental health advocate. She has spoken widely abut her personal struggles with depression, according to UGA Today.

Schmitt is the American record holder in the 200-meter freestyle and was a 10-time Olympic medalist in swimming.

UGA announced that Trent Nesbit, an economics candidate, is the student speaker for the graduation.

Jenna Jambeck, Regents Professor and Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering, will deliver the speech for Thursday’s ceremonies.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Olympic athlete Allison Schmitt to speak at UGA's 2024 graduation