Columbus State University celebrated its spring 2021 graduates and newest alumni in three drive-in ceremonies at the Columbus Civic Center on Saturday, May 15. With the safety and health of its graduates and guests in mind, the three ceremonies honored graduates from the comfort of their vehicles while including many of the traditional pomp and circumstance elements of a typical CSU  commencement ceremony.

More than 400 graduate, bachelor, associate, nexus and certificate completers attended the ceremonies. The graduates represent the university’s College of the Arts, Turner College of Business, College of Education and Health Professions, and College of Letters and Sciences. Eight CSU graduates were also commissioned into the U.S. Army as second lieutenants.

CSU also awarded community and business leader C. Robert “Bob” Koon with an honorary degree in humane letters. The degree recognizes Koon’s philanthropic support of and service to Columbus State, as well as his contributions to the greater Columbus area. In 2007, Koon was named an honorary alumnus by the CSU Alumni Association and in 2020, at the conclusion of his service on the CSU Foundation Board, he was named a trustee emeritus. 

“Bob is special to Columbus State. We are the university we are today because of his love and passion for this community,” said Dr. Chris Markwood, CSU president upon conferring the honorary degree.

CSU conferred degrees to 958 graduates who completed their programs in the spring. This included 37 certificates, as well as two nexus, 15 associate’s, 644 bachelor’s, 219 master’s, 23 specialist, and 18 doctoral degrees. The College of the Arts awarded 124 degrees, Turner College of Business awarded 185 degrees, 375 degrees were awarded in the College of Education and Health Professions, the College of Letters and Sciences had 270 degrees and 4 degrees came from the Center for International Education.

Master’s and doctoral graduates were honored during a Virtual Ceremony Hooding Ceremony, published online on Thursday, May 13. That ceremony, and the May 15 events, are available for viewing on the university’s website at graduation.columbusstate.edu.