Savannah State University honors graduating class of 2021
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTGS) — After a year of canceled events, Savannah State University students finally made it to the finish line and were able to walk across the stage this weekend.
RELATED: Savannah State announces Spring 2021 commencement plans
It’s the culmination of nearly 2 decades of schooling, a few breakdowns, a whole lot of fun, and in this case, a global pandemic.
There to give them their commencement speech was Savannah native and now, Senator Raphael Warnock.
"It's not to be taken for granted. It takes focus, discipline. You have to be grounded and keep yourself open to something larger than yourself," Warnock said.
Students shared their excitement by decorating their caps, while parents supported them with homemade shirts.
But today was particularly special for Destinee Clark as she was awarded the university’s highest honor.
She explained what it means to her.
"It means leadership, dedication, serving others and not yourself," she said.
And as she reflects on the past four years and the challenges they brought, she said not even COVID-19 could have stopped her class from getting their degrees.
"We made it through. Graduated on time, wonderful, the pandemic didn’t stop us. It stopped some things, but it didn’t stop us all the way."
Clark said she plans on going to graduate school for Health Care Administration and then going on to get her Ph.D.