December 10, 2024 – December Letter to Campus

December 10, 2024

Dear Colleagues,

As we finish up final exams this week, we celebrate another successful fall semester coming to a close. Preparations are underway for the Fall 2024 Commencement ceremonies, which will take place Saturday, December 14, in Savannah, and Tuesday, December 17, in Statesboro. We will confer nearly 2,000 degrees, launching career-ready graduates into the workforce. These graduates will impact their communities with the knowledge, skills, and talents they’ve developed under the nurture and guidance of our outstanding faculty and staff of Georgia Southern.

Next week, I hope you’ll join me in cheering on our Eagles football team as they compete in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Thursday, December 19, at 7 p.m.  This marks our third bowl appearance in three years—an incredible testament to our student-athletes and coaches.

Additionally, I’m proud to share that for the second consecutive year, our Volleyball team was invited to participate in the post-season National Invitation Volleyball Tournament, hosting first-round matches last weekend. The Eagles finished their season with a 15-1 record in Hanner!

Also last week, we launched Phase I of our new website redesign! Modern in design and functionality, user-friendly, and purpose-built to highlight our efforts in student success, academic and research excellence, and community engagement, our website is the largest and most forward-facing representation of our brand. I want to give a round of applause to our University Communications and Marketing team, along with all of our on- and off- campus partners who supported this incredible undertaking. Because of you, we are Soaring Beyond!

Soaring Beyond, Because of You!  

Last week, we celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center.  This state-of-the-art, 95,000-square-foot facility, will serve as a cornerstone for academics, athletics, and community engagement. With a seating capacity of over 5,900 for convocation events and 5,544 for basketball, this facility—the largest of its kind between Macon and Savannah—will host our graduate student commencement ceremonies, convocations, special events, and of course, Georgia Southern basketball.  It’s more than a building; it’s a place of opportunity. Inside “The Hill,” our students will learn, our athletes will compete, and our community will come together. From classrooms to research labs, strength and conditioning spaces, and media rooms, every inch of this facility is designed with our future in mind.  Most importantly, the “Hill” celebrates the extraordinary legacy of the late Senator Jack Hill and his wife, Ruth Ann, for whom the signature building on our South campus is named. Both proud graduates of Georgia Southern—Ruth Ann was a triple Eagle—they embodied servant leadership and a lifelong dedication to education and the people of Georgia.

As you take time in the coming weeks to spend with family and friends, continue to care for each other and our communities and be thankful for the great accomplishments and impact of your university.  From the Marrero family (Kyle, Jane, and Lily…and pets Belle, Snow, and Ginger), we wish everyone the very best holiday and New Year! Go Eagles!

Sincerely,

Kyle

People. Purpose. Action: Growing Ourselves to Grow Others!