Savannah State University (SSU) will host its 196th undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremony again on Saturday, Dec. 12 at T. A. Wright Stadium for the spring Class of 2020 whose in-person graduation was postponed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in honor of 415 students, the largest graduating class in SSU history, who during the virtual ceremony earlier this year received master’s, bachelor’s and/or associate degrees. One hundred and fifty graduates are expected to attend the in-person ceremony.

“When we postponed in-person commencement in May, we promised the graduates we would schedule a time for the class to return to campus and participate in the full commencement ceremony,” said Kimberly Ballard-Washington, interim president of Savannah State University. “For a variety of reasons, many of the students who graduated at that time may not be able to attend on Saturday, but we are pleased to celebrate with the graduates who will be in attendance.”

To comply with COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, each student will be allowed to invite a maximum of four guests. Students and guests will be required to wear masks during the event and will receive temperature checks upon entering campus. Face shields are not appropriate substitutions for masks. Anyone with a temperature above 100.4 will not be permitted into the stadium. Seating capacity has been reduced and will be arranged in pods of four. Each pod will be socially distanced from other pods. Families are encouraged to sit together and travel together if they are able. Parking will be available in the stadium parking area and in the grass across from the stadium. 

 Member-elect of the Georgia House of Representatives, Derek Mallow will give the commencement address and is also one of the graduates. He earned his Master of Public Administration degree from Savannah State University in May of 2020.  A native of Savannah, Mallow learned the importance of civics, and living to always help other people as a young cub scout and later as a member of the Boy Scouts of America, troop 210. For more than 13 years, he has worked as a District Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. He is an advocate for workforce development, and has created Exploring programs to help enrich the lives of young people in public housing communities and throughout the city of Savannah.

A member of First Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, Mallow is a graduate of Jenkins High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from Asbury University in Wilmore, Ky., where he studied leadership and ministry. In addition, Mallow earned his Master of Public Administration degree from Savannah State University in May of 2020. He is a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity, the 100 Black Men of Savannah, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

The commencement ceremony will be live streamed for all those who are unable to attend. Attendees and graduates are encouraged to share photos on social media using the hashtag #SavState20. More information about graduation exercises is available online at savannahstate.edu/commencement.