Spring Undergraduate Ceremony

Ceremony start time:

7:30 p.m. – Graduates should arrive by 6:45 p.m.

Doors open:

5:30 p.m.

Guests should enter using Gates 2, 3, 4, and 5.  

Graduates should enter using Gate 10.

Tickets are required for all graduates at the Spring Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. More information will be posted to the website under Tickets.

Leah Brown, M.D., is a board-certified, fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and treatment of the knee, shoulder, and elbow. She is the Co-Founder and owner of Urgently Ortho, an orthopaedic clinic.

She received her Bachelor of Science in genetics from the University of Georgia, where she was a 14-time NCAA All-American, a two-time NCAA National Gymnastics Champion and was inducted into UGA’s Circle of Honor in 2016. After completing her undergraduate work, she earned a Doctor of Medicine degree at The Ohio State University and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, on a full US Navy Health Professionals Scholarship followed by a surgery internship at the Naval Medical Center San Diego.

Dr. Brown served for two years as a battalion surgeon (general medical officer) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. In 2006, she deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving as the Medical Aid Station Director for Combat Logistics Battalion-5. She completed a four-year residency in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Naval Medical Center San Diego and joined the Center’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as a faculty orthopaedic surgeon. She was a faculty orthopaedic surgeon at Naval Hospital Bremerton in Bremerton, WA. Brown deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom, serving as Orthopaedic Surgery Department Head directly supporting the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force led by SEAL Team 4. She received nine military honors and awards, including the Bronze Star. She serves in the US Navy Reserves as an Orthopaedic and Director of Clinical Operations for NMRTC San Diego.

Brown is fellowship trained in the orthopaedic surgery specialties, sports medicine, and shoulder and elbow, completing her fellowship at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, NC. She was an assistant team physician for the 2016 NFC Champion Carolina Panthers and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Davidson College athletic departments. She is an NFL orthopaedic consultant and has served as Head Team Orthopaedic Surgeon for the Phoenix Mercury, Assistant Team Orthopaedic Surgeon for the Phoenix Suns, and an official orthopaedic consultant for Arizona State University.

She is a Diplomate with the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, a Fellow with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, and a Member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and the Arthroscopy Association of North America. She has faculty appointments with Arizona State University and the University of Arizona.

Brown was born and raised in Atlanta, GA.  She is a University of Georgia Foundation Trustee and a founding member of Georgia Women Give. In her free time, she enjoys making GO Dawgs videos and cheering for the Bulldogs with her husband and twin toddlers.

Thanks to the diligent efforts of the UGA Athletic Association, working closely with our Commencement Steering Committee, we have been able to secure sufficient seating in Sanford Stadium for our 2023 Spring Undergraduate Commencement ceremony on the evening of Friday, May 12 to ensure that no tickets will be required for GUESTS of graduates.

Graduates themselves will still need to register for a ticket to sit on the field. Graduate ticket registration will be available Monday, March 20 through Friday April 7^th.

Registration requires a Spring 2023 or Summer 2023 degree recipient UGA ID number.

TICKET REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

Note: Students received a Commencement Ticket Confirmation email from ugatickets@sports.uga.edu after they registered with instructions to download

Please note tickets are digital and are non-transferable. Tickets will be delivered electronically and must be presented at Gate 10 via smartphone (iPhone, Android, etc.) to be scanned for field access. Only graduates with a ticket will be allowed to sit on the field.

For questions regarding eligibility for graduation: Please contact the Office of the Registrar at reghelp@uga.edu.

Questions regarding digital tickets: Please call UGA Ticket Office at 706-542-1231.

FAQs Regarding Digital Tickets

Sanford Stadium gates will open at 5:30 p.m.

Graduates should arrive by 6:45 p.m. Please be prompt. Graduates arriving after 6:45 p.m. will not be guaranteed a seat on the field and/or with their school or college.

Enter through Gate 10.

As you enter, your ticket will be scanned and you will be given a wristband to access graduate seating on the field. Please proceed directly to the field. Only graduates with a wristband will be allowed to sit on the field. 

Graduates will be seated by their school or college. Marshals will assist students in finding their correct section.

Graduates may bring a sealed bottle of water into the stadium. 

There will be no graduate processional for the Spring Undergraduate Commencement ceremony.   

Graduates will be seated by their school or college. 

Graduate Seating

Please note some important items below that may affect your planning for Commencement Day viewing.  Please share with families and guests:

• The additional seats are located in the 600 level of the north side and the far corners of the northwest and southeast ends of the stadium.
• Sight lines of the ceremony will not be ideal from these vantage points; however, a large screen will be situated on the field facing the 102, 202, 302 and 602 sections to help alleviate some of the viewing difficulties. See the undergraduate commencement map for open seating areas.
• In order to accommodate as many guests as possible, every seat is being taken into account, so we ask that guests should occupy only one seat—not have personal items spreading onto an adjacent one—and that seats not be reserved for those arriving late.

For those concerned about mobility and seating challenges, we strongly encourage visitors to arrive early and be prepared for the weather and exertion of the day. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and seating will be on a first come, first served basis. 

In addition to watching the ceremony in person, the Spring Undergraduate Commencement ceremony will be broadcast live on the Commencement homepage starting at 7:25 p.m. This live stream will also be shown in the Tate Theater which is an indoor, air-conditioned space near the stadium and can accommodate 500 guests on a first come, first served basis.

Undergraduates who apply to graduate for the Spring or Summer 2023 semesters will be allowed to participate in the Spring ceremony.  Students who have applied for graduation, or who have graduated, in another semester are not eligible to participate in the Spring Undergraduate Commencement ceremony.

For general information regarding graduation requirements, consult the UGA Bulletin. To ensure that you have met all the requirements for graduation, check with a degree program specialist in the dean’s office of your school or college. You should also be checking your progress via DegreeWorks. All undergraduates must apply to graduate for the semester in which they will take their last course(s) toward their graduation requirements using the graduation application in Athena.

Apply to graduate

Undergraduate degree candidates will rise with their school or college when degrees are conferred.

Degree candidates earning Latin honors (i.e., cum laude, magna cum lade, summa cum laude) will be recognized during the ceremony. Degree candidates who meet the following GPA criteria and who do not have a FERPA restriction will be noted in the Commencement program. Latin honors distinctions effective for Spring and Summer 2023 undergraduates are found below:

First Honor Graduates have maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average on all work attempted at the University of Georgia as well as all college-level transfer work attempted prior to or following enrollment at the University. These students are celebrated for their high standards of academic excellence and their outstanding achievements. Their regalia includes a fourragère, a braided cord, worn on the shoulder.

For the purposes of the commencement program, Latin honors recognition is based on the student’s overall undergraduate GPA going into the student’s last semester. Final Latin honors will be determined following the conclusion of the student’s last semester.

For items believed lost in Sanford Stadium, please contact the University of Georgia Police Department at detectives@police.uga.edu.

First Aid and ambulance services will be on-site to assist with emergency needs. First Aid stations are located at Section 119 and on the Field Level at the East End Zone Lounge.

• Please follow the Clear Bag Policy.
• On-site wheelchairs are NOT available. Guests with difficulty walking are strongly encouraged to bring their own wheelchair. 
• Wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking and standing for long periods of time.
• Leave purses, coats, and other belongings with your family members.
• Remain standing in front of your seat during the entire procession. Do not stand in the aisles.
• Pick a place to meet your family and friends once the ceremony is completed.
• Please be respectful of those around you and the fact that this is a formal academic ceremony. Beach balls, air horns, and other similar distractions may be confiscated.
• Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at any UGA commencement ceremony.

Security has the right to inspect any item at any time for the purpose of safety.

Prohibited items must be returned to cars or disposed of before entering and will not be accepted by employees nor stored at the gates.

The Undergraduate Commencement ceremony is held rain or shine and will only be rescheduled in the event of severe weather. Severe weather is defined as rain accompanied by high wind, thunder, and lightning. The alternate ceremony time is 10 a.m. the following day.

If it is raining on the morning of commencement, but not declared severe weather, the ceremony will be held as planned in the stadium. Each student will be provided a poncho to wear.

We will provide the information to major local radio stations, but please be aware that many stations rely on computerized programming and are not able to broadcast special announcements.

If weather is a concern for you or a member of your party, you may wish to consider a different viewing option.

Parking for commencement is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Suggested parking areas include, Hull Deck (W05), South Campus Deck (S11), East Campus Deck (E04), and Performing Arts Center Deck (E20).

The Tate Center Deck and lot E12 are reserved for designated participants by permit only.

For disability parking, see disability access.

If you have additional parking questions, please contact Parking Services at 706‑542‑7275.

Undergraduate Commencement Parking Map

Any graduates or guests needing any accommodations for a disability please email ADARSVP@uga.edu by May 1, 2023 so that we can best accommodate your needs the day of commencement.  Questions can also be directed to the Disability Resource Center by calling 706-542-8719.

Visitors with mobility concerns are strongly encouraged to arrive early and be prepared for the exertion required of the day. Stadium Gates open 2 hours prior to the start of the ceremony.

On-site wheelchairs are NOT available. Guests with difficulty walking are strongly encouraged to bring their own wheelchair. Wheelchairs are commonly available for short-term rental from medical supply stores and some pharmacies.

Please review the following for seating reservation information.

Disability Parking and Transportation

Parking for guests with disabilities is available at the East Campus Deck (E04). An ADA accessible shuttle will be available from those areas to the stadium. Please note that there is a slight incline when returning to the shuttle after the ceremony. Personal vehicle dropoffs are NOT permitted near the stadium, please plan accordingly.

Parking Map

Disability Seating Reservations

To better accommodate the various needs of our visitors at commencement, UGA is providing two options for wheelchair accessible seating which may be reserved online. Reservations may be made for one person in a wheelchair and one companion. Guests who do not have a reservation will be directed on-site to the section that has available space.

Field Level Wheelchair Section — East End Zone

• Allows access for one person in a wheelchair and one companion (two individuals per reservation).  Additional family members will need to sit separately in general seating. Please plan accordingly.
• This section is located near the East End Zone. This section faces the main stage and provides a direct view of the event; however, this seating area will not be covered or enclosed.
• Guests must access this section from the Will Call elevators located between Gate 5 and Gate 6 on East Campus Road.
• Guests must scan their general admission ticket for entrance at the Will Call lobby in order to enter.
• Vehicles are not allowed to drop-off and pick-up near the stadium. Shuttles will run from the East Campus Parking Deck. Parking Map. There will be a slight incline when returning to the shuttle.
• Please be advised that Sanford Stadium does NOT provide wheelchairs. Guests with difficulty walking are strongly encouraged to bring their own wheelchair.
• Please prepare appropriately for direct sun — sunscreen and hats are highly suggested. Umbrellas are permitted in the stadium.
• Water is available, and ADA accessible portable restrooms are located nearby.

Interior Covered Wheelchair Section — Level 200

• Allows access for one person in a wheelchair and one companion (two individuals per reservation). Additional family members will need to sit separately in general seating. Please plan accordingly.
• Level 200 wheelchair seating is open air but covered. It has televisions which display a live feed of the ceremony; however, there is no field view, so anticipate watching the ceremony on the television screens.
• This area is located on Level 200 in the East End of the stadium behind section 218.
• Guests must access this section from the Will Call elevators located between Gate 5 and Gate 6 on East Campus Road.
• Guests must scan their general admission ticket for entrance at the Will Call lobby in order to enter.
• Vehicles are not allowed to drop-off and pick-up near the stadium. Shuttles will run from the East Campus Parking Deck. Parking Map. There will be a slight incline when returning to the shuttle. 
• Please be advised that Sanford Stadium does NOT provide wheelchairs. Guests with difficulty walking are strongly encouraged to bring their own wheelchair.
• Water is available, and accessible restrooms are located nearby.

Disability Seating Reservations

Reserve Disability Seating

Disability seating is limited and requests will be processed as they are received. In addition to a reservation, all guests must have a general admission ticket to enter the stadium.

On-site wheelchairs are NOT available. Guests with difficulty walking are strongly encouraged to bring their own wheelchair.

Guests who do not have a reservation will be directed on-site to the section that has available space.

For more information or questions, please contact ADARSVP@uga.edu.

Captioning

The undergraduate ceremony will have open captioning in Sanford Stadium. A live streaming transcription of the audio portion of the ceremony will be displayed on the large reader boards for guests with difficulty hearing.

The Arch

For University of Georgia alumni with mobility impairments who choose to pass through the Arch after graduation, the University will have a temporary platform in place on Saturday, May 13 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For related questions, contact Qiana Wilson, director of the Equal Opportunity Office, at 706-542‑7912 or ugaeoo@uga.edu.

Appropriate academic regalia must be worn by graduates in order to participate in the Commencement ceremony.

Candidates should wear their tassels on the right side prior to their degree being conferred and on the left side afterward. The mortarboard on the cap should be parallel to the ground.

Program-Specific Colors

With the exception of the honors tassels, the color of tassels as well as the color of the velvet on the hoods worn by master’s and doctorate candidates are indicative of the academic subject area.

The colors associated with these subject areas are as follows:

Honors Tassels

Review complete information regarding respective standards for honors graduation.

Undergraduate students who anticipate graduating with honors may wear an honors tassel:

Regalia Orders

Caps, gowns and hoods may be purchased online from Jostens.  Please click the button below for  purchasing information. Announcements can be ordered online from Jostens.

Jostens

Please note: If you order your academic regalia from someone other than Jostens, they will not be able to assist you with missing or replacement items.

Diplomas are mailed six to eight weeks after the official graduation date.

Please see the Registrar’s Office website for complete information regarding applying to graduate and diplomas.