Columbia College Spring 2024 Commencement

“You are meant to do great things, and you will do them.” Graduation Speaker Savannah King shared words of power and promise for her fellow Class of 2024 graduates. She went on to quote the Apostle James, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him,” sharing that her class had certainly withstood many trials, but their reward comes today. Savannah and 111 of her fellow graduating seniors joined 35 graduate students, as they all were awarded their diplomas this morning. Keynote speaker Vicky Free Sistrunk, Chief Impact Officer of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, shared her own words of wisdom for the class as they embark on whatever is next in their journeys. During the ceremony, the graduates reflected fondly on their time spent as students, acknowledged the challenges they faced, and looked ahead toward what their collective futures may hold.

President of Columbia College, Dr. John Dozier, shared, “The Columbia College Spring Class of 2024 will always hold a special place in my heart, as these students represent the graduating class of my first full academic year here. They have challenged me, held me to my word, and supported me as I learned alongside them. Their willingness to lean into growth and invest in what the future holds for Columbia College is a testament to the grace they have shown me and so many others. Greatness is not only a possibility for this group. It is a present reality.”

Later this morning, 147 new Columbia College alumni will emerge from the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Their absence will surely be felt on the Columbia College campus, but the campus community anxiously looks toward the imminent impact this class will have on their chosen career paths and the world that awaits them.