THE 185TH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY OF MERCER UNIVERSITY
8:00 A.M. @ Five Star Stadium
The Main Campus of Mercer University | Macon, Georgia
See page seven for additional ceremony information. Lunch to follow after ceremony. Location TBD.
** TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR ENTRY TO CEREMONY **
LUCKY NO. SE7EN
FEATURING SONGS FROM
Andre 3000, Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole, Lil Wayne, Future, Big Sean, Roddy Ricch, Drake, Gucci Mane, Ari Lennox, Summer Walker, Gunna, 21 Savage, Metro Boomin, Killer Mike, Joey Bada$$, Cordae, Calvin Harris, Frank Oceean, Chance The Rapper, Ty Dolla $, Miguel, Ariana Grande, Rod Wave, Sir, SZA, 2 Chainz, Brent Faiyaz and more.
AVAILABLE ON APPLE MUSIC, YOUTUBE, & SPOTIFY SEE GRADUATION WEBSITE FOR LINKS
“LET THE LOVE OF LEARNING RULE HUMANITY”
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines. The mission of the Society is to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others. The Mercer University Chapter inducts students, faculty, and professional staff during the ceremony.
Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. Since its founding, more than 1.5 million members have been initiated into the ranks of Phi Kappa Phi. Phi Kappa Phi is one of the four members in the elite National Honor Society Caucus which also includes Omicron Delta Kappa, Sigma Xi, and Phi Beta Kappa.
In the Spring of 2025, Samuel was inducted into the Mercer University chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, achieving this honor with a 4.00 GPA.
research presented at the
Texas Christian University Center for Digital Expression
Computers & Writing Conference 2024 Fort Worth, Texas
“Forging New Practices: Use Cases for AI & the Need for Experimentation”
Under the guidance and in collaboration with Dr. Bremen Vance and Dr. Phillip Gallagher, professors in the School of Engineering, we presented research examining the application of generative AI in writing instruction. In this study, we propose several use case scenarios for integrating AI into educational practices. We also introduce Téchne Forge, a novel platform designed to encourage scholars and educators to share their experiences and applications of generative AI. See graduation website for link to published article.
The Serif LSOu
Exploring The Absence of the Black Fingerprint in the Digital Typography Revolution and its Impact on Black Television Culture in the 1990s.
While the digital type revolution democratized access to design tools, Black designers faced systemic barriers that limited their participation and visibility Despite this exclusion, Black media, in this case sitcoms, adopted typographic styles that challenged Eurocentric design norms. Black creatives found alternative avenues for typographic expression that reflected cultural identity and community narratives. This research categorizes typographic trends and explores how these design choices conveyed messages of empowerment, resilience, and cultural pride.
Situated in Cruz Plaza, this is one of the two bear statues found on the Macon, Georgia campus.
The Bear Statue
Academic Journey
Technical Certificate in Entrepreneur Management Specialist
Technical Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Technical Certificate in Human Resource Management Specialist
Technical Certificate in Management & Leadership Specialist
Technical Certificate in Organizational Leadership Basics
Technical Certificate in Organizational Leadership Specialist
Technical Certificate in Service Sector Management Specialist
Technical Certificate in Service Supervision Specialist
Technical Certificate in Small Business Management Specialist
Technical Certificate in Supervisor Management Specialist
Technical Certificate in Technical Specialist
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Applied Technical Management
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business Management
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Human Resources Management
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Technical Studies
Bachelor of Science Degree in Technical Management w/ a specialization in Human Resource Management
Master of Education Degree in Instructional Design & Technology
Master of Science Degree in Technical Communication Management
Organizations
Phi Beta Lambda
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Honor Societies
Delta Mu Delta: International Honor Society in Business
Epsilon Pi Tau: International Honor Society in Technology
Kappa Delta Pi: The International Honor Society in Education
I have a deep interest for space and geography. Stars, planets, constellations, world maps, galaxies, you name it. While brainstorming themes for this round, I considered several options, but this one stood out as the best. I wanted to choose something memorable because I thoroughly enjoyed my last two promotional campaigns: American Horror Story: Undergrad (B.S.) and The M.isEd.ucation of Samuel Oliver, Jr. (M.Ed.). Each theme contains meaningful connections and references that interlink.
The symbol I chose is the Big Dipper, a constellation comprising seven stars, representing my seven degrees.
The Big Dipper is part of a larger constellation known as Ursa Major, or The Great Bear. The Bear serves as the mascot of my newest alma mater, Mercer University.
The bigger orange star at the end of the dipper symbolizes this new seventh degree, completing the star pattern in the night sky.
I consider it “lucky” because this is a program I was interested in many years ago, but this time, I was able to go for free.
GRA GRADUADUATION TIONCrossword
Down Across
1. First name of school’s mascot
3. Graduate of the School of
5. Topic presented on at TCU
6. Degree I just received
10. One of the school’s colors
2. #BlackAndDouble
4. We are celebrating the
7. The type of college I began at 8. My newest alma mater
9. School mascot
unscramble the letters from the orange boxes to fill in the bonus word above
GRA GRADUADUATE TE content strategy Trivia
Scan the QR code on the tassel to access the trivia form. All answers will be recorded and checked. Only one trivia submission accepted per person. The winner will be announced the weekend of the graduation party in Richland.
You do not need to be present to win. There are seven questions, and three tiebreaker questions that will only be used to determine the winner in case of a tie.
visual communication
LEADING UP TO GRADUATION, LET’S LOOK AT... the ursa times
BIGFELLAINTHENEWS
Mercer Master’s Student Among Rural Leader Magazine’s 40 Under 40
taste of your triumphs today, don’t just swallow them all whole without digesting what is actually happening here. Look down over what you conquered and appreciate what God has brought you through.”
Chadwick A. Boseman Howard University’s 150th Commencement Address #WakandaForever
First, I thank God for putting me in a place to not only earn this degree but to earn it for free. Second, I thank my beautiful wife, Ashley, my brother from another, Donald, and his family, my amazing and supportive family, PBL family, friends, fraternity brothers, supervisors, staff, co-workers, former co-workers, and everyone in between (even Roxi) for being my unwavering support system. Whether it was minor or major, I sincerely thank you all for helping me in any way, shape, form, or fashion and I could not have done this without you. Lastly, thank you to my professors, Dr. Brewer, Dr. Gallagher, Dr. Getto, and Dr. Vance, who all pushed me further than I ever expected to go. It was a challenging and amazing program to be a part of.
Around 2017, I adopted the mindset of “Sankofa,” a Ghanaian term that means "It is not taboo to go back for what you forgot (or left behind).” I reached out to this same program in 2018, and it did not work in my favor at the time. So, I went back and got what I originally wanted. It took a few years, but the stars aligned, and here we are finally at the finish line.
For years, due to things and people in the past, I felt that nothing I did academically was enough. In 2023, something clicked and I realized that wasn’t the case. I stopped being so hard on myself so that for the first time in almost two decades, I had the clarity and understanding I fought so hard to get. That clarity was acceptance. I no longer had to show “them” that I was enough and had “won”. That acceptance brought me peace. That teenager from Richland is proud, happy, fulfilled, and most importantly, he can finally get some much-deserved rest...seven degrees later.
Dealing with all of that was tough. This program was tough as well. Tough times don’t last, but thankfully, tough people do. No more looking back and being stuck. It’s time to live and enjoy the life I’ve worked hard to get. In the movie “X-Men: Days of Future Past”, Professor Charles Xavier says, “Just because someone stumbles and loses their way, doesn’t mean they're lost forever”. Thankfully, I found my way. I do love a happy ending.
Owner of Diamond Kutz Barbershop 3604 Macon Road, Columbus, Georgia
Photographer The Pentaxx Guy
DESIGN INSPIRATIONS
The Theory Eleven Playing Card Company
Album Cover Art for “Oxnard” by Anderson Paak
Cover Art for “Random Thoughts” Single by Nappy Roots
Promotional Concept Art for “Woppenheimer” Single by Gucci Mane
The Creative Works of Alex Hirsch
Georgia Institute of Technology Commencement Program
Morehouse College Commencement Program
The University of Ohio Commencement Program
“The Art of Doing Science & Engineering: Learning to Learn” by Richard W. Hamming
“The Black Experience in Design: Identity, Expression & Reflection” by Anne H Berry, Kareem Collie, Penina Acayo Laker, Lesley-Ann Noel, Jennifer Rittner, & Kelly Walters
