SCAD Celebrates Class of 2024
University to host 45th commencement with largest graduating class; Rob Lowe set to speak in Savannah and Atlanta June 1–2
Atlanta and Savannah, GA, May 28, 2024 – The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is delighted to announce programming for SCAD 2024 commencement, taking place Saturday, June 1 in Savannah, and Sunday, June 2 in Atlanta. SCAD is thrilled to celebrate the achievements of its 2024 graduates — the largest graduating class in the university’s history.
Outstanding SCAD 2024 graduates will represent more than 40 top-ranked programs, including interactive design and game development, interior design, film and television, fashion, graphic design, and design management. This year’s commencement caps a milestone academic year, as SCAD celebrates 45 years of star power.
"Our SCAD stars shine bright in this 45th anniversary year, with more than 3,700 brilliant Bees preparing for launch — SCAD’s largest graduating class ever," said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "These graduates join an exclusive network of SCAD alumni dominating creative professions across the universe, radiating with love, light, and leadership everywhere they go. Keep shining, Bees!"
As previously announced, the 2024 commencement speaker will be award- winning actor and New York Times bestselling author Rob Lowe, who will appear in person in both Savannah and Atlanta. The Bee Sharps, SCAD’s elite student performance ensemble, will also perform. The event will be live-streamed via YouTube; a link to the broadcast is also available at scad.edu/commencement, giving at-home viewers a front-row seat.
President Wallace will confer degrees to SCAD Savannah and SCADnow graduates on Saturday, June 1, at Enmarket Arena. The Presidential Conferment of Degrees for SCAD Atlanta graduates will occur Sunday, June 2, at the Georgia World Congress Center. President Wallace will also present honorary degrees to SCAD Board of Trustees members Sally Waranch and Anita Thomas in Savannah and Atlanta.
Waranch is the owner and director of the Sarah Bain Gallery, owner of Rancho Vista Golf Club, co-owner of Chateau Eze Hotel, and president of the Ronald C. Waranch Charitable Foundation. An active advocate for the arts in Atlanta, Thomas is an accomplished jewelry designer whose designs were featured in The New York Times. She has been a contributing editor for Southern Accents magazine, Veranda Magazine, and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles.
Since its founding in 1978, the university’s mission has been to prepare talented students for creative professions. Today, SCAD’s success rate is unmatched. According to a 2023 study, 99% of SCAD graduates reported being employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation. SCAD alumni have found fulfilling careers at Adobe, BMW, Delta Air Lines, Disney, Google, Hasbro, Microsoft, NASA, Ralph Lauren, and more.
Outstanding Graduates:
ATLANTA
Valedictorian
Melody Wu
(B.F.A. user experience (UX) design)
Salutatorian
Jayden White
(B.F.A. film and television)
Excelsus Laureate
Katie Owens
(M.F.A. animation)
Presidential Medalist
Nick Manning
(M.F.A. sequential art)
Honorary Degree
Anita Thomas
SAVANNAH
Valedictorian
Caroline Gendron
(B.F.A. illustration)
Salutatorian
Tejumoluwa K. Olarewaju
(B.F.A. sound design)
Excelsus Laureate
Morgan Leigh Eng
(M.F.A. sequential art)
Honorary Degree
Sally Waranch
SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow. SCAD enrolls more than 17,500 undergraduate and graduate students from 114 countries. The future-minded SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and myriad advanced learning resources, affording students opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and real-world assignments with corporate partners through SCADpro, the university’s renowned research lab and prototype generator.
SCAD is No. 1 in the U.S., according to Art & Object’s 2023 Best Art Schools ranking, with additional top rankings for degree programs in interior design, architecture, film, fashion, digital media, and more. Career success is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. A 2023 study found that 99% of SCAD graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation. SCAD provides students and alumni with ongoing career support through personal coaching, alumni programs, a professional presentation studio, and more.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Atlanta
Wendy Gardner
SCAD Senior Director of Public Relations
wgardner@scad.edu
Savannah
Michelle Gavin
SCAD Executive Director of Communications
mgavin@scad.edu