‘Shark Tank’ star Daymond John to speak at Georgia Southern’s Spring Commencement

February 21, 2019

Daymond John

Fashion executive, self-made multimillionaire and “Shark Tank” entrepreneur Daymond John will be the speaker at Georgia Southern’s university-wide commencement ceremony at Allen E. Paulson Stadium in May.

John’s story of turning a $40 budget into FUBU, a $6 billion fashion brand, is a quintessential rags-to-riches success story of sacrifice, hard work and perseverance. In addition to his work in the fashion industry and a member of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” John is a New York Times best-selling author, branding guru and highly sought after motivational speaker. In 2013, President Barack Obama appointed him a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, a position focused on promoting the power and importance of entrepreneurship on a global scale

“Daymond John is a dynamic business speaker with over 20 years of hands-on proven business experience,” said Carl L. Reiber, Georgia Southern’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. “His pragmatic advice resonates with everyone. He has a relatable story and journey to success that continues to both motivate and inspire.”

John will speak as part of Georgia Southern’s university-wide ceremony for all graduates at Paulson Stadium on Saturday, May 11 at 9 a.m.

In addition to the university-wide ceremony where graduates will be recognized collectively, each college will hold its own ceremony where every graduate from that college will be recognized individually. This ceremony will be led by the college dean and have greater involvement from the faculty, allowing the university to better focus on individual student academic achievement. This ceremony will heighten the academic distinction students have achieved and allow for recognitions such as Doctoral degree hooding and honors designations. The college ceremonies will be held on Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11. Please click here for details.

Tickets are not required for the university-wide or college ceremonies, and seating at these ceremonies will be first-come, first-served.

Additionally, buses are being arranged for students and their guests needing assistance traveling between Statesboro and Savannah. Reservations will be required and can be done soon on the graduation website. Buses will depart from destination location 45 minutes after the ceremonies.

Participants attending university-wide ceremony will see much-improved wireless access at Paulson Stadium during commencement and other events in the stadium, thanks to additional university investment and additional donations from Bulloch Telephone Cooperative. To access the complimentary wireless service inside the stadium, users will simply open their favorite internet browser and follow the on-screen prompts.

For more information about the commencement ceremonies, including an FAQ, go to www.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/commencement.

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving nearly 26,500 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.