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The number two has special significance at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC). During two commencement ceremonies today, GGC celebrated over 850 graduates. It was also the second commencement held on campus in GGC’s new Convocation Center.

Today is also the 20th anniversary of GGC. The audience heard a special, congratulatory video message from University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, who signed the college into existence on May 10, 2005, when he was governor. Today’s graduates represented 16 countries, including the United States. The morning ceremony’s student speaker Sumayyah Yoonas began her college journey more than an ocean away in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

She originally wanted to go to medical school and began her studies in the UAE before moving 7,000 miles to the U.S. After raising three children with her husband, she earned her GED and enrolled at GGC, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in middle grades education.

“Our stories are still being written. Some chapters may seem like detours, but trust the journey,” she said. “Dreams don’t expire and it’s never too late to become who you are meant to be.”

The afternoon ceremony’s student speaker, Nolberto Sanchez, started his GGC journey in 2015, but balancing a full-time job with school, and helping support his mother and siblings became too much, and he had to drop out. During the next six years, his mother and siblings moved from the Dominican Republic to live with him. After four years, she and his siblings moved back to the Dominican Republic, where she opened a successful restaurant.

Sanchez then enrolled at GGC and graduated today with a bachelor’s degree in biology with a concentration in biochemistry and a minor in chemistry. He plans to attend medical \school and become a cardiac surgeon.

“Moving forward, prioritize being genuinely you. Let your core values guide your decisions,” he said. “Seek out endeavors that truly resonate with your inner compass. The world needs your unique perspectives, your individual talents.”

Keynote speaker David Still, mayor of the City of Lawrenceville, related to the graduates and the challenges they faced to get to this day.

“What I offer you today is a grateful heart for who you are, appreciation for your struggles, and gratitude as a fellow member of our community,” he said. “Graduates, this is your moment. Stand tall. Walk proud. Be humble. Lead boldly as a servant leader. And know that wherever your path may lead, you will always have a place here. We are proud of you. We are cheering you on. And we can’t wait to see what you do next.”