Graduates, families, and friends joined together in celebration at the Clayton State University 2026 Spring Commencement

(May 11, 2026) - Graduates, families, and friends joined together in celebration at the Clayton State University 2026 Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 9, at The Arena at Southlake, a new state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility in Morrow, Georgia.

Dr. Georj L. Lewis opened the Commencement by saying, “As President of Clayton State University, it is my pleasure to be with you. You have spent your life working for this moment, and I am truly honored to share it with all of you. You are officially moving from being a student at Clayton State University to a graduate of the Laker Nation. It is my honor to be the first to extend you congratulations.”

In looking around the new arena filled with smiling faces, Dr. Lewis added, “I would also like to extend a sincere thanks to The Arena at South Lake and the Clayton County Public Schools Foundation for their partnership and support in helping make this year's commencement celebration possible. This place is amazing!”

The student Commencement Speaker, Calvin Smith, a graduate student from the College of Business, shared his thanks to all the professors, organizations, and staff members who helped him succeed at Clayton State.  Smith then called on his fellow graduates to support future students. He said, “As we leave this place today, we carry more than our degree. We carry responsibility. Responsibility to extend opportunity, to open doors and to invest in others, just as others have invested in us.”

Corwin N. Harper, the president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, helped put into perspective what the graduates have achieved and what they can accomplish to make a difference moving forward. He said, “Success is not just about achievement, what you get, it's about what you give. Education has prepared you not just to compete, but to contribute. Clayton State is giving you more than a credential, it is giving you confidence, competence and community.”

Harper concluded his address by offering the following advice to Clayton State graduates. “Stay curious. Learning does not end today. In fact, it matters more than ever. Second, stay connected. None of us succeeds alone. Partnerships, personal and professional, are how progress happens. Third, stay grounded in purpose. Whatever field you enter, remember who you serve and why you work, why your work matters.”