The Savannah College of Art and Design celebrated the Class of 2022, the university’s largest graduating class, with digital and in-person events Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4.
“The Class of 2022 will carry SCAD in their hearts wherever they go, into every boardroom, every brand they build, and every atelier and studio they launch,” said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. “SCAD Bees make the world more beautiful. Together, we strengthen our communities and uplift our neighbors. These talented Bees may be graduating, but they never leave SCAD. They are SCAD. And they shine our love and light in everything they create for others.”
The high-energy, digital conferment of degrees ceremony was emceed by entertainer, actor, composer, YouTube sensation, and SCAD alum Daniel Thrasher (B.F.A., performing arts, 2015).
President Wallace conferred degrees and presented two honorary degrees to visionary artists David Yurman and Tricky Stewart.
Yurman is a jewelry designer and sculptor with a lifelong love for design and innovation. With his wife and co-founder, Sybil, Yurman created America’s foremost luxury jewelry brand, David Yurman.
Stewart is a multi-Grammy Award-winning songwriter, producer, and composer. In a career spanning more than three decades, Stewart’s profound respect and appreciation for music has been the guiding force in more than 50 million records sold.
Acclaimed actor, writer, director, producer, and bestselling author Amy Poehler delivered the commencement address to more than 3,200 graduates during the virtual ceremony.
Poehler made her documentary directorial debut with Amazon’s critically acclaimed documentary Lucy & Desi, which she executive produced through her production company Paper Kite Productions. She also executive produces Netflix’s Emmy-Award winning series Russian Doll, Amazon’s Harlem, NBC’s Making It, which she co-hosts alongside Nick Offerman, Peacock’s Baking It, and Fox’s Duncanville, which she co-created and voices two characters. Her acting credits include Parks and Recreation, Saturday Night Live, Inside Out, and Mean Girls, among others.
Other programming included remarks by SCAD alumni Erika Bazo (B.F.A., industrial design, 2014; B.F.A., service design, 2014) and Daniel Freyermuth (B.F.A., industrial design, 2012).
The couple met at SCAD and have since led innovation and change in their respective creative careers. Bazo is a senior user experience manager at multinational financial services firm Charles Schwab. Freyermuth serves as the product strategy and development director for Flarespace, a Storyteller Overland subsidiary and adventure van parts manufacturer supporting RV manufacturers and the DIY community. Their remarks encouraged the new graduates to “live free, explore endlessly, and tell better stories.”
The HoneyBees, SCAD’s elite performance ensemble, were also featured, along with a compilation video of the university’s 2022 Outstanding Graduates from both the SCAD Savannah and Atlanta locations, and a special highlight reel dedicated to the Class of 2022.
Outstanding graduates represented an array of the university’s top ranked degree programs including business of beauty and fragrance, interactive design and game development, industrial design, interior design, performing arts, visual effects, and user experience (UX) design.
The digital event was livestreamed via YouTube with a link to the live broadcast, which gave at-home viewers a front-row seat to the show.
Savannah graduates participated in the ceremony designated for their school on either Friday, June 3, or Saturday, June 4.
