YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — Young Harris College will finish its 2018-2019 academic year with three events celebrating its graduating seniors: a picnic and Vespers Service at Brasstown Bald, a Baccalaureate Service and a Commencement Ceremony.
The picnic and Vespers Service at Brasstown Bald celebrates the end of the students’ journey at Young Harris College. The students make the hike down Brasstown Bald their freshman year, symbolizing their journey into Young Harris, and they finish the hike up the mountain to symbolize their journey out of Young Harris. The hike begins at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, and will be followed by a picnic dinner and Vespers Service.
On Friday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m., all graduates and their families are invited to a Baccalaureate Service in Glenn~McGinnis Hall on the YHC campus. This service allows the students to receive the stole they will wear at Commencement from a person who has impacted their time at YHC. Rev. Dr. Don A. Harp, ’61, will deliver the Baccalaureate address.
A YHC graduate, Rev. Dr. Don A. Harp has served in the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church for more than 45 years. He currently serves as minister emeritus at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta. Harp served as pastor and theologian-in-residence and taught in the contextual education program at Emory’s Candler School of Theology. He has served as a YHC trustee since 1989 and has been instrumental in the growth of the College for more than 30 years.
The Commencement Ceremony will be Saturday, May 11 at 10:30 a.m. in the YHC Recreation and Fitness Center. Doors open for guests with tickets at 9:30 a.m. For friends and family members who are unable to attend, YHC will stream the ceremony online at yhc.edu/commencement2019. Graduating senior Paxton Spessard will give the keynote address.
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master’s degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College has three academic divisions: Arts and Humanities, Professional Studies, and Mathematics, Science and Technology, with more than 1,400 students enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The historic campus in Young Harris, Georgia has completed major campus improvements to accommodate the College’s growth. LEED-certified campus improvements include the 121,000-square-foot Rollins Campus Center, residence facilities and a 57,000-square-foot recreation and fitness center. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the prestigious Peach Belt Conference. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
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