About 250 students were awarded bachelor's and graduate degrees, special honors were bestowed and cheers from a full house fairly shook the rafters at the university's Health and Physical Education Complex.
Around 9:10 a.m., the opening strains of Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" wafted through the already-crowded gymnasium and professors streamed in to take their seats.
"It's about time this thing started," said Lonza Davis Jr. of Brunswick, who was there with wife Sharon to pay tribute to daughter Alonna Michelle Davis, graduating cum laude with a bachelor's degree in management.
"We're very proud of her; she's the first one in the family to get a college degree," Davis said.
"She's always been studious, and I knew she'd be OK starting out," said Sharon Davis. "She's already got a job offer from Robins Air Force Base."
Echoing the feeling of pride was Ron Duncan of Montezuma, there to cheer on daughter Olivia Ross who earned a bachelor's degree in biology.
"She worked hard and deserves this," Duncan said. "She told me when she was in the seventh grade she was going to do this."
It's taken more than four years for Ross to graduate, he said, as she raised three children and went with her husband to places as far off as Oklahoma and Alaska with the Air Force.
"But she studied hard and kept her focus on the goal," he said. "I am so very proud of her."
Just then, the noise level rose as graduates started their march onto the gym floor. It was as if rock stars were being introduced.
Larry Rivers, the eighth president of the institution of higher learning, opened up proceedings.
"With all due respect to other religions, this is the day that the Lord hath made," he intoned as cheers filled the air.
During the invocation, the Rev. Gregory Moore of Trinity Baptist Church brought forth laughter as he said, "in the words of these students for some two, three, four or more years, 'Thank you, Lord.'"
The commencement address from James H. Ammons, president of Florida A&M University, challenged graduates to continue to be competitive in today's global economy, illustrating the sentiment with a story about two graduates who went exploring in a park.
The pair went into a cave, got lost but finally made it outside again. There, a bear stood on its hind legs, threatening the pair. One man put down his backpack and, rummaging around, pulled out a pair of tennis shoes.
"You're not going to outrun this bear just by wearing sneakers," his companion said.
"I only have to outrun you," the man replied.
"Take time this weekend to celebrate your achievement," Ammons said. "But come Monday, you better have your sneakers on."
Then, while encouraging graduates to continue their education, Ammons sort of sneaked in a plug for the 30-plus graduate programs at Florida A&M, much to the delight of the crowd and a laughing Rivers who taught at Florida A&M for 24 years and was dean there, as well.
"You will work with people who are different than you - tomorrow's world will be more diverse - but there is no room for building fences around one's self," Ammons concluded. "You are descendants of people with great minds. Find your niche in this world of diversity."
"Thank you, James, for those words that are thoughtful, motivating and ... advertising," Rivers replied with a chuckle.
Before graduates paraded one more time to receive their degrees, Rivers presented the President's Trailblazer Award to those who have demonstrated "service and support" to the university, such as working with the university's foundation or recruiting students to attend.
"Will the most important people now in the room please stand?" Rivers asked as the Class of 2008 arose to a rising chorus of cheers from the audience.
The excitement and elation were palpable as the graduates came forward to receive their degrees and cheers filled the air.
Juattee Rogers of Decatur could not contain herself any longer as son Randy Rogers came to pick up his degree in computer information systems. She got off her seat twice and danced on a platform to celebrate her son's achievement.
"He's the last of our five sons to graduate from Fort Valley State," said father Dave Rogers, owner of a Web hosting company. "She was elated, really happy and glad about this."
In dismissing the graduates, Rivers couldn't resist one last zinger.
"If you're not going to a professional or graduate school, get a job," he told them. "Listen to me: your parents don't want you to come back home. Your room is being used for something else these days."
To contact writer Jake Jacobs, call 923-6199, extension 305.
