Georgia Tech conducts 242nd commencement

Approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students celebrated the ’s 242nd commencement at the Georgia Dome this past Saturday.

Dr. Charles Vest, President, National Academy of Engineering, and President Emeritus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, addressed the doctoral and master’s ceremony on Friday, May 4, while Georgia Governor Nathan Deal addressed the undergraduate ceremony the following morning.

As 11Alive News reported, Gov. Deal told the new job seekers, "We think we're beginning to see the right signs. Our employment rate continues to drop, and that's great news. But we still live in some very difficult times. They're not back to where they were five or six years ago."

There was some recent good news on the jobs front as Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America announced that will open a research and development center at Georgia Tech that is expected to add about 100 jobs.

In other local graduation news, the Class of 2012 is set to receive their diplomas during a May 24 ceremony at the Atlanta Civic Center. Plenty of senior class info can be found here.