South College celebrates more than 1,000 graduates in joint ceremony marking first for Marietta campus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 19, 2026
South College held a joint commencement ceremony in Atlanta June 19 to celebrate approximately 1,027 graduates from its Georgia campuses, including South College Marietta’s first graduating class.
“The first commencement ceremony is always special for a new campus,” said Josh Huffaker, campus president for South College Atlanta and South College Marietta. “We are so proud of our first cohort for their dedication and commitment, and we would welcome them back to pursue additional educational opportunities or just to visit us again.”
The Marietta graduates represent the campus’ inaugural Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) certificate program cohort. However, Huffaker indicated that other South College Marietta programs have launched, including Associate of Science programs in Nursing (ASN), Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Radiography, Surgical Technology, Health Science (Pre-Nursing), and Health Science (Pre-Pharmacy), as well as Bachelor of Science programs in Health Science (Pre-Physical Therapy) Health Science (Pre-Physician Assistant), and Nursing (including in-person, accelerated and Hybrid/Online).
The ceremony held at the Georgia State Convocation Center in Atlanta honored achievements of graduates of both the Atlanta and Marietta campuses with approximately 665 students crossing the stage.
“All of our graduates have demonstrated perseverance and commitment to reach this milestone,” said Huffaker. “We recognize their hard work and applaud their desire to advance their education and professional pursuits. We wish all our graduates continued success in their fields.”
Graduates celebrated with faculty and loved ones and heard inspiring remarks from guest speaker Charles Clark, a world-class athlete who had to rebuild his life after a career-ending injury.
As an elite track athlete, Clark earned national titles and All-American honors at Florida State and, at the age of 22 as a professional sprinter, became the sixth-fastest man in the world. A nearly complete tear of his right quad, a serious injury that affects how the leg even functions, ended his career. Clark plummeted in the wake of the injury, began sharing his story and ultimately discovered how to learn from failure, live with intention and find his “why.”
The event was also livestreamed from the South College YouTube channel.
Founded in 2018, South College Atlanta is located at 2600 Century Parkway NE and offers a modern classrooms, labs and student amenities to accommodate dynamic instruction in a variety of healthcare programs, including Bachelor of Science in Nursing and healthcare-centric Associate of Science programs in Surgical Technology, Nursing, Health Science (Pre-Nursing), Radiography, Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Respiratory Therapy, along with a number of certificate programs. Interested students may call the admissions team at 404-282-3632 or visit south.edu/atlanta.
The Marietta campus, which opened in 2025, is located at 850 Parkway Place and features modern labs and classrooms designed to support a comprehensive and interactive learning experience for students pursuing futures in healthcare. For additional information, visit south.edu/marietta or call admissions at 470-524-1380.
Across its national footprint, South College offers an more than 150 academic programs and concentrations in business, education, healthcare and other fields. The institution was founded in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1882 and now includes 10 physical campuses and online learning. To learn more about South College, visit south.edu.
About South College
South College serves more than 20,000 students and is proud of its more than 25,000 graduates. The institution offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online and Competency-Based Education (CBE). South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.
South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.