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The Art Institute of Atlanta Celebrates Their Newest Group of Creative Professionals with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed

On Friday, June 16, 2017, over 350 graduates—including 40 veterans—celebrated their achievement of being the newest group of creative professionals at The Woodruff Arts Center- Atlanta Symphony Hall. Their joy and excitement were accompanied by their friends, family, Ai Atlanta faculty and staff. In efforts of sharing the experience with loved ones who were not able to attend, the event was made available as a live-stream feed to the public. Institutional President Newton I. Myvett mentioned, “…it was a special time for all of us here at the college as we recognized the hard work of our students. You can only imagine the amount of effort, determination, and persistence that it took for many to reach this educational milestone.”

Mayor Kasim Reed, long-time support of the arts in Atlanta, served as the keynote speaker at the annual commencement ceremony for graduates of The Art Institute of Atlanta and The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur. Graduates who attended programs in the applied arts received associate and bachelor’s degrees in design, fashion, media, or culinary arts. His powerful and enlightening message to the students added a special element to an already amazing day. “This time of year is one of the most inspirational moments for me,” stated President Myvett. “Graduation creates new and exciting possibilities as they take their next step in the creative arts. I feel the inspirational message given by Mayor Reed will stay with the graduates for a long time. I am absolutely proud of the entire commencement committee for doing an amazing job in putting together one of the best commencement ceremonies for Ai Atlanta.”

“The Art Institute of Atlanta’s 2017 commencement ceremony was truly unforgettable,” stated Myvett. “Mayor Reed’s hard work and dedication in support of the creative community in Atlanta has been an inspiration to me as well as thousands of future creative professionals we have educated over the course of his term as mayor.”

Pictured above left: Institutional President, Newton I. Myvett and City of Atlanta Mayor, Kasim Reed

Pictured above right: City of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Institutional President Newton Myvett, and Ai Atlanta faculty member Taian Wang