Sen. Johnny Isakson

At 7 p.m. Friday, Georgia's junior U.S. senator, Johnny Isakson, "will give University of Georgia undergraduates one final charge… before the university sends off its newest alumni with a fireworks farewell," according to a UGA news release. They must be talking about literal fireworks, because surely they're not referring to Isakson's speaking style. UGA dean emeritus Andy Horne is the featured speaker at the graduate commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. in Stegeman Coliseum. Neither ceremony requires a ticket, so the public can come—even if it's only for the fireworks. In addition, the university is finally doing something it should have done 50 years ago: conferring a (honorary) degree on Horace Ward. He was the first African American applicant to the UGA law school in 1950. After being rejected due to segregation, Ward went on to earn his law degree from Northwestern University and later became a state legislator and a federal judge.