As the spring 2025 semester draws to a close, Florida State University is preparing to celebrate the achievements of its latest cohort of graduates. This year’s commencement is particularly significant as FSU will honor its largest graduating class in history, with 8,926 degrees expected to be awarded.
The ceremonies, scheduled for May 2-3 at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, will be a testament to the resilience and determination of these students, especially in the wake of the tragic events of April 17.
Despite the challenges, graduates have demonstrated remarkable perseverance and dedication. From groundbreaking research projects to impactful community service initiatives, they have made significant contributions both on and off campus.
Rylee Digges, a first-generation student from Freeport, Florida, is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Driven by a lifelong connection to the university through family and teachers who were proud alumni, Digges applied only to FSU.
Throughout high school, Digges considered pursuing a pre-medical track, but after being accepted to Florida State, nursing quickly emerged as a more fitting calling.
“The relationship between a nurse and a patient has a lot more depth to me,” she said. “I wanted to have a deeper connection with my patients.”
During her time at FSU, Digges has been involved in various extracurricular activities. As vice president of Seminole Nursing, she planned the senior banquet for the college, an event that reflects the hard work and dedication required to succeed in the rigorous program.
Digges also completed her preceptorship in labor and delivery, solidifying her decision to specialize in women’s health. Looking ahead, Digges aims to return to a rural area similar to her hometown to provide accessible women’s health care.
“I would love to bring a facility of women’s health to those rural areas,” she said. “A lot of people miss out on important things like pap smears and mammograms because it’s not convenient to drive an hour or more away.”
Digges will miss FSU’s traditions and campus. Her university journey has been marked by personal growth, academic excellence and a clear vision for the future.
“Nobody expects their final few days of college to end the way they have this semester, but I am so proud to be a part of a student body that is resilient and supportive,” she said.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry student Yudan Chen is completing his doctorate in chemistry focused on solid-state batteries, an emerging technology in energy storage. His research spans an angle of battery studies, including materials development and the investigation of failure mechanisms.
Originally from Chongqing, China, Chen moved to Tallahassee in August 2020. He chose Florida State University for its strong reputation in materials chemistry research and the opportunity to access cutting-edge instrumentation at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
Walking in this semester’s commencement ceremony is a meaningful milestone for Chen as it symbolizes the dedication, perseverance and academic growth he has achieved during his doctoral studies.
“Out of loss, we find purpose. Out of heartbreak, we find strength. And today, out of grief, we rise with love and honor,” Chen said.
Chen cherishes the supportive academic environment and vibrant research community at FSU. He will miss working closely with his mentor, Yan-Yan Hu, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, whose guidance, support and encouragement have been instrumental in his academic and professional growth.
One of Chen’s proudest accomplishments at FSU is having his research and dedication recognized by the broader scientific community, including several first-author publications in leading peer-reviewed journals such as Nature Materials and Angewandte Chemie. In addition, one of his projects has led to a pending U.S. patent.
“My goal is to contribute to the practical implementation of next-generation battery technologies and to drive innovations that support a more sustainable and energy-efficient future,” he said.
When FSU men’s basketball guard Jamir Watkins put on his jersey bearing No. 1, it was a reminder to himself to lead on the court and in the classroom.
Watkins, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Social Science from the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, earned All-ACC honors and led the Seminoles in scoring in both of his years wearing the garnet and gold. He was named to the All-ACC Academic Men’s Basketball team, the ACC Academic Honor Roll, and earned academic Dean’s List honors twice during his career.
But that’s not why he chose to wear No. 1 on his jersey.
Watkins wore the number to remind himself of his goal to become the first person in his family to earn a college degree. Each time the Seminoles appeared on national television, he wanted to show the younger members of his family that they have the abilities to earn an advanced degree.
“To become the first member of my family to earn a college degree is a blessing,” he said. “Graduating from Florida State will honor the belief that my mother and father have always had in me, while at the same time showing my brothers and sisters, my nieces and nephews, and everybody in my family what they can achieve.
“The opportunity to impact the younger members of my family is what drove me to become a graduate of Florida State University, and for that, I’ll be forever grateful.”
Samantha Haas, a Tallahassee native, is graduating from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art with a focus in photography. Haas’s journey at FSU began in 2022 after she transferred from Tallahassee State College. Her decision to attend FSU was influenced by her family’s legacy. Her brother, sister and grandfather are alumni.
Along with her coursework, Haas also honed her photography skills through an internship with the FSU Office of University Communications, capturing campus life and stepping out of her comfort zone to learn and grow.
“This was never something I thought I would do, but I learned so much,” she said.
Haas aims to become a wildlife and nature photographer. She hopes to sell her prints and bring joy through her images. Her passion for nature began with childhood explorations in Tallahassee.
Among her proudest accomplishments at FSU are her internship and the opportunities to display her work in galleries on campus, including the Fine Arts Building and Carnaghi Arts Building galleries.
Along with exhibiting her work on campus, Haas also became a Council on Culture & Arts member and had her photography featured in PhotoFest 2024 and Creative Tallahassee 2025. She also started a business, Photography by Sami, through Student-Made, an online marketplace created by the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship at Florida State University. This platform showcases a range of products and businesses created by students.
Haas is excited about her future and hopes to make a positive impact in her field. .
Born and raised in Moscow, Nastya Sidorova will complete her master’s in higher education administration from the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (Anne’s College). Her family always supported her dream of becoming a teacher, and her professional path was shaped by this early passion.
“I always dreamed of becoming a teacher,” Sidorova said. “Instead of the usual dolls, my toy collection included a chalkboard and a pointer.”
After graduating with a bachelor’s in foreign languages and intercultural communication with a minor in law from the Higher School of Economics in Russia, Sidorova worked at a secondary school in Moscow, specializing in advanced foreign languages instruction. She later taught advanced business English at her alma mater’s business school before joining the master’s program in higher education administration at FSU’s Anne’s College.
Sidorova decided to attend FSU due to her desire to experience “vibrant student life and the idea of a true campus ecosystem,” something she felt was lacking in Russian universities.
“FSU truly stood out as a family and offered me a supportive community during both moments of glory and challenges,” she said. “The technical preparation and the enthusiasm of the people from my program showed me how much they loved what they do.”
Sidorova’s proudest accomplishments at FSU include her participation in the Sustainability Fellows Program, where she collaborated with the Apalachee Regional Planning Council on developing a sustainability development plan for Gadsden County’s Economic Development, and the Career Ambassadors Program where she worked to elevate the Career Center’s brand and increase student engagement through ambassador activities.
“Being part of projects with such a meaningful impact on the community was truly inspiring,” Sidorova said. “These roles allowed me to strengthen my leadership potential, sharpen my organizational skills and work collaboratively with a talented and motivated team.”
Both experiences were pivotal moments of her personal and professional growth at FSU.
“Walking across the stage this semester is about far more than shaking the president’s hand or wearing a beautiful robe in FSU’s signature garnet and gold,” she said. “It represents two years of navigating cultural adaptation in a country I had only known through movies, books and music. I learned that real strength and the true depth of your spirit reveal themselves when you are far outside your comfort zone.”
In the future, Sidorova hopes to bring cultures together and empower students, both in her home country and internationally, to achieve academic and cultural excellence.
Seth Alday, a patrol lieutenant with the Chattahoochee Police Department in Gadsden County, has worked his way through Florida State University as a full-time police officer while earning his bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice.
“My dad worked in the Department of Corrections, so I watched him wear a uniform every day,” Alday said of his career choice. “Law enforcement is my thing. I love it, and I’ll be doing it until I retire.”
A desire to expand his career led Alday to consider earning a four-year degree. When he learned of the Regalf Scholarship, which covers tuition and fees for students who are current police officers interested in criminology, he jumped at the opportunity.
“We work 12-hour shifts, so there have been a lot of sleepless nights getting homework done,” he said. “It’s a balancing act, but I’m very thankful to have earned my degree and furthered my career at the same time.”
Alday credited his professors and instructors with being responsive and quick to provide help throughout his time at FSU.
“They were incredible,” he said. “I wouldn’t ask for anything different in my experience at FSU.”