Florida State University kicked off spring commencement weekend Friday as the university celebrated the achievements of its latest — and largest ever— graduating class.
FSU will award 8,071 degrees over the course of five commencement ceremonies, a College of Law graduation and a doctoral hooding ceremony — the first time FSU has held a separate event for the hooding and conferral of doctoral degrees for all disciplines.
President Richard McCullough presided over each ceremony at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
“I want to salute you today for doing something absolutely extraordinary,” McCullough told Friday afternoon’s graduates. “The fortitude and resilience you had to get through the pandemic and all of the things you had to deal with are amazing. I stand before you in awe of your great accomplishments.”
“I want to salute you today for doing something absolutely extraordinary. The fortitude and resilience you had to get through the pandemic and all of the things you had to deal with are amazing. I stand before you in awe of your great accomplishments.”
— President Richard McCullough
The Seminole Tribe of Florida played a significant role in the ceremonies, as members of the Tribe served as the Color Guard. McCullough thanked Kevin Pinkerton and Michael Dolnick of the Seminole Tribe of Florida Fire Rescue Department and Michele Harbin and Taylor Frank from the Seminole Tribe of Florida Police Department for their participation.
In addition, before the ceremony, Kyle Doney of the Seminole Tribe of Florida addressed graduates by video, reminding them that Seminole history is Florida history and that every FSU graduate is responsible for maintaining and respecting this history and the Tribe’s ongoing partnership with the university.
The 8,071 degrees FSU will award this spring include 5,930 bachelor’s degrees, 1,475 master’s degrees and 252 doctoral degrees. In addition, the College of Law will confer 290 degrees during its ceremony on Sunday, May 7. The College of Medicine will bestow 124 degrees upon its graduates during a ceremony on Saturday, May 20.
Commencement Speakers
Saturday, May 6
Jimmy Patronis, the chief financial officer for the State of Florida, served as the commencement speaker Saturday morning and addressed graduates of the colleges of Applied Studies, Medicine, Motion Picture Arts, Social Sciences and Public Policy, as well as the Dedman College of Hospitality and Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship.
Patronis struck a humorous note in his address, sharing his Top 10 list of tips for living a good life, urging graduates to be smart with their money, avoid debt, and get off their phone and spend time in the real world.
Patronis implored graduates to ignore doubters and take a chance and do something with their life.
“Don’t overthink it. Just make a decision. If it’s wrong, it’s ok. You can simply turnaround and go back,” he said. “To contribute and feel fulfilled in this world, you have to sometimes take a leap into the unknown — and that’s better than doing nothing at all.”
Dr. Joe Camps, vice president and chief academic officer at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and a urologist at the Advanced Urology Institute, delivered the commencement address to graduates of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the colleges of Nursing, Health and Human Sciences, and Education during Saturday’s 2 p.m. ceremony.
Camps, captain of the Seminole football team in 1976, graduated with his bachelor’s degree in biology at FSU before earning his M.D. at the University of Florida. He provided “pearls of wisdom” to the new graduates, telling them to take precious care of their time.
“Time is a dimension of life that cannot be replenished,” he said. “Do not waste your time. Learn to use time creatively, energetically and productively.”
Camps, who previously served as chairman of the Seminole Boosters Executive Board and member of the FSU Board of Trustees, told graduates, “Let your dreams be bigger than your fears and your actions louder than your words. The time is always right to do what is right.”
He encouraged the graduates to strive to increase their character — and start today.
“Develop a self-image that includes character at its core,” he said. “Character cannot be bought. It must be developed from within and forged by experience. To a large extent, one’s self-image is one’s character.”
Camps concluded by reminding graduates to “embrace the spirit of the unconquered. A celebration of the human spirit that will not be defeated.”
Former FSU women’s basketball head coach Sue Semrau spoke to the graduates of the colleges of Fine Arts, Communication and Information, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Social Work and Music during Saturday’s 7 p.m. ceremony.
Semrau shared with graduates the history of academic regalia, which dates to the 11th century, and then took off her hood and robe to reveal her FSU coaching garb — and told them it wasn’t their uniform or clothing that mattered.
“The most important thing is not what you’re wearing or what you’re doing; it’s who you are,” she said. “… as a Florida State graduate, remember that it’s who you are and not just what you do.”
During her 24 seasons as the head coach of the Florida State women’s basketball program, Semrau became the all-time winningest coach in FSU history and led the Seminoles to 16 NCAA tournament appearances.
“I hope every one of you will walk out of this building believing in yourself, being kind to yourself and knowing that the Seminole family doesn’t go away — it’s real,” she said.
Semrau closed by telling her fellow members of the Florida State family that their job is to unify.
“The division out there wears a lot of different outfits,” she said. “It wears race; it wears belief; it wears gender; it wears politics — that’s division. Don’t let Florida State graduates join in that. We are about unity. We are family.”
Friday, May 5
Nan Casper Hillis, a distinguished alumna and former executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Prime Meridian Bank, served as the commencement speaker at the Friday afternoon and evening ceremonies, addressing graduates of the College of Business and College of Arts and Sciences.
A champion of all things FSU, Hillis graduated from the College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance. She has received numerous university awards, including the FSU Alumni Circle of Gold Award and the FSU Faculty Senate Mores Torch Award.
Hillis, a member of the FSU College of Business Hall of Fame, reminded graduates to realize their potential — and own it.
“We all have potential,” she said. “Owning or realizing your potential is one of the great responsibilities of life. Every one of you here has a potential with many dimensions and elements, both God-given and those developed through the support of others, your determination, self-discipline, realized opportunities and continual learning.”
Hillis encouraged graduates to invest in themselves.
“That diploma is an important sign because it represents your two most valuable assets: you and your name,” Hillis said. “You are the engine of your success. Invest in yourself. You are the best investment you will ever make. And if you invest in yourself, others will invest in you.”
Graduate Spotlights
Graduates reflected on their incredible experiences at FSU as they looked toward their future careers and educational endeavors.
Rawan Abhari, a native of Arnold, Missouri, who moved to Fort Myers at 16, graduated with dual degrees in economics and Middle Eastern studies and a minor in political science.
Abhari chose Florida State University because of its close proximity to the Florida Capitol. Throughout her undergraduate years, Abhari participated in four state legislative sessions, gaining experience in state government. She also worked at the federal level interning on Capitol Hill with the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Environmental Protection Agency. From these experiences, she developed a keen interest in global climate governance.
“As an economics major, I am well-versed in discussing institutions, and I am passionate about reshaping and rebuilding them to create a more equitable society for all those who have been disregarded and left behind,” she said. “I am excited to continue this meaningful work by focusing on the fronts of climate and economic policy, where I can challenge orthodoxies and push toward a better future.”
Following graduation, Abhari intends to take a few gap years to work in the public interest space. She will intern at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights in the Fair Housing & Community Development arm and then hopes to return to the federal government to continue policy work and advocacy.
By gaining valuable experience in these fields, she hopes to prepare herself for law school, where she intends to study public interest law. Her goal is to litigate on behalf of those suffering from environmental disasters or economic and financial discrimination, with the aim of pursuing economic justice across communities.
“I hope to make a tangible change in my field by using my deep knowledge and long-honed skills to advocate for those who have been historically marginalized,” Abhari said.
Erin Murphy, a Presidential Scholar, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and an extensive list of accomplishments.
A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, Murphy became interested in FSU during her recruitment for beach volleyball.
“I was amazed by the people I met, and the academic opportunities FSU had to offer in addition to the elite athletic programs,” Murphy said.
In addition to playing for beach volleyball’s national runner-up squad in 2022, Murphy researched machine learning under Professor Jonathan Adams, helping to form what is now MLab.
With her FSU degree in hand, Murphy will start a graduate program in computer and electrical engineering at Cornell Tech in New York City. She plans to strengthen her engineering skills in preparation for her dream job as a software engineer on a team exploring novel applications of machine learning, particularly in areas like health care.
“FSU has been the best undergraduate experience I could ask for, and I am excited for commencement because it represents not only the end of this chapter but also the start of new beginnings,” she said.
Nelson Jean Francois, a first-generation international student from Delmas, Haiti, knew his lived experience would guide him as he earned his master’s in social work.
“Growing up in a relatively disadvantaged neighborhood in Haiti made me choose social work,” Jean Francois said. “Specialists in this field have a reputation for helping individuals, families and communities in times of need.”
As he navigated his first academic study in the United States through his Fulbright scholarship, Jean Francois maintained stellar grades throughout his semesters and credited the support of his professors, advisers and the Caribbean and Haitian community for his continued success.
Francois will now attend the University of Michigan School of Social Work’s doctoral program. He hopes to expand his research experience and improve the quality of life in the Caribbean and other countries through community-based interventions.
“Life offers us two choices: stand and fight for the change we want, or go forever with all the undesirables,” Jean Francois said.
Samiyah Wilson, a native of Lakeland, Florida, graduated in just three years, earning her bachelor’s degree from the College of Social Work.
“Walking in the commencement ceremony means everything because it is something I have never done before, being a first-generation college student and a part of the 2020 COVID class.”
Wilson chose FSU because of the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE), which provides support for students who are the first in their families to attend college. She eventually became a CARE Ambassador, mentoring younger students in the program.
“This unique experience made me feel confident in myself and my abilities, and I made some amazing relationships with my students,” she said.
Wilson hopes to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and practice as a youth therapist, impacting disadvantaged youth.
Amruta Tambile, born and raised in Pune, India, graduated from the School of Information with her master’s in information technology.
“Walking in this semester’s graduation ceremony feels like one of my greatest accomplishments,” she said. “It will give me confidence that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.”
While at FSU, Tambile focused her research on information retrieval where she learned to gather data through search engines and utilize that information to sort and provide relevant results.
“Florida State University is renowned for offering a variety of chances for research,” she said. “FSU provided me opportunities to learn, research and innovate in my field.”
Tambile plans to work for a nonprofit organization where she hopes to use her certificate in coding development to grow professionally.
“Now, as an alumna, I am extremely grateful to be a part of the FSU community forever,” she said.