As Florida State University prepares to celebrate its spring Class of 2026, graduates are reflecting on the people, experiences and opportunities that defined their journey and looking ahead to what comes next.
The university will award 8,923 degrees during commencement ceremonies May 1-2, including 6,732 bachelor’s degrees, 1,523 master’s and specialist degrees, 261 doctoral degrees, 140 Juris Doctor degrees, 140 Juris Master’s degrees and nine Master of Law degrees. About 7,190 graduates are expected to participate in ceremonies at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
Samantha Randall, a senior Presidential Scholar, will graduate with a B.S. in public relations and an English minor. Randall credits FSU’s close-knit academic community and dedicated faculty for pushing her to grow both personally and professionally.
A resident of New York City, Randall visited FSU’s campus and knew she had found her future home after experiencing the vibrant atmosphere of Landis Green. Her experience was defined by the Presidential Scholars program, which she credits with shaping her undergraduate trajectory.
Throughout her time at FSU, Randall has served as a University Ambassador, a member of the Florida Public Relations Association and as a Social Media Intern for the Office of University Communications. Her impact on student life is highlighted by her service in the Student Government Association (SGA). As the Press Secretary for the Executive Branch, Randall led initiatives to increase student engagement, including successful campaigns to preserve the Westcott Fountain tradition, and significantly grew the organization’s social media reach.
Randall’s connection to the university deepened when she was selected for the 2025 Homecoming Court, an honor that allowed her to represent the organizations that have defined her experience.
“The community at this school is like no other,” Randall said. “The people here have supported me through the highest highs, lowest lows and every moment in between. I’m walking across the stage this May with pride knowing all I have accomplished here.”
Looking toward the future, Randall is returning to New York City to begin her career in the public relations industry. While her immediate goals are focused on professional growth, she aspires to eventually earn an MBA and hopes to one day combine her expertise in branding with her lifelong passion for the arts by working in public relations for a ballet company.
“FSU has shaped me in more ways than I can count,” Randall said. “The impact that this community has made on my life is immeasurable, and I am so excited to join such an esteemed alumni network.”
Justin Mohabir is graduating from the FSU Herbert Wertheim College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in finance. He chose Florida State because he knew this community could help him reach his highest potential.
“I saw FSU as a place where I could grow into more than just a student,” Mohabir said. “From the moment I arrived, I realized it was a place where I could find my identity and develop as a leader.”
Mohabir’s time at FSU was defined by his commitment to service and professional development. As the financial literacy director for the Finance Society, he led initiatives that reached thousands of students, teaching them the practicalities of money and career planning. His leadership extended to the digital space through his podcast, “Leader Diaries,” where he interviews industry experts on the intersection of discipline and purpose.
He was selected to speak at the Horizons Unlimited Conference alongside FSU President Richard McCullough and Head Football Coach Mike Norvell. For Mohabir, the opportunity to speak on ownership and growth was personal.
“I will be the first in my family to graduate from college, and that moment represents years of sacrifice, faith and perseverance,” Mohabir said. “It’s for my family, for the people who believed in me and for every version of myself that kept going even when things were uncertain.”
His ability to connect peers with the professional world was recognized when he moderated a Raymond James panel for over 300 students. In a full circle moment, he will begin his career as an assistant controller at Raymond James after graduation.
He hopes to eventually establish his own firm as a financial adviser to professional athletes and grow his media platform into an international speaking career.
“I’ve been surrounded by individuals who have challenged me and poured into my growth,” Mohabir said. “It reinforced my belief that opportunity carries responsibility and that leadership is about showing up and creating impact.
Central Alabama native Abby Snyder will graduate with her Bachelor of Science in criminology from the Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
After graduation, she plans to attend the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law to pursue her Juris Doctor. Her career goals are centered on becoming a public defender with a focus on rehabilitation and meaningful prison reform. Snyder values the connections she has fostered within the FSU community, particularly through her roles as a Noles Everywhere ambassador and a Resident Assistant in Landis Hall.
“Walking in this semester’s commencement ceremony fills me with an immense sense of pride because it represents the goals I set for myself and worked so hard to achieve,” Snyder said. “I built beautiful, meaningful friendships with people who inspire me every day. This ceremony is the culmination of four years of dedication, and it makes me smile to think about all the love and light I poured into FSU.”
Snyder chose to attend Florida State after finding a sense of belonging in the University’s Honors Program and the welcoming atmosphere of the Tallahassee campus. Seeking a program that would turn her interest in advocacy into a career, she is thankful for the hands-on opportunities FSU provided to mentor others and serve out-of-state students.
“My proudest accomplishments were the roles that allowed me to support, guide and uplift other students,” Snyder said. “Whether helping resolve a roommate conflict or comforting someone who felt homesick, being an RA was the most rewarding experience I could have asked for. I want to be a small but steady part of the larger effort to ensure that every person is seen, heard, and given the chance to do right.”
Frank Schotanus will earn his degree in computer science from the Department of Computer Science within the College of Arts and Sciences.
Schotanus chose to attend Florida State after seeing the investment the university makes in its students. Seeking a program that would challenge his problem-solving skills and provide a sense of community, he credits the attention and mentorship he received from the moment he first visited campus.
After graduation, he will begin a software engineering role with Raymond James in St. Petersburg, Florida. Schotanus aims to build a career focused on using technology to solve real-world problems and enhance the lives of others.
He values the leadership and research opportunities he pursued at FSU, notably his work with the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) and his tenure as president of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
“One of my proudest accomplishments was the opportunity to be published in a research paper as an undergraduate,” Schotanus said. “I also loved seeing students connect and find a sense of community through ACM events. FSU has pushed me to get involved in so many different ways that have shaped me into the person I am today.”
For Schotanus, commencement marks the work behind his undergraduate journey.
“Walking across the stage will be a chance to highlight all my hard work from the past four years,” Schotanus said. “But none of it would have been possible without support I’ve received every day from my family, friends and the people of FSU.”
More details about commencement are available at commencement.fsu.edu.