Florida State University alumnus and insurance executive Allen Durham, who oversees the university’s iconic Osceola and Renegade tradition, and Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor Brad Schmidt will address graduates during FSU’s summer commencement ceremonies Friday, July 31, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

FSU expects to award 2,891 degrees, including 1,582 bachelor’s degrees, 952 master’s and specialist degrees, 253 doctoral degrees, 99 Juris Master’s degrees and 5 LL.M. degrees. More than 1,786 graduates are expected to participate in the day’s ceremonies. 

The day begins with a doctoral hooding ceremony at 9 a.m. Faculty members will hood doctoral graduates during the ceremony. 

Bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degree candidates will be recognized during commencement ceremonies at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Florida State President Richard McCullough will preside over all three ceremonies. 

2 p.m. ceremony: Allen Durham 

Allen Durham, founder, president and CEO of an insurance brokerage firm, will deliver the commencement address at the 2 p.m. ceremony.

A 1993 graduate of FSU’s College of Business, Durham earned a bachelor’s degree in risk management before going on to earn a law degree. During a career spanning three decades, he has built a successful business while remaining deeply engaged with his alma mater, serving in several leadership roles, including chair of the FSU National Alumni Association Board of Directors and a member of the College of Business Board of Governors.

The son of Bill Durham, who created the Osceola and Renegade tradition in 1978, Durham served as the eighth student to portray Osceola before taking over leadership of the program in 2007. Since then, he has mentored generations of student riders and helped preserve the university’s longstanding partnership with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Last year, Durham and his father were jointly honored with the Mores Torch Award for their enduring commitment to Florida State and their role in creating and sustaining one of the university’s most recognized traditions. 

He will address graduates from the Dedman College of Hospitality, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, College of Applied Studies, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, Herbert Wertheim College of Business, College of Music, and Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. 

7 p.m. ceremony: Brad Schmidt 

Brad Schmidt, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor and chair of Florida State University’s Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, will deliver the commencement address at the 7 p.m. ceremony. 

An internationally recognized leader in clinical psychology, Schmidt studies the causes, prevention and treatment of anxiety and related mental health conditions, including PTSD, substance use and suicide. 

Schmidt has led numerous research initiatives supported by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense while mentoring generations of students and early career researchers. He was recently elected to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida. 

Schmidt will address graduates from the College of Medicine, College of Motion Picture Arts, College of Fine Arts, College of Communication and Information, College of Law, College of Nursing, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, College of Social Work and College of Arts and Sciences. 

Every Florida State University graduate is automatically a member of the FSU Alumni Association. Alumni can learn more at alumni.fsu.edu. 

For more information about commencement, including ceremony schedules and livestream links, visit commencement.fsu.edu. 

The post Osceola and Renegade leader Allen Durham, Lawton Professor Brad Schmidt to address summer FSU graduates appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University’s Faculty Senate recognized distinguished alumni, leaders and the university’s police department during the annual Torch Awards ceremony held March 31 at the Heritage Museum. 

The awards honor individuals and groups who have made sustained contributions to the university’s academic mission and community. Established in 1996, the Torch Awards reflect the three values represented on the university seal: Vires (strength), Artes (aesthetics) and Mores (character and tradition). 

This year’s honorees included former Board of Trustees Chair Ed Burr, alumna and education leader Liz Cohen and longtime broadcaster and Florida State alumnus Lee Corso. The Faculty Senate also presented a special commendation to the Florida State University Police Department. 

“This is a special evening because of who we are here to honor,” Provost Jim Clark said in opening remarks. “Each of our honorees has contributed to the academic excellence and well-being of FSU in significant and lasting ways. They believe in our mission and care about our faculty, staff, students and community.” 

Burr received the Vires Torch Award for his decades of leadership and service to Florida State. A business leader and founder of GreenPointe Holdings, Burr has remained engaged with the university through roles on the Board of Trustees, the FSU Foundation Board and other key advisory groups. His philanthropic work includes founding the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, which focuses on preventing child abuse and protecting vulnerable youth. 

Cohen was honored with the Artes Torch Award for her lifelong commitment to education and service. A former school principal and national education consultant, she has supported school systems across the country and contributed to initiatives backed by organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Cohen has also remained active at Florida State through volunteer leadership, alumni engagement and the creation of multiple endowed scholarships. 

Corso received the Mores Torch Award for his enduring impact as a Florida State alumnus and ambassador. A former Seminole football player and longtime ESPN analyst, Corso spent nearly four decades in broadcasting, promoting college athletics and higher education nationwide. Though unable to attend, he was recognized for a lifetime of service reflecting strong character and commitment to tradition. 

The ceremony also included a special recognition of the Florida State University Police Department for its response during the April 17 campus tragedy. Faculty Senate leaders praised the department’s professionalism, courage and dedication to protecting the university community. 

“Their actions that day, and every day, reflect the very best of public service,” said Jayne Standley, co-chair of the Torch Awards committee. 

The Torch Awards are presented annually by the Faculty Senate on behalf of Florida State faculty. 

The post Florida State University Faculty Senate honors leaders, alumni and police department at Torch Awards appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University’s Faculty Senate bestowed four members of the university community with Torch Awards in a ceremony Thursday to recognize their contributions in advancing the university’s academic mission.

Established in 1996, the Torch Awards are named for the three torches emblazoned on the FSU seal. The awards celebrate: Vires, representing moral, physical and intellectual strength; Artes, conveying an appreciation of aesthetics and the beauty of intellectual pursuits; and Mores, symbolizing respect for customs, character and tradition.

Since their inception, the Torch Awards have recognized 111 recipients.

This year, FSU recognized: Joe Torgesen, André Thomas, and the father-son duo Bill and Allen Durham, for their impact on the university and the broader community.

FSU President Richard McCullough opened the ceremony at the Heritage Museum in Dodd Hall by acknowledging the contributions of the honorees: “You embody the values that Florida State University holds dear, and we appreciate everything you have done to make the university what it is today.”

The post FSU honors faculty, friends at 2024 Torch Awards Ceremony appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University’s Faculty Senate bestowed five members of the university community with Torch Awards in a ceremony Thursday, Jan. 18, recognizing their contributions to advancing the university’s academic excellence.

“You embody the values that Florida State University holds dear,” FSU President Richard McCullough told honorees during the ceremony. “We appreciate everything you have done to make the university what it is today.”

FSU Provost James Clark presided over the ceremony, held at the Heritage Museum in Dodd Hall.

The Faculty Senate Torch Awards were established in 1996 as a way for faculty to honor friends of FSU who have made sustained and significant contributions to the university’s academic mission.

Awards are named for the three torches emblazoned upon the FSU seal. The three categories of Torch Awards are: Vires, representing moral, physical and intellectual strength; Artes, conveying an appreciation of aesthetics and the beauty of intellectual pursuits; and Mores, symbolizing respect for customs, character and tradition.

This year, the Faculty Senate bestowed two Artes and two Vires awards.

The 2023 winners are:

RUTH AND LES AKERS — ARTES

The Faculty Senate honored husband and wife Les and Ruth Akers for their work advancing the arts at Florida State and throughout the surrounding community.

Les Akers earned his degree from FSU’s College of Business before embarking on a successful career in the franchised automobile business. Ruth Akers earned her doctorate in musicology at FSU and later joined the faculty of FSU’s College of Music.

Together, the couple was recognized for their lasting impact on music and the arts in the region, including establishing the Fund for Entrepreneurial Activity in Music and funding a joint medical music therapy program between FSU and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

Their generous philanthropy and voluntarism over many years have greatly benefited the academic and cultural mission of Florida State University.

BEN CRUMP— VIRES

A two-time alumnus and renowned civil rights attorney, Ben Crump earned his law degree at FSU’s College of Law before embarking on a career that has seen him grow into a leading force in civil rights.

Crump is a nationally recognized advocate who served two terms as president of the FSU Black Student Union. He has represented children subjected to sexual assault in state-run emergency centers, college athletes who suffered sexual hazing and bullying, and inmates who suffered violence while incarcerated.

Crump is a defender of families who lost loved ones to racial violence or police brutality, including the families of Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, Martin Lee Anderson, and Breonna Taylor. Above all, Crump’s work is aimed at helping Americans who have been without a voice.

The post FSU Faculty Senate bestows Torch Awards on esteemed members of university community appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University’s Faculty Senate honored five members of the university community with Torch Awards in recognition of their contributions to the university’s academic excellence during a ceremony held Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Heritage Museum.

“These individuals have contributed to the academic excellence of our university in myriad ways,” President Richard McCullough said during his remarks. “They believe strongly in our mission and care deeply about our faculty, staff and students. Put simply, they love Florida State University.”

Provost James Clark presided over the ceremony while FSU Trustee and Faculty Senate President Eric Chicken presented the awards.

The Faculty Senate Torch Awards were established in 1996 as a way for faculty to honor those friends of Florida State University who have made sustained and significant contributions to the university’s ability to fulfill its academic mission. To date, 102 people have been recognized with Torch Awards.

Awards are named for the three torches depicted in the FSU seal. The three categories of Torch Awards are: Vires, representing moral, physical and intellectual strength; Artes, conveying an appreciation of aesthetics and the beauty of intellectual pursuits; and Mores, symbolizing respect for customs, character and tradition.

This year, the Faculty Senate bestowed three Vires and two Mores awards.

The 2022 winners are:

Vasken Hagopian (Vires)

Professor Emeritus Hagopian is a world-renowned physicist and was an esteemed member of the FSU faculty for 39 years before his retirement in 2008. He co-authored more than 600 publications, taught physics and astronomy courses to thousands of students, and mentored countless more.

Many of his students went on to teach at universities around the world or serve as leaders at prestigious national laboratories — a testament to his excellence as a teacher.

Hagopian was the face of FSU in the high energy physics community, and in the early 1990s, he led FSU to the CMS experiment at CERN, the European physics laboratory. This is now one of the most important experiments in the world.

Along with his wife, Sharon and his family, Hagopian has remained committed to ensuring the success of students, creating the Hagopian Family Endowment at FSU, which gives annual awards to graduate students working in high energy physics.

Clifford Madsen (Vires)

Madsen served as a distinguished member of the FSU faculty for 62 years until his retirement last May from the College of Music. He is believed to hold the record as the longest employed professor at Florida State University.

During his tenure, Madsen served as a trumpet teacher, band conductor for the Marching Chiefs, classroom instructor, adviser and mentor. He also wrote 221 publications, gave 376 paper presentations and authored eight books — a truly impressive and unparalleled record of research in his field.

Madsen also taught hundreds of undergraduate and graduate classes, advised over 100 doctoral dissertations and served on many more masters and doctoral committees. He was well known for the hours he would spend mentoring students and ensuring they were set on a path to success.

In 1988, he was named a Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor in recognition of his distinction in his field. He also was given two special commendations from the Faculty Senate — one for 50 years of service, and another for cumulative service after being elected to the Faculty Senate in 1965 and serving until his retirement.

Patricia Martin (Vires)

Martin is one of the country’s most distinguished gender scholars and is known worldwide for her scholarship on violence against women and on the dynamics of employment discrimination.

She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from FSU, then joined the faculty as an assistant professor, rising through the ranks to earn a named chair and become an internationally renowned scholar. Martin has written scores of influential articles and several award-winning books and is known for being a supportive colleague, generous adviser and mentor to countless students.

Martin also made a profound impact through her history of remarkable activism at FSU. She was a trailblazer in the push to end employment discrimination against women at FSU. In her drive for equality, she served on university committees where she fought for equal funding for women’s athletics and equal inclusion in leadership.

Also a philanthropist, Martin’s donation of coastal property has helped FSU further its goals. She also helped found and financially support the city’s domestic violence shelter.

Janet Stoner 2022 (Mores)
Alicia Crew 2022 (Mores)

Together, Stoner and Crew have led the effort to ensure the university’s history and traditions are recorded and honored, and they were instrumental in the creation and continued growth of the University Archives and the Heritage Museum.

Stoner and Crew personally sifted through records and irreplaceable artifacts, ensuring their preservation and guaranteeing students, faculty and the university community access to FSU’s rich history. Today, the University Archives fields hundreds of information requests and the museum sees thousands of visitors every year.

Stoner and Crew also have shown incredible commitment to young women in their pursuit of academic excellence. To that end, they helped create the Champions Beyond the Game annual breakfast for female athletes, where successful alumni share with current students the impact FSU women’s athletics has had on their lives. Their work extends to the Women’s Leadership Institute where they ensure that the program has financial support, find unique speakers for events, and connect students with mentors.

Stoner’s service on the Arts and Sciences Council and the FSU Foundation’s Board of Trustees and Crew’s involvement with Seminole Torchbearers and Campus Recreation, also have contributed to student leadership and success at the university.

The post FSU Faculty Senate honors five members of the university community with Torch Awards appeared first on Florida State University News.