More than 1,500 graduates are expected to participate in Commencement ceremonies Sunday, May 6 at Alico Arena. Overall, FGCU will award 1,801 degrees this spring.
President Mike Martin will confer degrees. The Commencement address will be presented by State Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto at the 9 a.m. ceremony for the College of Education and Marieb College of Health & Human Services, by Arthrex Inc. Founder and President Reinhold Schmieding at the 1 p.m. ceremony for the College of Arts & Sciences and by former FGCU Board of Trustees chairman Dudley Goodlette at the 5 p.m. ceremony for Lutgert College of Business and U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering.
Communication is the most represented bachelor’s with 129 degrees awarded. The most represented master’s is occupational therapy with 31 degrees awarded.
At the 1 p.m. ceremony, FGCU will award the honorary title of professor emeritus to Dr. Peter Blaze Corcoran and an honorary doctor of science degree to Schmieding.
Tickets for 7,535 guests have been distributed for the three ceremonies, which also can be viewed live via webcast.
Alico Arena policy prohibits balloons and loud noisemakers, and they will not be allowed indoors during the ceremonies.
FGCU has awarded more than 30,000 degrees since opening in fall 1997.