{"id":255048,"date":"2026-05-02T06:26:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T06:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/255048\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T06:26:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T06:26:09","slug":"famu-spring-2026-commencement-celebrates-new-beginnings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/255048\/","title":{"rendered":"FAMU Spring 2026 Commencement Celebrates New Beginnings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Graduates cross the stage at the Al Lawson Center, marking a defining moment on the
\n Highest of Seven Hills<\/p>\n

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. \u2014 Cheers, proud smiles and emotional embraces filled the Alfred Lawson Multipurpose
\n Center as more than 500 Florida A&M University graduates crossed the stage during
\n Friday\u2019s, May 1, Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony.<\/p>\n

The ceremony celebrated graduates from the College of Education, College of Pharmacy
\n and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health, School of Allied Health Sciences
\n and the School of the Environment.<\/p>\n

From the opening processional, the energy inside the Lawson Center was unmistakable.
\n Graduates, dressed in orange and green regalia, entered to sustained applause, each
\n step marking the culmination of years of hard work.<\/p>\n

\"PresidentCommencement Keynote Thasunda Brown Duckett ahd President Marva Johnson exuding joy
\n as they prepare to celebrate the Spring class of 2026. (Photo by Jeff Adams)<\/p>\n

That sense of pride carried into the program, where FAMU President Marva B. Johnson, J.D., reflected on the deeper meaning behind the moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis University has done more than educate you. It has shaped you,\u201d she said, before
\n reminding the graduates that their connection to the institution extends beyond their
\n time on campus.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom this day forward, FAMU is not where you went; FAMU is who you are,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

President Johnson also noted that the Class of 2026 now joins a global network of
\n more than 80,000 Rattler alumni, extending the university\u2019s legacy of excellence.<\/p>\n

\"PresidentFAMU President Marva Johnson delivering remarks filled with inspiration and congratulations
\n for the Spring class of 2026. (Photo by Jeff Adams)<\/p>\n

Board of Trustees Chair Deveron Gibbons, J.D., also offered words of encouragement, referencing the preparation they have received
\n during their time at the university.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have been trained for the future and trained to walk in any boardroom across
\n America or any other place. You are Rattlers, and you are prepared,\u201d Gibbons said.<\/p>\n

Throughout the ceremony, graduates were recognized for the diverse paths that brought
\n them to this moment, including honors students, legacy Rattlers, transfer students
\n and military-affiliated graduates.<\/p>\n

\"MisterStudent leaders introduce keynote speaker Thasunda Brown Duckett, president and CEO
\n of TIAA. (Photo by Jeff Adams)<\/p>\n

Mister and Miss FAMU 2025-26 Miles Howard and Edwina Fleuridor were also recognized for their leadership and service as they received the President\u2019s
\n Student Leadership Award.<\/p>\n

The ceremony\u2019s keynote speaker, Thasunda Brown Duckett, president and CEO of TIAA, a financial services organization focused on retirement
\n and investment solutions, delivered a message centered on access, purpose and impact.<\/p>\n

\"ThasundaThasunda Brown Duckett, president and CEO of TIAA, let graduates know that every time
\n they pushed forward instead of giving up helped them make it to graduation. (Photo
\n by Jeff Adams)\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYour degree is not just a credential. It is a platform,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She told graduates that their achievements are rooted in a larger legacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that you are sitting in that seat \u2026 isn\u2019t simply the result of your hard
\n work. It\u2019s also the result of people who fought before you,\u201d she emphasized.<\/p>\n

Duckett encouraged graduates to embrace change and remain adaptable in an evolving
\n world.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour competitive advantage isn\u2019t what you know today. It\u2019s your ability to keep learning,
\n to adapt, and to lead through uncertainty,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She closed with a powerful charge: \u201cRattlers! Go change the world! The legacy of this
\n place demands nothing less.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SpringThe Spring class of 2026 smiled, laughed and danced throughout the May 1, 2026 commencement
\n ceremony. (Photo by Jeff Adams)<\/p>\n

For Veronica Burton, the journey to earning her Doctor of Public Health from Florida A&M University was
\n never about speed, it was about purpose.<\/p>\n

Now, preparing to fully step into her new title, Burton admits the moment still feels
\n surreal.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels weird,\u201d she said with a laugh. \u201cBut it\u2019s also amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Surrounded by mentors who encouraged her along the way, she said the achievement represents
\n more than just a degree it reflects years of sacrifice, growth and perseverance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s everything I\u2019ve worked for,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

As a Black woman in public health, Burton also recognizes the broader impact of her
\n accomplishment.<\/p>\n

\u201cRepresentation matters,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing able to carry that title\u2026 it\u2019s powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SpringFamilies came out in full support of their loved ones at the Friday, May 1, 2026 commencement
\n ceremony at FAMU. (Photo by Jeff Adams)<\/p>\n

Beyond the stage, the celebration extended into the crowd, where families and friends
\n reflected on the significance of the day.<\/p>\n

James Lovett, whose niece Alyssa Barnum was among the graduates, described the milestone as a source of pride for their family.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot \u2026 she\u2019s the first in the family to graduate with a four-year degree,\u201d
\n he said. \u201cWe\u2019re very proud of her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friends and peers also shared in the excitement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love seeing young Black women succeed,\u201d said Hayley Ellis, who attended to support graduate Ayshja Graham. \u201cIt shows other younger students
\n that they can do it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

School of Allied Health graduate Shayla Green described the moment as both an ending
\n and a beginning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m reaching for the stars and ready to begin my next chapter and serve my community,\u201d
\n she said.<\/p>\n

As names were called and degrees were conferred, each walk across the stage reflected
\n a unique journey, often shaped by balancing academics with personal and professional
\n responsibilities.<\/p>\n

For many, the moment was years in the making.<\/p>\n

Florida A&M University will continue its Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies Saturday
\n at the Alfred Lawson Multipurpose Center, with ceremonies scheduled for 9 a.m. and
\n 2 p.m. honoring graduates from the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, College
\n of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, School of Business and Industry, School of
\n Journalism & Graphic Communication, School of Nursing and the FAMU-FSU College of
\n Engineering.<\/p>\n

\"GraduatesFAMU graduates wait patiently for their college to be called. (Photo by Jeff Adams)<\/p>\n

\"ScreamingThe crowd could not contain their excitement as they waited for their loved one to
\n be called. (Photo by Jeff Adams)<\/p>\n

\"PresidentFAMU President Marva Johnson embraces one of the students now turned graduate. (Photo
\n by Jeff Adams.)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Media Contact<\/p>\n

Ashley Flete
Senior Communications Specialist\u00a0
ashley1.flete@famu.edu<\/p>\n

Back to Stories<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Graduates cross the stage at the Al Lawson Center, marking a defining moment on the Highest of Seven…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":255049,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[232,234,233],"class_list":["post-255048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tallahassee","tag-tallahassee","tag-tallahassee-headlines","tag-tallahassee-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255048","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=255048"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255048\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/255049"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=255048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=255048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=255048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}