Friday and Saturday was the culmination of many years of hard work for the 1,200, or so, Florida A&M University graduates that crossed the stage in three different ceremonies at the Al Lawson Center Friday and Saturday. Nearly, 33,500 family and friends attended the commencements.
Former Tallahassee Mayor and CNN Commentator Andrew Gillum was the orator for Friday’s session. FAMU alum, Rapper, Actor, and Philanthropist Lonnie Rashid Lynn, better known by his stage name Common (formerly Common Sense) addressed the graduates at Saturday mornings commencement, and Nicole Wyskoarko, executive vp urban operations at Interscope Geffen A&M (IGA) addressed the graduates at the Saturday afternoon commencement.
Common told the graduates that their success must have love and passion, and that they must believe in their own success even if no one else believes in you. "Success isn’t just a destination, it’s a journey," he said. FAMU awarded Common an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts.