FAMU celebrates Class of 2021 with four socially distanced ceremonies

FAMU held a total of four commencement ceremonies to celebrate the Class of 2021 over this weekend in the Al Lawson Multi-propose Center on campus.  Approximately 1,200 candidates applied for graduation this spring.  The commencements were university's first live large scale events since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2019.  The University will host an additional ceremony in Orlando on May 10 for graduates of the College of Law.

 
Former FL State Senator Arthenia Joyner, FL Board of Governors Vice Chair Brian Lamb, Keith Clinkscales, and Lloyd Austin III, the 28^th Secretary of Defense were the graduation speakers.

To allow for safe social distancing, the university limited the number of graduates at each ceremony and for the first-time limited each graduate to on four tickets. The ceremonies were livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube to allow family and friends of graduates to watch from home.  

Per current Covid-19 guidelines, all attendees were required to wear face coverings to ensure a safe ceremony. 

The University plans to hold a separate in-person ceremony this summer for graduates of the Class of 2020 whose celebrations were forced online because of the pandemic.

Twenty-three ROTC students received their commissions during commencement ceremony.