New graduates from across the nation and around the globe will gather on the Florida Tech campus in Melbourne for Spring 2016 Commencement ceremonies May 7.
Nearly 500 associate’s and bachelor’s degrees will be awarded during the 9:30 a.m. ceremony at the Charles and Ruth Clemente Center. That will be followed at 2 p.m. by the awarding of more than 550 master’s and doctoral degrees.
“I still can’t believe that I actually completed the degree!” said Doug Martin, a project manager with JPMorgan Chase in Tampa who will receive his MBA in Project Management. “I have the cap and gown unpacked and hanging to fix the wrinkles from packaging and it seems very surreal at this point.
“Once I am standing there in my cap and gown at the ceremony and walking up to shake hands with the dean, making it official, I think it will finally sink in that I actually made it,” he said.
Martin is among the more than 280 graduates who earned their Florida Tech degree online. In total, 1,355 diplomas will be awarded during commencement ceremonies, including to students enrolled in off-site programs and dual-degree recipients. The Class of 2016 represents 34 U.S. states and nearly 60 nations.
Graduation weekend begins May 6 with the Panther4Life Grad Bash, which runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at Crawford Green on campus. The event is hosted by the Alumni Association and features free food and beverages, and live music by Simone and the Supercats.
The Spring 2016 Commencement ceremonies will be the last presided over by Florida Tech President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony J. Catanese, who is retiring at the end of June after 14 years at the helm of the regionally accredited university.
During Catanese’s tenure, enrollment has jumped almost fivefold, to more than 16,000 students. That growth has been driven, in part, by the expansion of degree programs offered online, which now include dozens of associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in disciplines ranging from accounting to supply chain management.
Martin said the knowledge and skills he gained through the MBA program will help him advance professionally.
“The concepts covered over the last four years have made me a better project manager and given me a broader understanding of the challenges our executives and senior managers have running a business as large and complex as JPMorgan Chase.”
Commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live online. For additional information, go to www.fit.edu/graduation/.
Will you be attending Grad Bash? If so, please stop by our Photo Spot! We’d love to chat with you about your student experience and help you commemorate this celebration.
