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Florida State University celebrated its largest graduating cohort in history over the weekend, recognizing the fortitude and accomplishments of over 7,100 students who achieved close to 9,000 degrees. 

The six graduation ceremonies held on Friday and Saturday at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center occurred just a little more than two weeks following a shooting on campus that left the community mourning yet strengthened in unity. 

FSU President Richard McCullough commenced each ceremony with a moment of silence to honor Robert Morales, a long-serving FSU staff member, and Tiru Chabba, a visitor from South Carolina, who tragically lost their lives in the April 17 incident at FSU’s Student Union. 

“We cannot start today without recognizing the grief our community has endured,” McCullough expressed to the audience. “Just a bit over two weeks ago, an appalling act of violence impacted our campus. We lost Robert and Tiru. Numerous others were harmed. In the days that followed, we have seen the finest qualities of FSU: kindness, bravery, and a significant outpouring of support from all corners of the world.” 

He urged attendees to honor those who were lost, to uplift those continuing their recovery, and to recognize the individuals who acted with care and promptness.  

McCullough indicated that the weekend served as a tribute to persistence, community, and optimism. 

“These graduates have triumphed over immense challenges — not solely in the recent weeks, but throughout the years they have devoted to reach this milestone,” he remarked. “This is the largest graduating cohort in Florida State’s history. That in itself is a point of pride. However, it is their resilience that renders this moment even more profound.” 

FSU conferred a total of 8,926 degrees during the weekend, comprising 6,862 bachelor’s degrees, 1,558 master’s and specialist degrees, and 247 doctoral degrees.  

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