From world-renowned speakers to identical twins, the University of Florida's spring commencement season is in full swing beginning May 1, 2024. Celebrate with Gator Nation by reading about this year's ceremonies, speakers, graduates and more.

Two renowned caretakers — one of wildlife, and the other of people — will serve as the keynote speakers at spring commencement, UF President Ben Sasse announced. Carlton Ward Jr., a UF alumnus and conservation photographer known for his photos of the elusive Florida panther, and the leading advocate of the Florida Wildlife Corridor to conserve the state’s natural lands and native species, will address graduates at the University-Wide Commencement Ceremony. Dr. Gilbert R. Upchurch Jr., a UF vascular surgeon, chair of the department of surgery, and member of the National Academy of Medicine, will be the keynote speaker at the UF Doctoral Ceremony.

UF's university-wide commencement ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 3. This ceremony is at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium from 7 to 9 p.m. Individual college ceremonies begin May 1 and conclude May 6.

Allison and Graison Davis started life sharing an amniotic sac and placenta. Ever since, the identical twins have mostly shared everything else, including a love of nursing. This week, both will graduate from UF's College of Nursing and embark on their careers – together.

Growing up, Filomena Selvanik learned a lot about empathy and gratitude – often relying on reduced-price school lunches and scholarship opportunities to succeed. Now she is paying her good fortune forward, pursuing a career in pediatric medicine after she graduates from UF on May 4. She wants to spend her life helping children, and she has already started.

Finding that perfect career pathway isn’t always easy, especially when you’re an uber-inquisitive student with a hyperactive mind like Matthew Diller. The current UF doctoral graduate was rife with scientific curiosity as an undergrad, but he often struggled to channel his academic interests – from philosophy to neuroscience – into one field. That was, until he discovered the endlessly fascinating world of biomedical informatics.

As a girl, Sarah Baltes remembers playing with medical equipment in the UF College of Nursing simulation lab during family visits to her two older sisters. On Friday, Baltes joins her sisters as a fellow Gator Nurse graduate and makes it a trifecta for the family from Stuart.  Jenna Van Rhyn (Gallas), who graduated in 2017, is excited to welcome her little sister into nursing.