More than 3,100 graduates expected to celebrate UF’s summer commencement

More than 3,100 students are expected to graduate from the University of Florida during three commencement ceremonies in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on Friday, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 8.

This summer’s graduates come from six different continents, representing 72 countries and 48 states. This graduating class includes 109 first generation students. The oldest graduate is 79, and the youngest is 18.

The first ceremony, celebrating 423 doctoral graduates, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7. 

Bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates from the College of the Arts; College of Design, Construction and Planning; College of Health and Human Performance; Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering; College of Journalism and Communications; College of Medicine; College of Nursing; College of Pharmacy; College of Public Health and Health Professions; and College of Veterinary Medicine will begin their ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. 

The commencement ceremony for bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degree graduates from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, College of Education, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Warrington College of Business will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8.

The speaker at all three ceremonies will be Matthew David Disney, Ph.D., institute professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Research & Innovation. 

Disney is internationally recognized for pioneering RNA-targeted small-molecule therapeutics, advancing drug discovery for diseases once considered undruggable. He has received numerous honors, including the NIH Director's Pioneer Award, the ACS Nobel Laureate Signature Award, the Eli Lilly Award in Biological Chemistry and the Sackler Prize. His research has advanced biotechnology companies and therapeutic programs aimed at developing new medicines for genetic and other serious diseases. 

More information, including ceremony schedules and livestream details, is available at commencement.ufl.edu/summer/.