{"id":141222,"date":"2024-04-26T10:17:11","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T14:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222///news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222//www.ucf.edu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222//news/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222//?p=141222"},"modified":"2025-06-20T09:31:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T13:31:01","slug":"nasa-administrator-bill-nelson-to-be-among-distinguished-speakers-at-ucfs-spring-2024-commencement-may-3-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222///news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222//www.ucf.edu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222//news/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222//nasa-administrator-bill-nelson-to-be-among-distinguished-speakers-at-ucfs-spring-2024-commencement-may-3-4/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222//","title":{"rendered":"NASA Administrator Bill Nelson To Be Among Distinguished Speakers at UCF’s Spring 2024 Commencement May 3-4"},"content":{"rendered":"

UCF will award more than 9,000 degrees during six commencement ceremonies at Addition Financial Arena May 3-4, sending a talented group of highly skilled graduates into careers in-demand fields across our region and throughout Florida./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

This year/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2019s graduates will also hear from six leaders across Central Florida /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2014 including NASA Administrator and former U.S. Senator Bill Nelson /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2014 who are improving communities, transforming lives and making industry breakthroughs with their work./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Of the degrees UCF expects to award, 8,317 are bachelor/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2019s, 1,248 are master/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2019s, 144 are doctoral and 13 are specialist degrees. UCF will also award 121 graduate certificates./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Overall, UCF anticipates awarding 2,967 degrees in STEM fields /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2014 including 1,177 in engineering and computer science /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2014 as well as 1,346 in business-related fields, 397 in hospitality-related fields, 359 in nursing, 230 in biomedical sciences, and 405 in digital and emerging media./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

More than a quarter of the bachelor/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2019s degree recipients, totaling 3,793 students, are eligible for Pell Grants, showcasing the university/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2019s commitment to social mobility. Additionally, 1,654 bachelor/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2019s degrees will be awarded to first-generation students who will be the first in their families to graduate from college./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Commencement Festivities/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Held in Addition Financial Arena, the spring commencement will take place May 3-4./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

All guests, including children and infants, need a ticket for admission. All graduates who have filed an intent to graduate will receive five commencement ceremony tickets when they pick up their regalia packet./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Guests who do not have tickets may watch the live ceremony via a simulcast viewing in the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and the Student Union. Ceremonies will also be livestreamed on UCF/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2019s YouTube channel./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Commencement Photo-ops Across UCF/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Main Campus/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Three different photo-ops on UCF/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2019s main campus are available for students to celebrate their accomplishments./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

The Reflecting Pond is one of the most iconic spots on campus for grad photos. Strike a pose and make memories through May 5./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Graduating Knights will also be able to take photos in FBC Mortgage Stadium from 10 a.m. to 4p.m., April 29 to May 2. Please enter through Gate 17 to access the stadium. Taking photos on the field is prohibited./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

On Thursday, May 2, 2:30-7 p.m., spring graduates will be offered a photo-op /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2014 Grad Walk/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u202f/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2014 within Addition Financial Arena. This will be a first-come, first-served occasion for graduates and up to 10 of their well-wishers to take photos and videos on the ceremony stage. Graduates are required to register here./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

UCF Downtown/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

UCF Downtown offers several great locations for unforgettable graduation photos. Here are our top picks of the best spots to memorialize your academic achievement./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Celebrate your college journey by honoring your support system at the Dr. Phillips Academic Commons West Lobby donor wall. Use the iconic phrase, /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u201cIf you want to go far, go together,/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u201d on the donor wall as a backdrop to pay homage to those who helped you along the way./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

The Seneff Plaza, located between the East and West Wings of Dr. Phillips Academic Commons, is where so many campus events and gatherings take place. The towering columns and reflective glass of Dr. Phillips Academic Commons capture the modern campus where you worked so hard to earn your degree./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Enhance your graduation photos by venturing beyond campus into the surrounding Orlando area. You barely have to step off campus to encounter the iconic Orlando sign located at Luminary Green Park. The 2.3-acre park features a large, welcoming lawn that leads up to the oversized /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u201cOrlando/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u201d letters at the end of the park, creating the ideal environment to mark your time in The City Beautiful./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Commencement Schedule/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Graduates and guests can review the below commencement ceremony schedule, listing colleges, ceremony dates and streaming links:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

PLEASE NOTE: College of Sciences graduates in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media* and the School of Politics, Security and International Affairs** attend the Friday, May 3, 2024 /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2013 Evening Ceremony (6:30 p.m.). All other College of Sciences graduates attend the Saturday, May 4, 2024 /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/u2013 Evening Ceremony (6:30 p.m.)/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

May 3, 9 a.m.
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nCollege of Business Administration
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nCollege of Undergraduate Studies/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

May 3, 2 p.m.
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nCollege of Health Professions and Sciences
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nCollege of Medicine
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nCollege of Nursing/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

May 3, 6:30 p.m.
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nNicholson School of Communication and Media* (College of Sciences)
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nSchool of Politics, Security and International Affairs** (College of Sciences)
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nCollege of Arts and Humanities/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

May 4, 9 a.m.
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nCollege of Community Innovation and Education
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nRosen College of Hospitality Management/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

May 4, 2 p.m.
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nCollege of Engineering and Computer Science
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nCollege of Graduate Studies
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nCollege of Optics and Photonics/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

May 4, 6:30 p.m.
/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/nCollege of Sciences (excluding Nicholson School of Communication and Media and School of Politics, Security and International Affairs)/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n

Commencement Speakers/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/141222/n