Florida State University celebrated its Summer 2020 graduates with a virtual celebration on July 31st at 7:30 pm. The College of Social Work along with the other colleges across campus provided virtual celebrations for their graduates.

Florida State awarded 2,510 degrees with the conclusion of the summer semester: 1696 bachelor’s degrees, 611 master’s degrees, 165 doctorates, 2 juris doctor degrees and 36 juris master’s degrees. 

The College of Social Work graduates included 17 BSW graduates and 75 MSW graduates, and doctoral graduate Daniel Dunleavy (dissertation entitled, “Appraising contemporary social work research: Meta research on statistical reporting, statistical power and evidential power,” Major Professor: Dr. Jeffrey Lacasse).  

“Although we cannot be together at this time, the FSU community can still celebrate our graduates through the shared experience of our virtual ceremony,” John Thrasher, FSU’s president said. “Our graduates have worked hard to finish their degrees despite the challenges of a global pandemic and I’m exceptionally proud of their dedication and resilience.”

President Thrasher presided over the ceremony on July 31st and FSU men’s basketball Coach Leonard Hamilton spoke as the commencement ceremony’s keynote speaker. Hamilton recently completed his 18th season as FSU’s men’s basketball coach, leading the Seminoles to their first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference regular season championship. In March, he was named ACC Coach of the Year for the third time in his career. Hamilton is also a noted advocate for cancer research – a disease that has touched him throughout his life.

Hamilton shared with graduates the advice he gives to his players when he said, “Don’t ever let anyone outwork you. You can’t control the outcome or the circumstances, but what you can control is your effort and your work ethic.”

He also spoke of the importance of having a sound, moral compass during a time of social unrest and a global pandemic. He closed by challenging graduates to get to know people of different races, origins and backgrounds and to learn how to communicate with them.

“Let’s cut the nets down on social injustice and hatred, let’s cut the nets down on racial inequality, let’s work hard to improve our healthcare, let’s work to cut the nets on police brutality,” Hamilton stressed. “Let’s raise the banners of respect, let’s initiate trophies for unity and let’s have a championship for love.”