On Sunday, May 7, we celebrated our newest alumni during our spring 2023 commencement ceremony and reception. During the ceremony, we conferred degrees on 177 J.D. graduates, 10 LL.M. graduates, and 104 J.M. graduates. Our students started law school having to take either all or some of their 1L classes remotely due to the global pandemic, but they adapted, flourished, and left their mark on the law school with their leadership. All members of the Class of 2023 should be extremely proud of their hard work and their many accomplishments as they pursued their degrees at FSU Law. Florida Supreme Court Justice Jamie Grosshans gave the commencement address. She offered the graduates advice for their future careers, focusing on the importance of words in the profession and being grateful. Grosshans remarked, “Words are powerful, and you have the opportunity to build up or to destroy. Speak slowly; choose your words carefully.”

In addition, we recognized several special members of our community during the ceremony. FSU Law SBA President David Akintonde presented the Open Door Faculty Award to Dunbar Family Professor Steve Johnson for going above and beyond in the mentoring of law students. I had the privilege of presenting the Juris Master Leading the Way Award to graduate Lolita Burgess for being an example to her fellow students, among other things, and presenting the Raising the Bar Award to David Akintonde for consistently exemplifying the ideals of professionalism within the law school community.

Many thanks to Justice Grosshans, FSU President Richard McCullough, the FSU Law faculty, and many others for helping to make this celebration inspiring, uplifting, and memorable for our graduates! You can view a recording of the ceremony online.

Posted May 15, 2023