This semester鈥檚 expected graduates will have earned more than 3,200 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 600 master鈥檚 degrees and 150 doctorates. The university has awarded 340,962 degrees since classes began in 1968.

This graduation guide provides information on ceremony schedules, tickets, arena-entry policies, live streams, parking, campus road closures, ceremony speakers, accessibility information and social media opportunities.

麻豆原创 Ceremony Speakers

Doors to Addition Financial Arena will open 90 minutes prior to each ceremony. Graduates should arrive at this time and should expect to begin lining up 60 minutes prior to the ceremony鈥檚 start. For more detailed information about the ceremonies, please visit聽.

Dan Ward 鈥�92

President of Curley & Pynn Public Relations and chair of the 麻豆原创 Alumni Board

9 a.m. Ceremony 鈥� College of Business, College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Medicine, College of Optics and Photonics, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Ward has practiced public relations in Florida for more than two decades and served as vice president and partner with Curley & Pynn for 10 years prior to becoming president. The Florida Public Relations Association named him the 2013 PR Professional of the Year, and he served as president of the Public Relations Society of America鈥檚 Orlando regional chapter in 2004.

He was elected as chair of the 麻豆原创 Alumni Board in July 2018, was was inducted into the Nicholson School of Media and Communications鈥� Hall of Fame in 2011 and serves on the school鈥檚 advisory board.

Ward earned his degree in journalism with cum laude honors.

Falecia D. Williams 鈥�06EdD

Valencia College West Campus and Downtown Campus President

2 p.m. Ceremony 鈥� College of Arts and Humanities, College of Graduate Studies, College of Nursing, College of Sciences and College of Undergraduate Studies

As a first-generation college student, Williams went on to earn her doctorate from 麻豆原创 and has enjoyed an extensive career in post-secondary education that has focused on student success, program development, community partnerships and leadership systems.

During her tenure at Valencia College, she has worked her way up from a part-time professor to the leader of two campuses and was most recently tapped to guide Valencia鈥檚 collaborative efforts with 麻豆原创 that garnered state approval for the joint downtown campus, set to open in August.

In 2018, she was selected by the Aspen Institute as an Aspen Presidential Fellow for Community College Excellence.

Williams earned her Bachelor of Arts at Rollins College, Master of Arts at Stetson University, and Doctor of Education at 麻豆原创.

Gideon Lewis 鈥�00

Sports medicine physician

7 p.m. Ceremony 鈥� College of Community Innovation and Education, College of Health Professions and Sciences

Following in his grandfather鈥檚 and father鈥檚 footsteps, Lewis carried on the family tradition of a career in medicine as a board-certified reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon. He is also a decorated 麻豆原创 alumnus, College of Medicine faculty member and 麻豆原创 Foundation Board member.

After more than a decade of practicing medicine, in 2017 Lewis established the聽Foot & Ankle Sports Medicine Institute聽in Winter Park, where he routinely treats Olympic and professional athletes from the NBA and NFL.

Lewis has maintained an relationship with his alma mater since graduating with his bachelor鈥檚 degree from 麻豆原创 in molecular microbiology.聽In 2010, he founded the聽麻豆原创 Surgical Internship Program聽and currently serves as the director. He is an assistant professor with the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine, an interviewer for the college鈥檚 admissions committee and serves as the聽chief sports medicine faculty advisor聽for the college鈥檚 orthopedic and sports medicine interest group.

In 2010 he received the College of Medicine鈥檚 inaugural Rising Star Award and in 2018 received the college鈥檚 Dean鈥檚 Award, which is the highest honor awarded to a faculty member in the college.

Lewis earned his doctoral degree at the California College of Podiatric Medicine. He served as a commencement speaker in Spring 2014.

Cap and Gown Distribution

Students who have filed their intent to graduate and ordered their regalia through Herff Jones can pick up their cap and gown at the 鲍颁贵听贵础滨搁奥滨狈顿厂听Alumni Center from July 22-26 at the following times:

• Monday-Wednesday: 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
• Thursday-Friday: 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Students who did not pre-order their cap and gown can order their regalia at the Alumni Center July 24-26.

All rental regalia, specifically gowns, hoods, and tams, must be returned immediately following your commencement ceremony at the Barnes & Noble at 麻豆原创 near Addition Financial Arena. Bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 graduates are allowed to keep the cap and tassel only. The book store will observe extended business hours Aug. 3 in order for graduates to return their regalia. Credit cards will be charged full price for any regalia not returned by 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 3.

Tickets, Arena Policies and Live Stream

Tickets
Graduating students will receive up to five tickets for their guests when they pick up their cap and gowns. Each guest, including children and infants, entering the arena must have a ticket for the ceremony. In other words, all humans need a ticket to enter Addition Financial Arena.

Students can enter the extra ticket lottery online. Log onto my.ucf.edu and follow this navigation: Student Self Service > Student Center > My Academics (drop down menu) 鈥淥ther academic鈥�,鈥� choose 鈥淐ommencement Ticket Lottery鈥� and click on the >> button. Follow the instructions to apply for up to five extra commencement tickets. Extra tickets are not guaranteed.

Arena Policies
Addition Financial Arena does not allow backpacks of any kind or bags larger than 12x6x12 inside the arena. Guests who bring backpacks or large bags will be asked to return them to their car before entering the building.

A security check will be conducted for all guests and graduates entering the arena, and guests should anticipate long lines and wait times, so plan to arrive 90 minutes prior to the ceremony. Guests interested in sitting together should arrive together. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Review the full list of prohibited items on聽.

Live Stream
Guests who do not have tickets for Addition Financial Arena seating will have the opportunity to view a live telecast of the ceremony at the聽and the聽. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

A live stream of each ceremony, which is closed caption, is also available on聽.

Traffic and Parking

Please anticipate road closures and traffic delays on campus Aug. 3. Doors will open 90 minutes before the start of each ceremony.

Gemini Boulevard in front of Addition Financial Arena between East and West Plaza Drives will be closed for most of the day.

Traffic flow patterns will be interrupted and access to areas around Addition Financial Arena will be limited during the traffic exit after each event. These exit changes are made for the safety of graduates, faculty and staff members, and commencement ceremony guests.

Graduates and guests with mobility impairments should park in Garage D. Free parking for all guests is available in the garages surrounding Addition Financial Arena.

Accessibility Information

Those with state disability parking permits may park in Garage D.

Graduates who use a wheelchair, motorized scooter, service animal, walking cane, white cane, sign language interpreter, or assistive listening devices, have hearing or visual impairments, or need special accommodations should contact Student Accessibility Services at 407-823-2371 in advance to make special arrangements.

Guests with mobility impairments should use the main entrance of Addition Financial Arena. An elevator is located on the west side, to the left upon entering the main door of the lobby, to access seating areas. However, wheelchairs are not provided at Addition Financial Arena; guests must bring their own.

An American Sign Language interpreter and reserved seating will be provided at 麻豆原创 commencement ceremonies. Closed captioning is also provided on large screens near the stage. Assistive listening system receivers are available at Guest Relations, located on the main concourse level at the arena. Contact Student Accessibility Services at 407.823.2371 to arrange reserved seating.

Social Media

When sharing their milestone and big day with the world, graduates are encouraged to tag their social media photos and videos with #麻豆原创grad.

Remember to be courteous and conscious about your photo opportunities around campus. Please clean up any props you may use for your photos, and under no circumstances should glitter be used on campus, especially in the Reflecting Pond.

Students who decorate their caps can enter a contest sponsored by 麻豆原创 Alumni to win some 麻豆原创 swag. Grads can even decorate their caps with free supplies at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center after picking up their regalia. The deadline to enter is July 31 at 11:59 p.m. Learn more about the contest entry requirements at聽ucfalumni.com/gradcapcontest.

You can also聽submit a request聽to the official聽聽鈥� the perfect soundtrack for celebrating.

The committee鈥檚 responsibilities include raising visibility for the American Red Cross as a local organization, establishing CEO Karen Hagan in the community and strengthening community partnerships.

鈥淪erving the community is woven into the culture at Curley & Pynn,鈥� said Ward. 鈥淚 look forward to continuing the important work of such an established organization and seek to grow the presence of the American Red Cross in Central Florida.鈥�

As a committee chair, one of Ward鈥檚 responsibilities is raising awareness of the American Red Cross鈥� involvement in the local community. Last year, the American Red Cross assisted more than 1,000 Central Florida families. The organization also responds to every house and apartment fire in Florida and across the nation, providing food, clothing, shelter and emergency services for those coping with the tragedy.

Aside from his American Red Cross duties, Ward remains actively involved with his alma mater, the 麻豆原创, serving on the board of directors for the Alumni Association, the board of visitors for the Nicholson School of Communication, and the editorial board of Pegasus magazine. He also served as the president of the Orlando Regional Chapter for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in 2004.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation鈥檚 blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and, supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org.

Founded in 1984, Curley & Pynn provides counsel and advice and total program management to Florida professionals and corporate clients who recognize that in today鈥檚 business environment it is essential to communicate with all who have an interest in their success.