Florida Tech Commencement Starts New Chapter for Hundreds of Graduates

The smiles inside and outside the Clemente Center on the Florida Tech campus were the only things brighter than the blazing July sun as the university held its 2022 summer commencement Saturday.

Florida Tech conferred a total of 714 degrees, with 458 of those graduates participating in the ceremony.

“A Florida Tech education is about so much more than equations and experiments. It’s about perseverance, critical thinking, creative problem-solving – and it’s about expanding your world, learning and working with others from different backgrounds,” Florida Tech President Robert King told the graduates. “So work had, keep learning, and perhaps most importantly, keep contributing to your field of study, your career, and your community. I’m confident you will help solve the challenges facing our world today.”

Keynote speaker Bart Gaetjens, area external affairs manager for Florida Power & Light Company, congratulated the students on their well-earned graduation. “Today we celebrate years of hard work, patience, inspiration and a great deal of sweat equity. You couldn’t have done it with the support of the people here today to celebrate this wonderful academic achievement. Give all your proud supporters a wave!” he told the crowd.

He later spoke about the importance of three traits: character, integrity and volunteerism.

“Imagine a world where everyone made a concerted effort to improve their small corner of the world by striving to lead and inspire with integrity, to follow our passions and lend financial and or spiritual support to causes that we each believe in,” Gaetjens said.

The graduating class included students from 38 countries and 45 U.S. states.

For more commencement information, photo galleries and a link to the recording of the ceremony, visit www.fit.edu/graduation/summer-commencement/.