Florida Tech to Hold Fall Commencement Dec. 16

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Tech will convene its fall commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 16, as more than 800 students who have earned degrees ranging from associate to Ph.D. are scheduled to cross the stage.

In total, Florida Tech will bestow 1,103 degrees.

The first ceremony is at 9:30 a.m. and will feature 596 master and doctoral candidates. The second ceremony starts at 2 p.m. and will feature 226 associate and bachelor candidates. Both ceremonies will be at the Clemente Center.

Students in Saturday’s ceremonies hail from 47 countries and 24 U.S. states.

Both ceremonies will be hosted by Florida Tech President John Nicklow.

The keynote speaker is the distinguished journalist and author Michelle Miller. Miller is a co-host of “CBS Saturday Morning,” and her work regularly appears on “CBS Mornings,” “CBS Sunday Morning” and the “CBS Evening News.” She also files reports for “48 Hours” and anchors CBS News Streaming’s “Eye on America.”

Since joining CBS News in 2004, Miller has reported on stories of national and international importance. From presidential elections to the climate crisis, her area of coverage is wide-ranging, but her reporting around social justice has been particularly groundbreaking. From her coverage of the killings of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown to the nationwide outrage over the shooting deaths of nine parishioners at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., to sexual assault allegations against prominent celebrities, Miller has been at the forefront of CBS News’ coverage of the protest movement involving these issues.

Miller’s reporting has earned her several prestigious journalism awards including an Emmy for her series of reports on the National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy and an Edward R Murrow award for her coverage of a day care center stand-off in New Orleans, and she was part of the Alfred I. duPont – Columbia University Award-winning team for coverage of the Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting.

Miller’s career in broadcast and print journalism includes work at the Los Angeles Times; the Star Tribune in Minneapolis; CBS affiliate WWL-TV in New Orleans; WIS-TV in Columbia, S.C.; the Orange County News channel; and ABC News “Nightline” in Washington, D.C.

Miller is also the author of the New York Times best seller, “Belonging: A Daughter’s Search for Identity Through Loss and Love,” a memoir which details her deeply personal journey of confronting her past and finding her voice.

From 5-6 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Grad Bash event on Crawford Green, Miller will hold a special book signing. Guests will have an exclusive opportunity to meet the author and purchase a signed copy of her book.

Miller will speak at both commencement ceremonies. They will be streamed. More information and galleries from past commencements are at Florida Tech’s Fall Commencement page.

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To ensure access, media are asked to RSVP to Adam Lowenstein no later than 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 at adam@fit.edu or 321-674-8964.