This week Florida Atlantic University celebrated the accomplishments of the largest graduating class in its history as undergraduate and graduate degrees were awarded to 3,268 students. Our spring graduates range in age from 17-year-old John Sousa, who received his bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and behavior magna cum laude, to 70-year-old Linda Berman, who earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology summa cum laude. John and 18-year-old Mykela DeLuca, another honor graduate, received their FAU degrees one week before getting their diplomas from FAU High School. These gifted young people are the latest FAU High students to accomplish this feat.

During our commencement proceedings, I had the privilege of awarding an honorary doctorate in humane letters to Irwin Stovroff, a 92-year-old World War II veteran who founded an organization that helps disabled veterans get trained service dogs. To date, Vets Helping Heroes has provided dogs to more than 120 veterans suffering from blindness, amputations, traumatic brain injuries, PTSD and other injuries. We’re so proud to bring Mr. Stovroff into the FAU fold. For more information on Vets Helping Heroes, click here.