FAU Celebrates Fall 2017 Commencement
Florida Atlantic University will confer more than 2,790 degrees today and tomorrow during five commencement ceremonies in the Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. The new graduates will join more than 159,600 alumni who have graduated from FAU since the University opened its doors in 1964.
“I am proud to be here today to celebrate the hard work of Florida Atlantic University’s largest fall graduating class,” said FAU President John Kelly. “I join their families and friends in congratulating them on this major accomplishment.”
Zainab Hawa Bangura will receive an honorary doctoral degree on Friday, Dec. 15 at 9 a.m. Bangura is a highly respected advocate for women’s rights, governance and political reform, conflict resolution and reconciliation in Africa. Until recently, Bangura was the special representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, where she served as the United Nations spokesperson and political advocate on conflict-related sexual violence. Prior to joining the United Nations, she was a minister of health and sanitation and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation in Sierra Leone. She is the chair and co-founder of the Movement for Progress Party of Sierra Leone and coordinator and co-founder of the Campaign for Good Governance in Sierra Leone. Bangura was named a top nominee for the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize and received the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Advancing Women in Peace and Security. Bangura is a graduate of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, where she received a degree in history and political science.
Some interesting statistics regarding the fall graduating class include that fact that 91 of the degree recipients are over the age of 50, and 13 are over the age of 60. The graduates represent 48 countries.
For the convenience of family members and friends who cannot attend the commencement ceremonies, the proceedings will be cybercast at www.fau.edu.
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