{"id":13922,"date":"2018-05-30T18:25:51","date_gmt":"2018-05-30T18:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/?p=13922&post_type=story"},"modified":"2020-07-01T13:47:49","modified_gmt":"2020-07-01T13:47:49","slug":"president-hitts-final-commencement","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/president-hitts-final-commencement\/","title":{"rendered":"President Hitt\u2019s Final Commencement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t
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President Hitt\u2019s Final Commencement<\/h1>\n\t

\n\t\tBehind the scenes of President Hitt\u2019s final commencement ceremonies this spring.

Summer 2018<\/i> | Photos by <\/i>Nick Leyva \u201915<\/i><\/strong>\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\tAs a tradition, Hitt has lunch in the the Live Oak Event Center’s Cypress Room before an afternoon commencement ceremony.

He is joined by Rick Schell, vice president and executive chief of staff for the president’s office; Dan Holsenbeck, senior vice president of university relations; Nick Larkins, Student Government Association president; Grant Heston ’13<\/strong>, vice president of communications and marketing; and Maribeth Ehasz, vice president for student development and enrollment services.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tHitt heads to the Black and Gold room inside CFE Arena to get dressed for commencement.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tHitt puts on his regalia.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tHitt waits with UCF PD Sergeant Peter Osterrieder, the president’s personal security detail, before making their way to a ceremony.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tHitt poses for a photo with Ehasz and two bagpipe players.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tHitt is escorted via golf cart to the staging area inside the CFE Arena.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tHitt takes the stage to make his opening statement.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\u201cI wish for you the success and happiness that I have enjoyed at UCF,” Hitt says. “With the help of many, we\u2019ve built one of this nation\u2019s great metropolitan research universities.\u201d\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tFormer Florida Governor Jeb Bush spoke at the commencement ceremony for the College of Graduate Studies, College of Medicine, College of Undergraduate Studies and Rosen College of Hospitality Management on May 3.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tA student looks up at the packed arena as he waits to cross the stage. Twenty-five percent of UCF graduates this spring were first-generation students.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tOrlando Mayor Buddy Dyer delivers the commencement address during the College of Sciences\u2019 ceremony on May 4.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tAt six ceremonies spanning three days, more than 8,100 students walked across the stage to accept their diplomas this spring. In 1970, when the university was Florida Technological University, 423 students graduated during the first commencement.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tDuring Hitt\u2019s first year as president 4,539 students graduated.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tA veteran student smiles as she crosses the stage.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tOrange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs receives an honorary doctorate degree for public service during the College of Health and Public Affairs\u2019 ceremony on May 5.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tTwo students from the College of Health and Public Affairs express their enthusiasm as the ceremony nears the end.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tA doctoral student is hooded. Hitt has awarded more than 5,100 doctoral degrees during his presidency. Prior to his tenure only 128 had been awarded.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tHitt gets emotional during his closing remarks. Of the more than 325,000 degrees earned at UCF, Hitt has awarded 83 percent of them.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\u201cThank you for the honor of serving as your president for 26 years,\u201d Hitt says.\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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