Here’s a look at FSU, FAMU commencement speakers for graduation ceremonies this summer

As students from Florida State and Florida A&M Universities prepare to cross the stage, three speakers have been chosen to address them at this summer’s commencement ceremonies — including the founder of a well-known vegan beauty brand.

While The Lip Bar founder and Chief Executive Officer Melissa Butler will serve as FAMU’s keynote speaker for this summer’s commencement, former FSU quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner and NBA player Charlie Ward as well as Citizens Property Insurance President Tim Cerio , will speak to FSU’s graduating students.

Both of the universities’ commencement events will be held Friday, where FSU will conduct a doctoral hooding ceremony at 9 a.m. followed by ceremonies at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Tucker Civic Center while FAMU’s single graduation event will be at 6 p.m. at the Lawson Center.

Nearly 1,900 students are expected to participate at FSU’s commencement ceremonies, but the university will award 2,834 degrees this summer semester— including 1,693 bachelor’s degrees, 882 master’s and specialist degrees and 187 doctoral degrees.

At FAMU, about 500 graduates from the university’s 14 colleges and schools are expected to participate in Friday’s ceremony.

Here’s more about the speakers for this summer’s graduation celebrations.

FSU, FAMU commencement speakers

Charlie Ward

On top of being a former FSU quarterback and NBA player, Ward is also a Heisman Trophy winner. He will address graduates at the university’s 2 p.m. ceremony, which includes students from the Dedman College of Hospitality, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and College of Business.

While at FSU, Ward led the university’s football team to its first national championship in 1993. After college, he played in the NBA for over a decade and started coaching and mentoring young athletes following his retirement.

Ward is also a trustee on Tallahassee State College’s Board of Trustees, where he was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021 .

Tim Cerio

Cerio is president, CEO and executive director of Citizens Property Insurance, which is based in Tallahassee. He will speak at FSU’s 7 p.m. ceremony, which will include students from the College of Medicine, College of Law, College of Nursing and College of Criminology & Criminal Justice.

Cerio has also served as general counsel to former Gov. Rick Scott and is currently a member of the Florida Board of Governors.

Melissa Butler

Butler graduated from FAMU with a bachelor’s in business finance from the School of Business and Industry in 2010.

While working as a licensed stockbroker on Wall Street after graduating, she founded The Lip Bar — an award-winning beauty brand — in her kitchen, where she made vegan lipstick while promoting inclusivity.

Although Butler was rejected on TV’s “Shark Tank” in 2015, her efforts of launching the company later landed her features in publications such as Forbes, Cosmopolitan and Essence magazines.

FAMU’s commencement ceremony Friday is open to the public as tickets are not required, but FSU’s graduations are ticketed events.

For more information

∎ Commencement schedules by college and how to livestream the ceremonies is available for FSU at commencement.fsu.edu/ and for FAMU at www.famu.edu/students/commencement/ .

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_ .

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Here’s a look at FSU, FAMU commencement speakers for graduation ceremonies this summer