UF spring 2022 commencement scheduled for Friday

April 25, 2022

WHAT: The University of Florida’s 2022 spring commencement ceremonies

WHEN/WHERE: UF's university-wide commencement ceremony is scheduled for Friday, April 29. This ceremony is at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium from 7 to 9 p.m. Individual college ceremonies begin April 27 and conclude May 1. Commencement schedule details are available at https://commencement.ufl.edu/spring/event-schedule/

BACKGROUND: Almost 10,000 UF students have applied for their degrees this spring.

Former University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who went on to play professional football and baseball and to be widely recognized for his philanthropy and motivational leadership, will serve as UF’s university-wide commencement speaker this spring in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. At UF, Tebow, who graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in family, youth and community sciences, led the football team to two national championships and earned a Heisman Trophy. He is a five-time New York Times best-selling author, speaker and football analyst and the founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, whose mission is to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. The Christian-based organization serves people in more than 70 countries.

The faculty speaker at Thursday’s doctoral commencement is Joslyn Ahlgren, instructional professor and undergraduate coordinator in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology in the College of Health and Human Performance. Ira C. Robinson, the first Black student to receive a Ph.D. from UF, will also be recognized with an honorary doctoral degree during the ceremony. Computer scientist James Hines will receive an honorary doctoral degree from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for his work in software development for understanding animal populations and ecology.

Note regarding Friday’s ceremony: Members of the news media will need a credential to attend commencement and must wear a commencement robe (provided on site) to be on the field. No audio recording of Tim Tebow’s speech is allowed. Media check-in for Friday’s ceremony will be open from 6 to 6:30 p.m. inside the elevator lobby on the north side of the Skybox Tower near Gate 3. (Signage above the lobby door reads “Media/Disabled Seating Deck Entrance.”) Media who wish to gain access to the sidelines must pick up credentials and a robe, go through security and be in place by 6:45 p.m. To request credentials, contact Blake Trauschke, public relations specialist, at btrauschke@ufl.edu or 352-273-3828.