NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams to Speak at Florida Tech’s Spring Commencement May 6

By Space Coast Daily // April 26, 2023

Both ceremonies will be at the Clemente Center

Florida Institute of Technology will hold its spring commencement ceremonies on May 6 as the university bestows nearly 1,200 degrees to students from across the U.S. and around the world. (Florida Tech image)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Institute of Technology will hold its spring commencement ceremonies on May 6 as the university bestows nearly 1,200 degrees to students from across the U.S. and around the world.

The first ceremony is at 9:30 a.m. and features undergraduate and graduate students from the College of Engineering and Science.

The second ceremony starts at 2 p.m. and will feature undergraduate and graduate students from the College of Aeronautics, Nathan M. Bisk College of Business and College of Psychology and Liberal Arts.

Both ceremonies will be at the Clemente Center.

The final ceremonies will be hosted by Robert King, Florida Tech’s interim president, and will feature remarks from Florida Tech alumna Sunita Williams ‘95 MS.

The decorated U.S. Navy captain received her Master of Science degree in engineering management from Florida Tech in 1995. Three years later, NASA selected her to be an astronaut.

Williams went on to accrue 50 hours and 40 minutes outside of the International Space Station, second only to Peggy Whitson for total cumulative spacewalk time by a female astronaut; and in completing two missions to the ISS, she spent a total of 322 days in space, good for sixth on the all-time U.S. endurance list and second all-time for a female astronaut.

She has been busy on the ground. She served as a member of NASA’s Commercial Crew Transportation Capability, a group of veteran astronauts who work with privately-held companies to develop spacecraft. Her contributions have helped with the Boeing CST-100 Starliner, and she is preparing to serve as pilot on the first flight of that spacecraft with astronauts aboard.

Williams will speak before students representing 41 U.S. states and 61 foreign countries. There are 54 Summa Cum Laudes among the graduates – that’s the highest distinction for academic achievement – and 49 varsity athletes.

For more commencement information, galleries from past commencements and a link to the live stream of the ceremony, visit www.fit.edu/graduation/spring-commencement/.