Thomas University will set a new record when more than 400 students graduate on Saturday, May 5. The ceremony will be held on the lawn in front of Smith-Bonvillian Hall on TU’s Forbes Campus. Associate, bachelor’s, master’s and education specialist degrees will be presented.
 
For the past several years, TU held its Commencement ceremony in the Ben Grace Historic Quadrangle in front of Balfour Chapel. With the increasing number of graduates, that location became too small.
 
“We realized that the previous location just couldn’t hold all our graduates, their family members and all the others involved in the Commencement ceremony,” said Michelle Wendel, TU Registrar. “We decided to move it to a larger location but one that is still on campus. The front of Smith-Bonvillian Hall is the ideal place with its large white columns and roofline that are reminiscent of the TU logo.”
 
Serving as this year’s Commencement speaker will be David Griffin of Tallahassee. He is a businessman and lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in public, private and athletic enterprises. He has extensive and unique experience in organizational success and personal performance. Griffin has held numerous executive positions, including Florida Lottery Secretary under Governor Jeb Bush from 1999 to 2003, and Executive Director of the Bush/Brogan Second-term Transition Office in 2002. He is currently the Owner and President of David Griffin Consulting, with clients in Los Angeles, Nevada and Florida as well as the Executive Director of Clear Health Alliance.
 
Griffin grew up in inner-city Cleveland, Ohio. He was the fifth of six children. His goal at an early age to become an accomplished athlete – and the discipline that came with athletics – enabled him to achieve many milestones. Griffin was Cleveland North Senate’s Most Valuable Player as a high school senior. He earned a full athletic scholarship to Penn State University, where he was selected as team captain during his senior season. He went on to play professional basketball in Europe.
 
The Commencement ceremony will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. on May 5. The procession of faculty, trustees and graduates will move into the area before the start time. Reserved seating requires a ticket provided to graduating students.