Roughly 1,750 students will receive degrees during Fairfield University's 73rd Commencement ceremonies on the back garden lawn of Bellarmine Hall this Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21, at 9:30 a.m. This total includes nearly 900 out-of-state students and more than 400 Connecticut grads, all being cheered on by their families and friends in attendance. Graduates from the Class of 2023 range in age from as young as 20 years old to as seasoned as 67 years old, showing high school graduates everywhere that age is just a number when it comes to continuing their education.

Graduate program awards have been presented to Ram Tamanampudi, who received the Graduate Student Service Award and Matthew Laiz, who was given the Graduate St. Ignatius Loyola Medal. This year’s graduate ceremony speaker and recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree will be Geoffrey Canada. An honorary Doctor of Laws degree will also be bestowed upon Charles MacCormack, PhD.

Among graduate students, 39 will receive master of business administration (MBA) degrees and 76 will receive  master’s degrees in nursing. There are also 20 sixth-year certificate graduates and 48 students receiving doctoral degrees in the Class of '23.

Undergraduate awards have been presented to Vincent Anthony Rotondo, who received the St. Ignatius Loyola Medal, and Nya Jones, who was honored with the William J. Kramer '60 Humanitarian Award. Student Achievement Award recipients include Lauren Adams, Jillian Bauknecht, Jordan Gale, Kafo Bagagnan, and James Vizzard. The Class of 2023 also includes 135 nursing students.

This year’s undergraduate ceremony speaker and recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree will be Marcela Orvañanos de Rovzar. A Doctor of Laws honorary degree will also be bestowed upon Mary Beth Powers at the undergraduate ceremony. 

For more information about Fairfield University and the 73rd Commencement ceremonies, visit: Fairfield.edu/commencement.