University of Central Florida Commencement Video Collection

In President Millican's introduction of astronaut John Young as the charter commencement speaker in 1970, he said that the two men share "a common desire with FTU; we both like to reach for the stars." Since that commencement of 422 students, hundreds of thousands more earned FTU and UCF degrees. Commencement ceremonies have varied in location, grew in ceremony length, and featured diverse commencement speakers. Starting in the Orlando Municipal Auditorium, FTU and UCF commencement ceremonies have taken place in the Reflection Pond, on the green outside of Colborn Hall, and most recently in the UCF Arena. Some of the university's most historic moments took place during commencement ceremonies including the address delivered by United States President Richard Nixon in 1973. Commencement ceremonies are important not only for the students who are awarded with degrees but for the message commencement speakers and university administrators give to the class and public. As John Young stated in his 1970 speech before being given and honorary degree by President Millican, "What happens to the world depends on the individual. There is no reason that life can't be made better on this planet except us and that is our challenge."