Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumna and actress Angela Robinson will be the featured speaker for the Spring 2020 Virtual Commencement, 10 a.m. Saturday, May 9.
A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Robinson is best known as Veronica Harrington in Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and The Have Nots” on OWN. She is a veteran stage actress whose credits include “The Color Purple” and “Dreamgirls.”
“As you watch this with your parents and grandparents and uncles, who are beaming with pride, they’re proud because you’ve earned this, and no amount of social distancing can keep this accomplishment from you,” Robinson tells students in her taped message. Robinson, who graduated in 1987 with a bachelor’s in Sociology, urges graduates to create their own path as they venture into an ever-changing world.
“Being conventional will never allow you to do anything new, and being practical is just impractical in this climate,” Robinson says. “These times require bold and deliberate choices made from what’s inside you.”
The estimated two-and-a-half-hour digital event will feature the names of each of the more than 1,100 graduates, as well the photo/information they submitted. To view the ceremony, click https://florida-am.stageclip.com.
Among the notable graduates are 2019-2020 SGA President Rochard Moricette,
Franklin and Sarah Diekman, father and daughter graduates from the FAMU College of Law, and twins, Angelika and Makayla Lowder, the youngest of the four Lowder siblings from Ramstein, Germany, to graduate from FAMU.
In addition to Angela Robinson’s commencement speech and the graduate roll call procession, the virtual ceremony will include inspirational remarks by President Larry Robinson, Ph.D.
“Things are changing constantly and that will continue as you go out into the world. You know that now better than anyone as your lives were completely changed this semester by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Robinson tells graduates. “But you still finished strong. Because you are resilient, resourceful and well, because you are Rattlers and that’s just what we do.”
