Columbia Southern University (CSU) will honor 773 candidates during their 2018 Commencement Ceremony this Friday, October 19, at the Foley Event Center (FEC).
The 2018 Commencement Ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. and is anticipated to welcome approximately 4,500 guests from across the world and all 50 states to Foley. CSU Director of Continuing Education, Nickie Cooper, said this year’s ceremony will not only be a reason for graduates to celebrate but is also a special time for CSU
“We are also inaugurating a new President, Ken Styron, and celebrating CSU’s 25th anniversary,” Cooper said.
This year’s commencement speaker is actor, motivational speaker, and former U.S. Army soldier J.R. Martinez. He’s perhaps best known for winning season 13 of Dancing with the Stars.
CSU and Foley Sports Tourism (FST) staff have been preparing for weeks to make sure the event is a success. The 2018 ceremony will be the second time the CSU commencement has been held in the Event Center, which makes the set-up easier with past experience. While Friday is expected to be busy, Jeff Ryan, FEC Building Maintenance Supervisor, said the work is worth it.
“This is what we do,” Ryan said. “We work hard to give people memories that they can look back on for years to come. We love working with Nickie and her team because their excitement is infectious. This is a big day for 773 people and we intend to make sure it goes off without a hitch.”
The ceremony is scheduled to end around noon which will create a heavier traffic presence around the Foley Event Center. Local businesses should be aware they may experience an increase in visitors around that time.
For more information on the 2018 Columbia Southern University Commencement Ceremony or any FST event check out our events page.
