News / Announcements
News / Announcements
B-CU Commencement 2025: Honoring Purpose, Power, and the Legacy of Excellence
Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) concluded its last ceremony of celebration for the graduating Class of 2025, conferring degrees to the next group of alumni.
Beginning this year’s Commencement season, graduates received a powerful message from Rev. Dwayne J. Craig, a Jacksonville, Florida native and esteemed ordained elder of the Florida Annual Conference for the United Methodist Church. During Consecration in the historic Gertrude Hotchkiss Heyn Chapel on Wednesday, April 30, Rev. Craig’s focus remained on completion.
“Graduates of 2025, you’ve climbed to the top of the mountain,” said Rev. Dwayne J. Craig, Elder of the Florida Annual Conference for the United Methodist Church. “You came to Bethune-Cookman University to work toward a bachelor’s or a master’s degree, and now you have accomplished your task. Now you will depart to serve.”
In consecrating the graduates’ purpose, path, and power, Acting President Dr. William Berry reminded the students, “You’re not here by accident. You’re the answer to someone’s prayer. You’re the fruit of Dr. Mary McLeod’s vision.”
During B-CU’s 84th Commencement Ceremony at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center Thursday, May 8, 2025, alumnus and City Manager of Daytona Beach Deric C. Feacher, delivered an inspirational keynote address. Quoting the poem, “I have only just a minute,” by civil rights leader and educator Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, Feacher addressed graduates and their parents, alumni, as well as faculty and staff, reminding them to make the most of each 60 seconds of life, and to use each wisely, for they hold the keys to their destiny.
Feacher shared encouraging testimonials of his own, as well as other alumni, reminding graduates not to allow other people to minimize the value of their degree, but instead to cherish their education and leverage it and the priceless relationships they’ve established at B-CU.
“Your education will stand up against the education of other students throughout the country,” said Deric C. Feacher, City Manager of Daytona Beach, to the graduates. “Don’t try to fit the mode, break it.”
In his current role as City Manager of Daytona Beach, Florida, as well as other distinguished opportunities he’s seized along his career, Feacher informed the graduating class that his B-CU degree has afforded him the opportunity to successfully lead graduates of universities from all over the country.
“I’ve been signing checks,” he said. “My degree - if I’m signing the checks, is as good as any other degree.”
With this distinction in mind, the last official Commencement activities honored the nursing graduates.
During the Nursing Pinning Ceremony, Dr. Sandra Tucker, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences & Director of Student Health, addressed graduates and their families to celebrate the graduation and pinning of B-CU’s Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing students.
Commemorating the transition from student to professional nurse, the ceremony also honored another group of students - B-CU’s first class of graduates of the Master’s of Science and Nursing Education Program.
Those graduates received a white coat embroidered with their name and credentials to indicate the transition from novice to expert nurse.
Watch all Commencement services on-demand via Bethune-Cookman University’s YouTube Channel using the links below:
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