University of Memphis spring commencement set for May 4; former Tiger Stephen Gostkowski to speak

Raven Moore
·2 min read
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The University of Memphis announced its Spring Commencement ceremonies will take place on Saturday, May 4 at the FedEx Forum.

Former Memphis Tigers kicker and NFL veteran Stephen Gostkowski is set to speak at the University of Memphis’ Spring Commencement ceremony.

2,858 students will receive a degree or certificate, with 1,722 students earning their undergraduate degrees and 836 students obtaining their master’s or specialist degrees.

A total of 115 certificates will be handed out, while 102 people will get their juris doctor and 83 people will earn their doctoral degrees.

Gostkowski, who played in the NFL for 15 seasons, came to the University of Memphis on a baseball scholarship and began his Tigers’ football career as a walk-on.

With the Tigers, Gostkowski was a two-time first-team All-C-USA selection and was named the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year in 2005.

He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. In his 14 years with the team, he won three Super Bowls, was a two-time first-team All-Pro, and was the NFL’s scoring leader five times.

In 2020, he played his final season with the Tennessee Titans.

Avron B. Fogelman, namesake of the Fogelman College of Business & Economics and the Avron B. Fogelman Center for Professional Career Development, will receive an honorary doctorate degree during the afternoon ceremony.

Commencement ceremonies, of which there are three, start at 10 a.m. Saturday:

10 a.m. Ceremony

TigerLIFE Completion Academy, College of Communication & Fine Arts (CCFA), College of Health Sciences, Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management, Loewenberg College of Nursing, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and doctoral and master’s candidates in these areas.

1:30 p.m. Ceremony

College of Professional & Liberal Studies, Fogelman College of Business & Economics, Herff College of Engineering and doctoral and master’s candidates in these areas.

5:30 p.m. Ceremony

College of Arts & Sciences, College of Education, School of Public Health and doctoral, master’s and specialist candidates in these areas.

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