On Thursday, as legislators and friends and alumni of Florida State University gathered to commemorate FSU Day, the Florida Capitol was a dazzling shade of garnet and gold.
The Capitol Rotunda’s first three levels were filled with booths promoting FSU’s elite programs and institutions as well as its accomplished faculty and student body.
The voice of Florida State men’s basketball and football, Jeff Culhane, emceed an outdoor pep rally this year for the second year in a row. The event featured performances by Flying High Circus and the FSU cheerleaders, as well as music by the FSU pep band Seminole Sound.
Members of the Florida Legislature’s Seminole Caucus joined FSU officials, men’s baseball Coach Link Jarrett and members of the Board of Trustees for the festivities.
President Richard McCullough highlighted student success and the excellence of athletes both on the field and in the classroom.
“Across the board, our student-athletes are working hard,” McCullough said. “It’s been an incredible year – not only on the field but in the classroom. We have the highest GPA in our student-athletes in the history of FSU.”
McCullough congratulated football coach Mike Norvell for winning two national Coach of the Year awards, coach Brian Pensky and the FSU women’s soccer team on their fourth national championship, and the team’s undefeated regular season, conference title, and No. 6 ranking at the end of the year.
McCullough praised the university’s achievements, citing rises in student success metrics like retention rates, research, and fundraising.
The university spent $414 million on research in 2023 as opposed to $356 million in 2022.
He declared, “Our research projects are full of daring and imaginative concepts to develop and enhance health care and research in biomedical fields.” Additionally, sophisticated manufacturing and aerospace will improve people’s lives and boost economies.
