Commencement 2024

We're thrilled to celebrate your graduation weekend with you in 2024. Below, you'll find the schedule of events for your final days on campus, details about our commencement speaker, regalia, and other pertinent information as it becomes available. You're soon to join the ranks of AMU alumni – a momentous achievement!

We're excited to share this milestone event with you.

Schedule of Events

FRIDAY, MAY 3

Baccalaureate Mass

5:00 p.m.,  Ave Maria Catholic Church

No ticket required. Doors open at 4:15 p.m.  Please observe the RESERVED SEATING signs.  

President’s Dinner

6:30 p.m., Bob Thomas Student Union

Please present ticket at the door. Open seating . Cash bar (wine and beer).

GET TICKETS

SATURDAY, MAY 4

Daily Mass

7:30 a.m.,  Ave Maria Catholic Church

Commencement

10:00 a.m., Golisano Field House

Doors open at 9:00 a.m.  Please present ticket at the door.

Featured speaker: Father Mike Schmitz

Highlights, Commencement, 2023

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COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER AND HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS

Fr. Mike Schmitz

Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient

Father Mike Schmitz is the director of Youth and Young AdultMinistry for the Diocese of Duluth as well as the Chaplain forthe Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.The Duluth Newman Center focuses on being fed through thesacraments as well as study and knowledge of the Church, andhas thrived under his humble and Spirit-filled guidance. He haspreached to thousands locally and nationally. He is the host ofthe widely popular podcasts Bible in a Year and The Catechismin a Year produced by Ascension. Father Mike also offersweekly homilies on iTunes, Hallow, and bulldogCatholic.org. Hehas appeared in programs for youth and young adults throughAscension Press, as well as through regular short video messageson Ascension Presents.

Nicholas Healy | Honorary Degree Recipient

Mr. Nicholas Healy is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and New York University School of Law. He practiced maritime law for seventeen years and taught Admiralty Law at both the New York University School of Law and the United States Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point, New York. In 1980, Mr. Healy became CEO and Principal Owner of Lamorte, Burns, & Co., Inc., a nationwide marine insurance claims adjusting service.

After becoming a Trustee at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1984, Mr. Healy gained first-hand exposure to many of the challenges facing Catholic higher education. This eventually led him to seek to serve the Church in whatever way God might call him. In 1988, he was appointed Vice President for University Relations at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Later, in 1999, he assumed the presidency of what was then Ave Maria College. Mr. Healy went on to serve as President and CEO Ave Maria University until 2011. Following his time at AMU, Mr. Healy served as President of Newman College Ireland, a new Catholic liberal arts college located in Ballykelly, Northern Ireland, from 2017 until 2019.

Mr. Healy and his wife Jane have been married for 60 years, and they have four children, thirteen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Healy divide their time between their farm in Munsonville, New Hampshire and Ave Maria, Florida.