Over 2,500 FGCU students graduate in record-breaking ceremony

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — A record number of FGCU graduates celebrated following a day filled with caps, gowns and cheering families on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University.

Over 2,500 students walked across the stage at Alico Arena, marking the university's largest graduating class. For many graduates who received diplomas, the road to reaching this moment has been one of growth and grit.

WINK News was on campus to speak with proud parents and graduates about their favorite memories and what makes FGCU home. Among the graduates was Stacey Charles, whose journey started with uncertainty.

"College is really scary. It's full of, like, just uncharted, unknown waters. But that doesn't mean that there isn't a destination at the end of it," Charles said.

Charles started college extremely shy and struggled with social anxiety. In her freshman year, she wasn't involved in campus activities, which she said played a part in her lowered mental health.

Fast forward to graduation, and Charles has transformed. She has been on the President's List and Dean's List since her freshman year and served as a student assistant director for Frosh Mosh, treasurer of FPRA at FGCU and treasurer of HSO.

Charles graduated with a GPA of over 3.5 and completed an internship through Career Development Services. She wore cords representing her academic achievements and campus involvement.

"I feel more confident in my leadership. I know what kind of leader I am now. I feel like I'm more capable of doing things that I never, 18-year-old me, never thought I could ever do," Charles said.

Charles crossed the stage, proving just how far she's come. In the crowd were her biggest fans, including her sister, who is also an FGCU graduate.

"I also was a graduate at FGCU, and so, like, just seeing her be a graduate, and she's just done so many incredible things, like, I really could not be more proud," Charles' sister said. "She's always been incredibly smart, incredibly talented, creative, just like, super ambitious. So I'm not surprised to see her, like, decked out like this."