Stetson celebrated its 140th Commencement this past weekend, honoring graduates in the newly renovated Edmunds Center, Insight Credit Union Arena. This momentous occasion marked the end of a chapter for the Class of 2026, and the beginning of a new journey as Hatter alumni! 

The celebration starts in June! Join us for our second annual Summer Series as we welcome the Class of 2026 into the Alumni Association with events happening all summer long in Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Ormond Beach, Boca Raton and Tampa. RSVP for these events below and stay tuned for more details!

This year, Donor Relations and Annual Giving launched its very first Recurring Giving Magnet Competition, inviting students from across campus to create a design inspired by the Hatter experience. Our inaugural winner, Carly Bair, a Class of 2027 Health Sciences major, shared that her design was inspired by the impact donors have had on her experience at Stetson and the importance of giving back to the community.

This limited edition magnet will be mailed to all monthly recurring gift donors in July as a special thank you for supporting Stetson students and programs. Want to receive Carly’s magnet design? Start your recurring gift of $18.83 or more to any fund today!

May 15 | Stetson Softball NCAA Tournament Celebration

May 22 - 25 | University Closure - Memorial Day

June 4 | Summer Series: Atlanta

June 11 | Summer Series: Miami

June 23 | Summer Series: Orlando

Help us recognize Hatters who are leading with purpose. Submit a nomination for a Stetson Alumni Award. Nominations are open through May 31, with honorees recognized during Homecoming.

Alumni, keep an eye out for email scams that appear to come from Stetson. A common tactic claims that IT is closing inactive accounts and asks users to submit forms or verify credentials. If you receive a message like this, do not click or engage. When in doubt, contact the IT Help Desk to verify before taking action, at support@stetson.edu or 386-822-7217. 

Ready to reconnect with your Hatter community
or get involved with us for the first time?

Take a look at our opportunities and see what speaks to you! If you're interested in mentoring students, sign up for Hatter Chats below before June 1!

Stetson softball is headed back to the NCAA Tournament, earning a spot in the Tallahassee Regional. The Hatters will open postseason play against FSU on Friday, May 15 at noon on ESPNU, and a watch party is being held in DeLand at the Elusive Grape! If you're in Tallahassee, alumni and friends are invited to a special pre-game event to celebrate ahead of the game. As they compete this week, your gift to the Women's Softball Program Fund is critical to support playing at this level, including travel for postseason, equipment and program priorities. Your donation goes directly towards keeping our team on the field.

Stetson Athletics is celebrating major achievements on and off the field, including facility renovations, conference championships and strong academic success. Looking ahead, the university is preparing for continued growth through new programs, conference changes and expanded support for resources and NIL initiatives.

Congratulations to Dr. Betty Thorne on retiring after 46 years in the School of Business. A proud Hatter for nearly half a century, she also carries a special family connection as the mother of two Stetson alumni. Congrats to all faculty and staff who have retired this semester!

Amelia DeCoil ’17 qualified for the United States Powerlifting Association National Championships while holding all ten Utah state records in the 97lb weight class across USPA and USAPL. She achieved a 435lb total at a bodyweight of 93.5lb, including a deadlift of more than double her bodyweight, an elite benchmark in strength sports. She will compete at Nationals in this month!

Bill Roberts '66, current COO of WRB Resources, Inc and former Stetson Trustee, received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree, honoris causa, at the 140th Commencement this past weekend. This comes on the 60th anniversary of his own graduation from Stetson. Bill is also the past recipient of Stetson’s Distinguished Service Award, awarded in 1992, and a former Alumni Board President.