TIMELINE
DECEMBER
FALL COMMENCEMENT
More than 230 students received degrees during the Fall 2025 Commencement. Honorary Doctor of Humanities degrees were awarded to P.J. Browning, CEO of Evening Post Publishing and President and Publisher of The Post and Courier and Murrary Hartzler, former FMU Director of Athletics. Browning also gave the commencement address.
JANUARY
BSN PINNING AND GRADUATE CEREMONY
The Department of Nursing held its graduate recognition and undergraduate pinning ceremonies in Chapman Auditorium. These ceremonies honor the dedication, compassion, and beginning of a new journey in nursing.
MLK CELEBRATION
The Rev. Waymon Mumford, pastor and longtime member of the Florence County Council, delivered the keynote speech at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration hosted by FMU and the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.
PAC SPOTLIGHT: ABBA
The Music of ABBA, an ABBA cover band, played to a sellout crowd at the FMU Performing Arts Center.
STEM DAY
More than 700 high school juniors and seniors from Pee Dee region high schools attended the annual STEM recruitment day to learn more about majors and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math on January 30. Read more on page 14.
FEBRUARY
SNOW DAY
Campus was covered in white as the area was blanketed with more than 5 inches of snow in February.
PAC SPOTLIGHT: ALFREDA SINGS
“THE DIVAS OF SOUL” FMU alumni kicked off homecoming festivities at the annual alumni reception at Gately Gallery followed by Alfreda Sings “The Divas of Soul” at the FMU Performing Arts Center. This annual reception followed by a show has become a beloved tradition for many of the university’s alumni.
FEBRUARY
HOMECOMING
Homecoming 2026 was full of memorable events for students and alumni. From a comedy show to the pep rally bonfire and a day of tailgating, Patriot Pride was felt throughout the week. Homecoming Day included baseball and men’s and women’s basketball games. Azayvya Wright was crowned Homecoming Queen, while Shawn McMichael was named Homecoming King. Former baseball catcher Jared Barkdoll (`09), former men’s basketball player Patrick Callaway (`87), and former men’s tennis player Oshada Wijemanne (`11) were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
SOBE DAY
Nearly 200 high school students from across South Carolina took part in the inaugural SOBE Day (School of Business/School of Education Day) in February. Students interested in business collaborated with FMU faculty on real-world projects and scenarios, while aspiring educators engaged in hands-on mini-lessons and explored innovative teaching strategies during the event. Read more on page 14.
MARCH
THREADS, FOLDS AND RABBIT HOLE
FMU’s Gately Gallery hosted a public reception for the Kristy Deetz art exhibition, Threads, Folds, and Rabbit Holes on Feb. 12
SC CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
The 14th annual South Carolina Chamber Music Festival was held February 23-27 at the FMU Performing Arts Center. This year’s lineup featured FMU professor and the festival’s artistic director, Dr. Paolo André Gualdi (piano), Kirstin Chávez (Mezzo-Soprano), The ViMaDeAn Experience: Anastasia Petrunina (violin), Denis Petrunin (Percussion), Irina Pevzner (piano), Gabriel Martins (cello), and Viktor Uzur (cello).
MARION MEDALLION
Donna Isgett, President and CEO of McLeod Health, and Mike Miller, President of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, were awarded the 2026 Marion Medallions in a ceremony held on Francis Marion Day, February 27. This annual award, presented by FMU and the Morning News recognizes Pee Dee-area citizens who have made sustained and significant contributions to improve the region and lives of its residents.
FMU PERFORMING ARTS CENTER BLACKBOX THEATRE NAMED IN MEMORY OF D. KEITH BEST
At its March meeting, FMU’s Board of Trustees named the D. Keith Best Black Box Theatre located inside the FMU Performing Arts Center in memory of the longtime theatre professor. Best served on FMU’s faculty for 32 years. During this time, his service included various positions such as chair of the Department of Fine Arts, associate provost, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, chair of the faculty, and secretary of the faculty. He was also awarded numerous awards including the Distinguished Professor award.
