Columbia Southern University Celebrates 2023 Graduates, 30 Years

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Columbia Southern University will hold its annual commencement ceremonies at the Foley Event Center at OWA in Foley, Alabama, on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. The university expects more than 730 graduates and their more than 3,000 friends and family members to attend the graduation day ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. CST.

“This year’s commencement will have special meaning for all of us here at CSU as we celebrate our 30th anniversary,” said CSU President Dr. Ken Styron. “Since our founding, CSU has worked to make education affordable and accessible to all. This event is a reminder that no matter who you are or where you start, you have the capacity to achieve great things.”

The school recently celebrated its anniversary by joining the Alabama Coastal Foundation, also celebrating 30 years, in the public coastal cleanup last month along Alabama beaches. CSU is also honoring this special year with commemorative medallions for grads.

The university was founded in 1993 with the mission to provide public safety education. As a nod to its founding mission, this year’s keynote speaker will feature noted occupational safety and health expert Russell J. Kendzior.

Kendzior’s speech and the ceremonies will be broadcasted on the CSU website and will be available for public viewing on-demand.

Thursday evening, CSU will conduct a doctoral hooding ceremony at the Foley Civic Center. The ceremony will be followed by a reception for the Doctor of Business Administration graduates and Master of Business Administration graduates who have traveled from their home country of Vietnam to participate in the celebrations.

For more information, visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu/Commencement. Media inquiries may be sent to Anthony.Cornealius@ColumbiaSouthern.edu.

About Columbia Southern University

As an innovator in online education for 30 years, CSU was established to provide an alternative to the traditional university experience. CSU offers online associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees such as business administration, criminal justice, fire administration and occupational safety and health. Visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu or call (877) 347-6050 to learn more.