Distinguished Speaker Series
FGCU has a distinguished speaker series where one major, high-profile speaker comes and speaks to the students every year. Former Secretary of State and retired General Colin Powell spoke to a crowd of 4,000 at FGCU's Alico Arena on March 23, 2007, as a part of the University Lecture Series. Maya Angelou also spoke to a crowd of about 4,000 FGCU students. Mikhail Gorbachev spoke to a sold-out crowd of FGCU students as well. Current U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has held an event here, as well as former VP Dick Cheney. Between 2008 and 2010, the lecture series was put on hold, but returned in April 2011, with former first lady Laura Bush as the guest speaker.
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