2025 Fall Kickoff Celebration

August 18, 2025

FGCU set an all-new attendance record during the 2025 Fall Kickoff Celebration, with nearly 890 staff and faculty coming together for the annual event.

The annual event was an excellent opportunity to catch up with colleagues from across campus, gather for a lunch served by university leaders, welcome our newest employees, and hear the annual State of the University address by President Aysegul Timur which included the unveiling of FGCU's institutional values and the new MyFGCU app!

Azul also gave out a special prize to the most spirited Eagle in the room wearing their best green and blue!

Two women are sitting next to each other in front of a white table. The woman to the left is wearing a blue blouse with a brown cardigan. The woman to the right is wearing a blue and green dress and has blue and green tinsel in her hair. Both women are doing the Wings Up sign. In the background are other tables with people sitting down eating lunch.

Dr. Meagan Baskin and Dr. Jenny Manegold give a Wings Up salute.

A group of FGCU Dining Services staff are wearing black polos and doing the “Wings Up” sign as they pose for a group photo with Azul, the FGCU mascot. They are standing in front of a backdrop with the words ‘Alico’ in white.

FGCU Dining Services and Azul strike a pose.

Ersun Uluc, Simon Wood and Brianna Nordelo catch up at the celebration event.

Kimberly Hobart walks up to the stage dressed in a green skirt, a FGCU logo blouse and hat, a green and blue knitted scarf, and white sneakers. A blue, green and gold balloon arch and blue bleachers are in the background.

Kimberly Hobart wins Azul’s Most Spirited Eagle award.

Dressed in a dark blue blazer and skirt suit, and a green and blue scarf, President Aysegul Timur is addressing the crowd at Alico Arena from the stage. To the right and left side of her are green, blue and gold balloon towers. Behind her are blue and green banners with the words like 'Turning Ideas into Impact' and 'Intensive Internships’ in white.

FGCU President Aysegul Timur gives the “State of the University” address.

Four FGCU employees pose together for a photo. From left to right: one employee wears a dark blue blouse with a beige cardigan, carries a green purse and is doing the Wings Up sign. The next person is wearing a light blue plaid shirt and black pants. The third person wears a green blouse with beige pants, and the fourth is in a blue FGCU polo shirt while doing the Wings Up sign.

Christina Jordan, Dr. Joseph Buhain, Sky Santamaria and Dr. Ellen Donald show off their Eagle pride.

Dave Tollett, Dr. Ashley Kuhn, Maggie Hohne and Rosario Welle collect donations for the FGCU Campus Food Pantry.