BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Samford University graduated 279 seniors from 16 states during fall commencement Dec. 15.

Catherine Gael Wilkins of Daphne received a bachelor’s of science in education.

About 3,000 attended the program, the first to be held in Samford’s new $32 million Pete Hanna Center.

Samford enrolls $4,485 students from 46 states and 28 nations. It offers programs in the schools of the arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education and professional studies, law, nursing and pharmacy.