Holly Epstein Ojalvo

USA TODAY

Betsy DeVos, President Trump's controversial Secretary of Education, did not have an easy time giving the commencement speech at Bethune-Cookman University, a historically black university in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Many graduates turned their backs on her.

And actively booed her throughout her speech.

DeVos spoke about civil rights pioneer and educator Mary McLeod Bethune, the college's namesake, and about "empowering students" and giving them opportunities.

She did get some applause when acknowledging individual Bethune-Cookman students and recognizing instructors.

Over 50,000 people had signed a Bethune-Cookman graduate's petition calling on the university to rescind its invitation to DeVos.

Some university officials were not amused by graduates' behavior.

Others thought the irresponsible behavior was on the part of the administration for inviting DeVos and granting her an honorary degree.

Related: After backlash for hailing HBCUs as school choice 'pioneers', DeVos pivots her message

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.