In the fall of 1982, Fitzgerald was accepted into the school of graduate studies at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He was accepted to the school of Fine Arts on a full scholarship, in the field of Sculpture. There were two reasons he picked SIU-Carbondale: one was the distinct opportunity to study sculpture under Thomas Walsh and Brent Kington. The second reason was the extensive three-tiered working facilities, specifically metalworking, forging and foundry. It can be said that the sculpting facilities at SIU-C are among the best in any academic setting. This intense, intimate and personal experience in graduate school allowed for the growth and maturity that Fitzgerald needed to fully commit to the life endeavor of being an artist-sculptor. Carbondale was also the right place for him to continue his interest and appreciation of hot metal, namely forging mild steel, and casting iron and bronze. The forging facilities at SIU-C, of which Fitzgerald played a direct part in expanding, may be the best in any academic setting in the world. Carbondale School of Art is the only place where a master's degree in Blacksmithing is available. The forging equipment at SIU-C consisted of numerous power hammers. Fitzgerald¹s arrival at SIU-C coincided with the installation of a 400-pound Nazle air hammer. Later a 600-pound hammer was added.