USF SARASOTA-MANATEE FALL GRADUATING CLASS INCREASES AGAIN

(Sarasota, FL December 14, 2005) – This Sunday, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee will be conferring degrees to 252 students – a 40% increase in graduating students compared to last fall’s commencement ceremonies. 

Over 1,700 people are expected to attend the Fall 2005 commencement ceremony for the regional campus – to be held on December 18, 2005 at 6 p.m. at the Manatee Civic Center, located at One Haben Place in Palmetto.  

The largest total increase in Fall 2005 graduates for USF Sarasota-Manatee was in Master’s degree programs. This fall, 65 master degree candidates will receive graduate degrees in social work, library science, criminal justice administration, educational leadership and adult education.   

According to Campus CEO Dr. Laurey Stryker, USF Sarasota-Manatee’s new Center for Research on Healthcare Systems and Policies, the Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, and the Master’s in Social Work are some of the many programs that provide students with viable skills in areas of high demand among local employers. 

“We’re continuing to fulfill our educational role and commitment to local workforce needs,” said Stryker, “by enabling community members to excel and attain leadership positions in some of the areas of greatest demand.” 

The Master’s of Social Work (MSW) program is graduating its first cohort of students this fall -- and Dr. Kathy Black, assistant professor of social work, couldn’t be happier.  

“The MSW program has offered a lot of already very dedicated human service professionals a career ladder to expand their skills. Our graduates are now equipped with subject knowledge and skills to enhance their work and practice,” said Black. 

According to Black, developing research skills is a very strong part of the program. Practicality is combined with research skills so students know how to empirically capture data, have the right interpersonal skills, and the organizational savvy to present their proposals to the right committees and organizations to get change affected. 

“One student had her fifth child during the program. If someone is thinking about going back to school, you should,” Black added. “Some of our students go on with their lives and are still able to get a graduate degree. Our graduates are leaders in this community.” 

USF System President Dr. Judy Genshaft will preside over the commencement ceremonies on Sunday. She will be presenting a special distinguished citizen award to Dr. Duncan Finlay, former CEO of Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH). Finlay has many years of service to the community and a long association with USF.  

Finlay was instrumental in providing a site at SMH for the USF College of Nursing students to learn new skills using informatics and computer information systems as diagnostic tools in patient care. He also provided senior staff to serve on the Advisory Group of the USF Sarasota-Manatee Center for Research on Healthcare Systems and Policies, a federally-funded initiative.  

The keynote speaker at this year’s commencement is another long-time friend of the USF community -- the Reverend Donald L. Roberts, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries-Manasota. Rev. Roberts spent 41 years as a Methodist clergyman; or as he likes to refer to himself, as a “simple country preacher from Texas.” 

This year, more than 30 USF Sarasota-Manatee students are graduating with honors -- and several are receiving special awards. There are two King O’Neal scholars -- Siew Foong Sim and Jennifer Lynn Davis. They have both maintained a 4.0 average throughout their program.  

The Outstanding Senior Award will be given to Holly Elaine Carvalho, who is also graduating Summa Cum Laude. The Golden Bull Awards will be presented to Leah R. Cell and Darren Gambrell. The Outstanding Professor Award this year will go to Rosemarie Ataya, assistant director of measurement and research for the College of Education.  

The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus now serves some 3,500 students in 37 full bachelors’ and masters’ programs.  

Enrollment increases have prompted USF Sarasota-Manatee’s growth and expansion of facilities, too. A new state-of-the art campus is currently under construction across from the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport on U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail). The new campus is scheduled to open in Fall 2006, and will have the capacity to serve 5,000 students.  

USF Sarasota-Manatee is an upper-level campus for people with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree who are interested in getting a baccalaureate or master’s degree, professional certification, or continuing education credit. The regional campus offers the prestige of a national Research 1 university with the convenience of a hometown campus, including classes in south Sarasota County at the Manatee Community College Venice site.  

For more information about USF Sarasota-Manatee programs please visit the Web site at www.sarasota.usf.edu