USF Sarasota-Manatee to confer 265 degrees at Fall 2007 Commencement

SARASOTA, FL (December 14, 2007) – This Sunday, December 16 at 2:00 p.m., the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee will confer degrees upon 265 students at the Manatee Convention and Civic Center.

Over 2,600 people are expected to attend the Fall 2007 commencement ceremony for the regional campus.  USF President Dr. Judy Genshaft will preside over the ceremony.  The Keynote Speaker for the event will be Margaret L. Callihan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of SunTrust Bank in Southwest Florida.

This fall, 39 master’s degree candidates will receive graduate degrees.  USF Sarasota-Manatee offers graduate degrees in business administration, nursing, rehabilitation and mental health counseling, library and information sciences, public administration, reading education, adult education, elementary education, special education, and educational leadership.  . 

Forty-three USF Sarasota-Manatee students are graduating with honors, representing 16 percent of the campus graduates.  Special honorees at the ceremony include Jayme Lynne Hagedorn, College of Business, Golden Bull Award; Martin Moore, College of Business, Paul Searls Webecke Award presented by Boars Head; Dr. Robert Barylski, Outstanding Professor Award.

Sarah Mae Moran, College of Education, will be receiving the King O’ Neal Award, which denotes a student who has maintained a 4.0 grade point average.  The King O’Neal award is given each semester by the Alumni Association in honor of charter graduates Lucas King and Evelyn O’Neal. 

The Fall 2007 graduates of USF Sarasota-Manatee represent traditional and non-traditional students. Among the students of traditional college age, a large percentage continue their education at USF Sarasota-Manatee after attending Manatee Community College for their freshman and sophomore level courses. Among non-traditional students, many of this year’s graduates worked full-time while attending school -- balancing family, work and school responsibilities.

For more information call USF Sarasota-Manatee at (941)359-4330 or visit www.sarasota.usf.edu.