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Spring 2003 Commencement generates 195 graduates
Bayfront ceremony brings 1,800 to the campus
(see photos below)

(Sarasota, FL, May 6, 2003) -- Defining moments were ever present this evening as a crowd of 1,800 family and friends under tent on the beautiful Sarasota bayfront watched as their loved ones received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee Campus.  The Spring 2003 Commencement ceremony generated 195 graduates tonight; 28 students (or 15%) graduated with honors.  USF President Judy Genshaft presided.

"Graduation is a defining moment for our students, and it is a defining moment for our campus," says Campus CEO Dr. Laurey Stryker.  "Students define themselves and their destinies after completing a rigorous higher education journey.  We at USF Sarasota/Manatee continually define ourselves by how well we produce our community's nurses, teachers, business leaders, accountants and civic ambassadors."

The ceremony also marked the last one for Dr. Barbara "Kitty" Clarke of the College of Education.  Clarke was one of the founding faculty members of the campus, having started more than 26 years ago.  She retires as a full professor at age 66 after more than 40 years in education, most of which was in Florida.

Here is additional information on the spring 2003 graduates:

• Of the 195 students graduating, 142 participated in the ceremony;

• Of the 28 honors students, 6 graduated Summa Cum Laude (the highest honors), 10 Magna Cum Laude, and 12 Cum Laude;

• 27% of the graduates are the first in their family to graduate from a four-year college or university;

• 32% raised children under age 18 while attending USF;

• 13% are single parents;

• 46% worked full-time while attending USF;

• 26% have employment or employment offers relative to their field; and,

• 49% of the undergraduates will or plan to attend graduate school.

Campus awards given out tonight were the following:

• Outstanding Service to Education - Carrie Marino, Summa Cum Laude, Elementary Education;

• Outstanding Bull - Lacey Jean Campbell, Magna Cum Laude, English Literature;

• Outstanding Graduate Student - Freda Williams, Master of Arts in Elementary Education;

• Outstanding Faculty - Dr. Stephen Rushton of the College of Education; and,

• Outstanding Senior - Mya Kay Schmitz, Magna Cum Laude, Psychology.

The University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee Campus offers 29 accredited degree programs for students to complete at the undergraduate and graduate levels.  Currently serving 2,500 students annually, the campus is located at the Sarasota/Manatee County line on 140 acres at University Parkway and U.S. 41, touching the shoreline of Sarasota Bay and adjacent to the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art and Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport.  It is part of the University of South Florida, the second largest university in Florida with more than 39,000 students, a Research I institution, and one of the top 20 largest universities in the United States.

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USF President Judy Genshaft is in silhouette with the U.S. and State of Florida flags in the foreground.

Campus CEO Laurey Stryker, Outstanding Graduate Student Freda Williams, and Student Govt. Assoc. Interim Vice Pres. Vincent Recca

 

Campus CEO Laurey Stryker, Outstanding Service to Education award recipient Carrie Marino, and Dr. Kitty Clarke

Media contact:  Ellen Wile (941) 359-4572; e-mail ewile@sar.usf.edu