More than 50 animals will receive certificates in Wednesday’s ceremony
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (May 3, 2018) – Fifty-two animals from dogs to hedgehogs are expected to walk across the stage at the Sixth Annual Eckerd College Pet Graduation on Wednesday, May 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Fox Hall in the Hough Center, 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg.
On-campus pets have been a formalized part of the Eckerd community since 1972, making Eckerd one of the first schools in the nation to adopt a written pet policy. Now, as more institutions embrace allowing students to matriculate with their furry friends, Eckerd College stands as a leader in and authority on how to successfully integrate small animals into campus life. In addition to an annual pet blessing and several pet activities, Pet Graduation allows graduating students to honor the animals that supported them throughout their college career. Each companion gets to wear a cap, hear its name called and walk across the stage to the cheers of friends and family. Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students James Annarelli will read the pet names, present the certificates and take photos with the pet and owner at the ceremony.
More than 200 companions have “graduated” from Eckerd since the school began holding a separate ceremony in 2013. Eckerd College students can live in on-campus housing with one animal (dogs under 40 pounds, cats, rabbits, ferrets, ducks and chinchillas) or two small pets (fish, hamsters, gerbils, amphibians, nonvenomous reptiles under four feet long and small birds).
For more information about the ceremony, contact Robbyn Hopewell at 727.864.7978.