Class includes a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who overcame combat-related health issues to receive her PhD
TAMPA, Fla. (July 30, 2018) – Nearly 3,000 University of South Florida System students will be awarded degrees during the university’s 115th commencement convocation Aug. 4-5.
This is the first class to graduate since the Florida Board of Governors declared USF a Preeminent State Research University in June. The prestigious designation follows significant improvements made to USF’s graduation and student retention rates, as well as other key measurements such as research expenditures and the number of U.S. patents awarded.
The USF Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduate Award will be presented to Barbora Skopalova, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in international studies and English with a concentration in literary studies. Four students in the USF System have been identified as King O’ Neal Scholars, earning a cumulative grade point average of 4.0.
Jodie Sweezey (Capt., USMC) graduates with a PhD in applied anthropology after serving in combat for the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan and other locations. She completed her dissertation on veterans, like herself, who suffer from combat-related health issues, such as autoimmune disorders and cancer. The challenge of constant health setbacks as a result of her time in the military has made Sweezey’s educational achievement even more outstanding.
Facts about the summer 2018 graduating class
Total USF System degrees: 2,806
- USF Tampa total: 2,474
o Bachelor’s: 1,627
o Master’s: 697
o Doctoral: 148
o Specialist: 2
- USF St. Petersburg total: 203
- USF Sarasota-Manatee total: 93
U.S. states represented: 45
Nations represented: 80
Youngest graduate: Age 18
Oldest graduate: Age 71
Graduates, friends and family attending the ceremonies are encouraged to use #USFGRAD on social media posts. More information is available at usf.edu/commencement.
Full ceremony information
Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018: Yuengling Center
9 a.m. ceremony for USF Tampa includes bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral candidates from the College of Arts and Sciences, Muma College of Business, College of Education, College of The Arts and Undergraduate Studies.
1:30 p.m. ceremony includes bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates for all USF Sarasota-Manatee colleges. USF Tampa will award degrees to bachelor’s and master’s and doctoral students from the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, College of Engineering, Patel College of Global Sustainability, Graduate Studies, College of Marine Science, Morsani College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and College of Public Health.
Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018: Mahaffey Theatre
5 p.m. ceremony will award bachelor’s and master’s degrees to candidates from all USF St. Petersburg colleges.
About the University of South Florida System
The University of South Florida System is a high-impact global research system dedicated to student success. The USF System includes three institutions: USF, USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee. The institutions are separately accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. All institutions have distinct missions and their own detailed strategic plans. Serving over 50,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.8 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.