More than 30 animals will receive certificates in May 7 ceremony
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (April 24, 2019) – Senior students and their pets will begin the countdown to Commencement as furry, scaled or feathered companions receive their recognition at the 7th Annual Eckerd College Pet Graduation on Tuesday, May 7, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in Fox Hall, 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg.
This year’s ceremony will confer certificates on 15 dogs, 12 cats, four reptiles, two rabbits, a guinea pig, a hedgehog, a tortoise, a snake and a fish. As the first school in the nation to accept on-campus pets, Eckerd College is committed to honoring the animals that support our students, and that commitment extends to an annual ceremony where each pet 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 as Eckerd College President Donald Eastman presents the certificates and takes a photo with the pet and owner at the ceremony.
During the 2018–19 school year, Eckerd students registered 304 pets with the student-run Pet Life Council. Of the nearly 2,000 students who attend the College, 15.6% live with their pets on campus.
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.