May 2-6 ceremonies feature the university’s largest graduating class ever, including a 16-year-old who will be the youngest graduate in USF history
TAMPA, Fla. (April 25, 2019) – University of South Florida System President Judy Genshaft will lead her final commencement exercises during ceremonies held May 2-6 in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee. Over the course of Genshaft’s 19-year tenure, she has conferred more than 210,000 degrees and the total number of USF alumni has doubled. Since Genshaft arrived in 2000, USF’s four-year graduation rate has tripled to 60 percent, a trajectory that may be unmatched across the United States.
With approximately 7,500 degrees expected to be conferred, the spring 2019 class represents the largest in USF System history. The class features graduates from 50 states, 109 nations and 57 students with a cumulative 4.0 GPA.
The youngest graduate is Drew Falkowitz, 16, who will earn a bachelor’s in cell and molecular biology from USF Tampa. According to university records, Falkowitz is youngest person to graduate from USF since the institution was founded in 1956. The oldest graduate in the class is Janet Wells, 66, who will earn a bachelor’s in professional and technical communication from USF Sarasota-Manatee.
The ceremonies will also feature a group of distinguished honorees who have made significant contributions to USF, the Tampa Bay region or their academic fields (see full list below).
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-Drew Falkowitz, 16, is the youngest person ever to graduate from USF, earning a bachelor’s degree in cell and molecular biology. Falkowitz started high school through the Florida Virtual School at age nine, and took dual enrollment courses at USF beginning at age 14. After graduation, he plans to earn his master’s degree in cell and molecular biology at USF, before eventually pursuing a PhD/MD program.
-Ben Ward will earn a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences. Ward’s mother was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer at the start of his senior year, and he considered leaving school, but his mom encouraged him to finish his degree. Ward’s mother plans to attend the 9 a.m. ceremony on May 3 to see her son graduate.
-Stephanie Bauman will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in physics, more than 20 years after first enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserves. As a helicopter pilot during Operation Enduring Freedom, Bauman was part of a medical evacuation company, flying in and out of active war zones to render aid to fellow soldiers. At USF, she earned a prestigious Tillman Scholarship, named in honor of Pat Tillman, and a Frost Scholarship, an award that provides support to attend a one-year master’s program at Oxford University.
Full schedule (all ceremonies at the Yuengling Center at USF Tampa unless otherwise noted)
Thursday, May 2
1:30 p.m. ceremony includes bachelor’s degree recipients from the College of Arts and Sciences. Lynn Pasquerellawill receive an honorary doctorate in humanities. Will Weatherford will receive the President’s Fellow Medallion. Chennupati Jagadish will receive the President’s Global Leadership Award.
6 p.m. ceremony includes bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree recipients from the USF Health’s MorsaniCollege of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and College of Public Health. Audrey Heimler will receive an honorary doctorate in public health. David Eddy will receive the President’s Fellow Medallion.
Friday, May 3
9 a.m. ceremony includes bachelor’s degree recipients from the College of Arts and Sciences. Jerry and Ruth Bellwill receive the President’s Distinguished Citizen Award.
1:30 p.m. ceremony includes bachelor’s degree recipients from the College of Arts and Sciences. Joe Lopano will receive the President’s Global Leadership Award.
6 p.m. ceremony includes master’s and doctoral degree recipients from the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences and Muma College of Business. Pamela Muma will receive an honorary doctorate in business administration. Richard Gonzmart will receive the President’s Distinguished Citizen Award.
Saturday, May 4
9 a.m. ceremony includes bachelor’s degree recipients from the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences and Muma College of Business. Jeff Vinik will receive the President’s Fellow Medallion. Jose Valiente will receive the President’s Distinguished Citizen Award.
1:30 p.m. ceremony includes bachelor’s degree recipients from the College of Education, College of Engineering, College of The Arts and Undergraduate Studies. Doretha Edgecomb will receive the President’s Distinguished Citizen Award.
6 p.m. ceremony includes master’s and doctoral degree recipients from the College of Education, College of Engineering, Graduate Studies, Patel College of Global Sustainability, College of Marine Science and College of The Arts. Lyle Schwartz will receive the President’s Fellow Medallion. David Mearns will receive the President’s Global Leadership Award.
Sunday, May 5 (ceremonies at the Mahaffey Theater)
1 p.m. ceremony includes graduates from the USF St. Petersburg Kate Tiedemann College of Business and College of Education.
5 p.m. ceremony includes graduates from the USF St. Petersburg College of Arts and Sciences.
Monday, May 6 (ceremony at the Bradenton Convention Center)
6:30 p.m. ceremony includes all graduates from USF Sarasota-Manatee.
Please note: the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine will also hold an MD commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10 at 2:30 p.m. in the Mahaffey Theater. Harlan Krumholtz will receive an honorary doctorate in medicine.
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.