TAMPA, Fla. (July 31, 2017) – More than 2,700 University of South Florida System students will be awarded degrees during two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, August 5. USF System President Judy Genshaft will preside over both ceremonies at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, marking the university’s 112th commencement convocation.
USF in Tampa will award approximately 2,470 degrees, with 190 degrees being conferred for USF St. Petersburg students and nearly 90 students from USF Sarasota-Manatee. The graduating class represents 43 states, more than 83 nations and includes over 100 student veterans. Ten students will earn the King O’Neal award for graduating with a 4.0 GPA. The youngest graduate is a 19-year-old receiving a bachelor’s degree in political science, while the oldest graduate is a 67-year-old earning a master’s degree in rehabilitation and mental health counseling.
Garrett Bowleg will be recognized with the USF Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduate Award. Bowleg, who graduates with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, is an international student from the Bahamas who came to USF to pursue her dream of becoming a female role model in a STEM field for young girls in her home country. Bowleg has gained membership into numerous student organizations including the Society of Women Engineers, Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, USF Ambassadors and Lead Fellows for the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement. She also secured internships with both the United Technologies Corporation and Lockheed Martin. After graduation, Bowleg has been offered a full time position at Emerson as part of their Engineers in Leadership Program, which will provide her with the opportunity to work abroad in Romania.
Garett Bowleg, an international student from the Bahamas graduating with bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, will be recognized with the USF Alumni Association's Outstanding Graduate Award.
Graduates and anyone attending the ceremonies are encouraged to use #USFGrad and #Classof2017 on all social media posts. More information on commencement is available at usf.edu/commencement.
Commencement schedule (all held at the USF Sun Dome)
- Saturday,
Aug. 5, 9 a.m. ceremony includes USF. St. Petersburg students receiving
their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from all colleges as well as USF
Tampa students receiving their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees
from the College of Arts & Sciences, Muma College of Business, College
of The Arts and Undergraduate Studies. Dr. Jesus Ferro-Bayona, the
Rector of Universidad del Norte in Colombia and advisor to Colombia’s President
and the Education Ministry in matters of higher education, will receive
the President’s Global Leadership Award.
- Saturday, Aug. 5, 1:30 p.m. ceremony includes USF Sarasota-Manatee students receiving their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from all colleges as well as USF Tampa students receiving their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the College of Behavioral & Community Sciences, College of Education, College of Engineering, Global Sustainability, Graduate Studies, College of Marine Science, Morsani College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and the College of Public Health. RoseAnne Garcia Bowers, a recognized community leader with more than 40 years of experience in the field of education and a former teacher, administrator and assistant superintendent in Hillsborough County, will receive an honorary doctorate of education.
