UT Will Hold Winter Commencement Dec. 14

The University of Tampa will hold its 135th commencement Saturday, Dec. 14, at 9:30 a.m. in the Bob Martinez Athletics Center. The ceremony will include 436 graduates, including one associate’s degree candidate, 334 bachelor’s degree candidates and 101 master’s degree candidates.

The ceremony is open to the public, though seating is limited.

Jack King, professor of art, is the speaker for the ceremony. King is the recipient of the 2012-2013 Louise Loy Hunter Award, which is given annually by its previous recipients to a UT professor for excellence in teaching and cumulative contributions in service and scholarship.

Danielle Campisi of Spring Hill, FL, will introduce the speaker. An elementary education major, Campisi is active in Alpha Chi Omega sorority as vice president of philanthropy and vice president of membership programming as well as secretary in the Panhellenic Council.

Nicholas Stephen Vecchio of Shelter Island, NY, will deliver the challenge to the graduating class. A Master of Science in finance candidate, Vecchio has been a risk analyst intern with FIS Global and is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity.

The National Alumni Association (NAA) will give the Alumni Achievement Award to Jenn Greacen, executive director of The Clear Agency. The Alumni Achievement Award recognizes UT alumni who have made great accomplishments in their chosen careers or civic involvements.

In the days leading up to the ceremony, the Sykes College of Business and the Department of Nursing will hold hooding ceremonies for their master’s candidates. The College of Business hooding ceremony is set for Friday, Dec. 13, in Plant Hall, Fletcher Lounge, and the nursing department hooding ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 12, in Plant Hall, Grand Salon.

To view a webcast of Saturday’s commencement ceremony, go to http://www.ut.edu/commencementlive/?terms=streaming. Tweet at #UTampa.

UT Graduates by the Numbers:
Total graduates = 436
Countries represented = 34
% of graduates from Florida = 59%

Undergraduates
Total bachelor’s degree candidates = 334
Summa cum laude (GPA 4.0) = 0
Magna cum laude (GPA 3.75 or higher, but less than 4.0) = 18
Cum laude (GPA 3.5 or higher, but less than 3.75) = 40
Top 3 most popular undergraduate majors in this class = Accounting, Communication, Finance

Graduate students
Total master’s candidates = 101
With honors (GPA 3.9 or higher, but less than 4.0) = 5
With highest honors (GPA 4.0) = 2
MBAs awarded = 52