A Virtual Celebration to an Authentic Achievement

When Payton Cusimano ’20 introduces the speaker at UT’s December commencement, she said it’ll be a shining cap on her UT experience.

portrait of Payton Cusimano
Payton Cusimano ’20 will virtually join 617 degree-seeking candidates in UT’s 151st commencement on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. Photo courtesy of Rachel Pigeon

“I’m going to miss all of the opportunities that UT has given me,” said Cusimano, a member of UT’s Diplomats, chapter president of Pi Beta Phi, vice president of communications for Order of Omega and the UT Laser Team public relations manager.

Cusimano, an advertising and public relations major with a minor in professional and technical writing, will virtually join 617 degree-seeking candidates in UT’s 151st commencement on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. She plans to launch her own social media marketing business after graduation.

Saturday’s ceremony will honor 497 degree-seeking candidates who will be earning a bachelor’s degree and 121 who will be earning a master’s degree. The event is free and available to view online by the students, their family members and friends, UT faculty and staff, and the general public.

Leslie Jones, assistant dean of the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education and associate professor of mathematics at UT, is the speaker for the ceremony. She’s the recipient of the 2019-2020 Louise Loy Hunter Award, which is given annually to a UT faculty member for excellence in teaching and cumulative contributions in service and scholarship.

The ceremony will include remarks by President Ronald Vaughn, James S. MacLeod, chair of UT’s Board of Trustees, and others. Cusimano will introduce the speaker, and Debra Tuberion, who will be earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, will deliver the challenge to the graduating class.

A downloadable version of the ceremony will be available immediately after. In addition, each graduate will receive a personalized video commemorating their achievement. More information about the virtual ceremony can be found at ut.edu/commencement/december-commencement.

Degree-seeking candidates and those who’d like to say “congratulations” are encouraged to submit photos through social media by using the hashtag #UTampaGrad and tagging @uoftampa. For details, visit ut.edu/utampagrad.