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For the second year in a row, The University of Tampa will honor more than 1,000 graduates at its 128th commencement on Saturday, May 8, at 10 a.m. in the St. Pete Times Forum. There will be 1,144 degree candidates, which includes August graduates; 913 are bachelor’s degree candidates and 231 are graduate degree candidates. The ceremony is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.

The speaker for commencement will be Rashid Skaf ’92, president and CEO of AMX, a Texas-based firm that develops tailored solutions to meet the ever-evolving technology needs of its customers in various industries.

Paige Williams, of Apollo Beach, FL, will introduce the speaker. A marketing major, Williams ran cross country for UT for four years and competed in the national championships in both cross country and track. Williams was named to many honorary teams and was also named an Academic All-American.

Bryan Cormier, of Fitchburg, MA, will issue the student challenge. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history, Cormier was a member of the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Team and served in Louisiana and Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. After graduating, he will enter a master’s program for administration of higher education at Suffolk University in Boston.

The 2009 Esse Quam Videri Award will be awarded to Thomas A. Meachum ’81, MBA ‘93. Meachum has served on the board of directors for Tampa Alpha, UT’s local alumni chapter, since 1993 and has helped raise more than $200,000 for the University at various Tampa Alpha activities. He also helped found The Royal Krewe of Sparta Endowed Scholarship for student athletes.

April (Gillespie) Jones ’04 will receive the 2010 Young Alumnus Award. She has been on the National Alumni Association since shortly after graduation and is now the vice president of financial affairs for them.

For more information on commencement, go to www.ut.edu/commencement or contact the Office of the Associate Provost and Dean of Academic Services at (813) 257-6130.

Commencement by the Numbers:

• Total graduates = 1,144
• Total bachelor’s degree candidates = 913
• Honors
  (Honors have not yet been calculated for August graduates)
  Summa cum laude (GPA 4.0) = 6
  Magna cum laude (GPA 3.75 or higher, but less than 4.0) = 64
  Cum laude (GPA 3.5 or higher, but less than 3.75) = 135
• Total master’s candidates = 231
• Honors
  (Honors have not yet been calculated for August graduates)
  With honors (GPA 3.9 or higher, but less than 4.0) = 4
  With highest honors (4.0) = 2
• Countries represented = 39
• % of graduates from Florida = 44
• Top 3 most popular undergraduate majors in this class = communication, criminology, management
• MBAs Awarded = 136