By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
Though Coby Flannery鈥檚 最新天美传媒 commencement ceremony didn鈥檛 begin for another 90 minutes, his seven family members were already waiting outside the Yuengling Center, first in line when doors opened.
鈥淭his is a big day for him and our family,鈥� his mother, Suzanne Moore, said. 鈥淲e wanted to be here early so we could get the best seats to watch him graduate. We鈥檙e so proud.鈥�
Coby Flannery's family was first in line for his commencement ceremony [Photo by Paul Guzzo]
Flannery鈥檚 family, which included an aunt and uncle who are USF alumni, then sat in the second row and cheered loudly when he received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in cybersecurity.
Nearly 4,000 degrees were conferred during this fall鈥檚 commencement. The group, which represented 93 countries, 42 states and 11 U.S. territories, included 47 undergraduate students earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average and 107 military veterans.
The oldest graduate was 70 and earned a master鈥檚 degree in liberal arts, while the youngest was 16 and earned a bachelor's degree in biology.
All now share a common theme 鈥� they are USF alumni.
鈥淭oday, you join a network of nearly 400,000 living USF alumni who are making an impact worldwide,鈥� USF President Rhea Law said in her remarks. 鈥淓ach of you will venture in different directions 鈥� whether it鈥檚 starting your career, or continuing your education, or perhaps serving in the military, or pursuing other life goals 鈥� but you are all united through your alma mater. You are all USF Bulls.鈥�
USF President Rhea Law presided over commencement [Photo by Casey Brooke Lawson]
Student keynote speakers touched on a variety of topics. Katelyn Pike looked back on the two hurricanes that interrupted learning this semester and devastated the Tampa Bay community.
鈥淒espite these hardships, we have made it to this beautiful moment of strength, accomplishment and gratitude,鈥� said Pike, who earned her bachelor's degree in psychology. 鈥淣ever forget the resilience and perseverance you have shown.鈥�
Alina Shroff sought to assure fellow graduates that it is okay to feel 鈥渁verage鈥� in a world 鈥渢hat glorifies excellence.鈥�
鈥淚t is through our shared experiences of being average that we find common ground, foster empathy and create a sense of belonging,鈥� said Shroff, who earned two bachelor鈥檚 degrees, one in psychology and another in health sciences. 鈥淲hat if I told you that average is not a burden, but a place to grow?鈥�
Abigail Dupre reminded the crowd of students that their years at USF were at the beginning of their road to success.
鈥淚t鈥檚 at this very moment that we step out of our boxes and truly begin to live,鈥� said Dupre, who earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in language, speech and hearing science.
[Photo by Casey Brooke]
Leilani Paxton, who received her doctoral degree in geography and environmental science and policy, reminded graduates to thank those who helped them along the way.
鈥淵ou've been our cheerleaders, our confidantes, and our unwavering support system,鈥� said Paxton, whose father earned the same degree from 最新天美传媒 in 2014, studying under the same academic advisor. 鈥淵ou've celebrated our triumphs, offered comfort during setbacks, and patiently endured countless late-night emails filled with likely incomprehensible ramblings about our research. Thank you for believing in us, even when we doubted ourselves.鈥�
That sentiment resonated with 16-year-old Baylee Aguilar, the youngest graduate in the fall class and second youngest in USF history. She credits the support of her single mother, Lupe, with the achievement.
鈥淢y mom has been there with me since the beginning,鈥� Aguilar said. 鈥淪o, it felt right that she was there with me in the end. It was symbolic of our journey together.鈥�
Arianne Buchanan accepts the Distinguished Citizen Award on behalf of her late-husband, Amir Abdur-Rahim [Photo by Grad Images]
This year鈥檚 commencement also marked a significant goodbye.
It was the final one for Karen Holbrook, who retires at the end of the month after serving as regional chancellor of USF Sarasota-Manatee since 2018.
鈥淐hancellor Holbrook, we are truly grateful for everything you have done for the University of South Florida, and we congratulate you on your highly decorated career in higher education,鈥� Law said.
And, in a touching moment, Law presented the Distinguished Citizen Award posthumously to Amir Abdur-Rahim, the beloved USF men鈥檚 basketball coach who died unexpectedly on Oct. 24 at the age of 43.
His widow, Arianne, accepted the award.
鈥淎mir loved this university. He loved this community,鈥� she told the graduates, who included USF basketball players Kobe Knox and Corey Walker. 鈥淗e strove daily to honor this institution. Thank you so much for honoring him in return.鈥�
Jayden Stewart (second to left) is the first member of his family to earn a college degree [Photo by Paul Guzzo]
For first-generation graduate Jayden Stewart鈥檚 six relatives in attendance, they hoped his was the first of many commencements to come for their family.
鈥淭oday shows the value of the hard work, value and ethics taught to him by his family,鈥� Stewart鈥檚 cousin, Peyton Vines, said from the front row. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 be prouder.鈥�
Stewart, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biological health sciences and is now seeking a graduate program for medicine, said graduation marks another step in his personal journey to becoming a pediatric physician assistant and in his family鈥檚 greater path moving forward.
鈥淭his allows me to become a foundation for the future of my family,鈥� Stewart said. 鈥淚 want to forge a path for generations to come.鈥�