Between the entry of the university’s mace and turning their cap tassels to the left, 532 doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s students walked across the stage of the Sun Dome Friday evening May 6 — and exited as USF Health’s newest graduates.

By the time the last graduates’ names were called, the solemn atmosphere inside the arena had given way to cheering, applause and the occasional blast of an air horn.

For the second year, the USF Health-wide commencement ceremony brought together graduating students from the Colleges of Nursing, Public Health and Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences and the Morsani College of Medicine’s Biomedical Sciences Graduate & Postdoctoral Programs.

Students convene in their college sections at the opening of the 2016 USF Health Commencement ceremony.

USF President Judy Genshaft noted that this cohort of students had witnessed USF move into the top 25 among all U.S. public universities for total research expenditures. In addition, she said, they studied here when their school was recognized as a global leader in generating new U.S. patents, now ranking 13^th in the world in this metric of innovation and invention.

“Particularly in the colleges of USF Health – from undergraduates to doctoral candidates — our students are integral to our upward trajectory as a great research university,” President Genshaft said.

“Our students benefit from learning the newest information and best practices in the classroom and in hands-on training programs. Our students conduct important research projects of their own and work as part of a team tackling big health problems. This puts USF on the leading edge of improving the quality of health care – not only in Florida, but across the nation and around the world.”

USF President Judy Genshaft enters the Sun Dome as part of the processional into the arena.

In addition to highlighting some of the colleges’ achievements over the past year, President Genshaft highlighted several USF Health student success stories:

• Samantha Kattiria graduated as a member of the final group of USF students to receive a BS degree in athletic training.   She was one of a select few female students in the country to work with the National Hockey League while pursing her degree in this specialty area.

• Shane Hooper came to USF after a head-on collision with a drunk driver left him unable to work. After completing a master’s degree in USF’s biotechnology program in 2010, he pursued and completed a PhD degree in medical sciences.

President Genshaft addresses the audience. The 532 doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s students participating May 6 in the USF Health Commencement ceremony were among more than 6,500 students who graduated across the USF System this spring.

• Emma Jagasia, who graduated magna cum laude with a BS degree in nursing, served as president of the USF Nursing Student Association, interned at a hospital in Belize, and volunteered at the College of Nursing’s CARE Tampa Bay, a free clinic providing education and support for people with chronic health conditions. Her postgraduate plans include a pediatric nurse residency program.

• Thayra Molinary, who at age 16 became a high school dropout and teen mother, worked to obtain a GED to support her daughter. Deciding she wanted a better life, she enrolled in college and continued her educational climb at the USF College of Pharmacy. Molinary, whose daughter graduates from high school next month, graduated with her PharmD degree.

• Hanin Fernandez, a first-generation college student born in Cuba, graduated with a master’s degree in public health. As a graduate student, she volunteered with the Hillsborough County Health Department where she developed health and wellness programs as well as conducted research on the rise of HIV in Hillsborough County and helped create outreach programs to reduce the risk of transmission.

Dr. Charles Lockwood, senior vice president of USF Health and dean, Morsani College of Medicine, congratulated the graduates and their families.

Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president of USF Health and dean, Morsani College of Medicine, joined President Genshaft in congratulating all the graduates and thanking the graduates’ families for their support.

“This special event is one of the largest ever in our history here at USF Health,” Dr. Lockwood said.  “It gives us all a great source of pride to look out at this audience today and see so many of you who have achieved your goals in completing this educational milestone.”

Kyla Hoffer, graduating with BS degree in nursing, holds the King O’Neal Award in recognition of her achievements as a graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average of 4.0. Presenting the award were USF Trustee Scott Hopes, President Genshaft and Betty Otter-Nickerson, (far right) chair of the USF Alumni Association.

Two honorees were recognized at the USF Health Commencement ceremony:

• Kyla Hoffer, graduating with BS degree in nursing, received the King O’Neal Award in recognition of her achievements as a graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average of 4.0. The award is bestowed by the USF Alumni Association in honor of charter graduates Lucas King and Evelyn O’Neal.
• James Martinez, lauded for his many honors and dedicated service to USF and the community during a 50-year career as a registered pharmacist, was presented with an honorary Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Honoris Causa). Martinez and his wife recently established the first endowed scholarship at the USF College of Pharmacy – the James and Sylvia Martinez Endowed Scholarship.

James Martinez (second from left), lauded for his many honors and dedicated service to USF and the community during a 50-year career as a registered pharmacist, received an honorary Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Honoris Causa).

The ceremony’s graduate speaker was Whitney Griffith, one of seven students in the first graduating class of the College of Nursing Bachelor of Science (BS) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Griffith was selected for the prestigious Jonas Veteran’s Healthcare Scholars Program in 2014 and was one of only five DNP students nationwide to receive a CVS Minute Clinic/Johnson & Johnson Together We Care Nurse Practitioner Scholarship in 2015. She also received a USF College of Nursing Community Service Award for exceptional humanitarian service during a two-week mission trip to the Dominican Republic.

Griffith said she initially had no idea what she was going to say when she was selected to address her fellow graduates at commencement. “So I did what any millennial would do… I Googled it,” she said.

The graduation speaker was Whitney Griffith, a member of the inaugural graduating class of the USF College of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science (BS) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

That search for inspiring graduation speeches led to two themes she shared in her remarks – the value of failure in teaching resilience and sweetening success and the importance of remaining true to yourself by finding and doing what you love.

“I wish you all a future filled with happiness, success and the poise to passionately persevere after gracefully failing,” said Griffith, who will pursue a career as a doctorally prepared family nurse practitioner.

Patricia Duffy, who graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, is hooded by faculty.

The ceremony’s culmination was the conferring of degrees, including the hooding of all USF Health doctoral candidates.

Then, following the singing of the alma mater, the new USF Health graduates filed out of the Sun Dome – ready to start their futures as health professionals.

The USF Health baccaulareate graduates turn the tassels on their caps to the left near the end of the ceremony.

The commencement party platform.

Dr. Edmund Funai, chief operating officer at USF Health and Vice President for Strategic Development, USF System, announced names of all 532 USF Health students who walked across the stage.

The graduates had individual photos taken after exiting the stage.

The singing of the USF alma mater was led by College of Nursing graduate Angelica Manangan (at podium).

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Photos by Eric Younghans, video by Sandra C. Roa, USF Health Communications