MEDIA CONTACT: Kristine M. McGrath
561-297-1168, kmcgrath@fau.edu or
Andrew LaPlant
561-297-0084, alaplant@fau.edu
BOCA RATON, FL (May 5, 2006) - Florida Atlantic University conferred more than 2,000 degrees today during three commencement ceremonies held in the FAU Arena on the Boca Raton campus. The new graduates join more than 90,000 alumni who have graduated from FAU since the university opened its doors in 1964.
“Commencement is a magnificent opportunity for FAU’s students, faculty, staff and the extended FAU family to celebrate the great accomplishments of these graduates,” said FAU President Frank T. Brogan. “With the tools acquired through their success at FAU, these students will have the opportunity to achieve their part of the American dream.”
The 9 a.m. commencement ceremony included the Kenneth R. Williams Scholarship winner, Rosanna Tursi, who earned a 4.0 grade point average in microbiology, molecular biology and biotechnology from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. In addition, the Caring award was presented to Daniel Falcao, who majored in biology, and volunteers at three different area hospitals and the Children’s Home Society.
The 2 p.m. ceremony featured the Kenneth R. Williams Leadership winner, Michelle Pelletier. Pelletier majored in liberal studies with a double concentration in international studies and Spanish, and a minor in business administration. She won the 2005 Stan and Renee Wimberly Scholar award, the top academic scholarship at FAU.
The 6 p.m. ceremony included a special recognition of Patricia McKay, who received the FAU National Alumni Association Hall of Fame Award, an award that recognizes distinguished alumni who demonstrate exceptional service and commitment to their profession or the community. McKay is the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Office Depot. A certified public accountant, she served as a member of Office Depot’s board of directors until assuming her role as CFO in September 2005. McKay is a member of the Women Executive Leadership organization, the Financial Executives Institute and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from FAU in 1978.
Spring commencement highlighted the accomplishments of several outstanding graduates, including:
- Gian Franco Sferrazza was born in Panama and came to the United States at the age of 19. He knew he wanted to make a difference in the world after feeling powerless as he watched his grandmother become critically ill. Sferrazza dreamt of one day becoming a researcher in the field of medical science. He now works as a researcher with Scripps Florida. Today, he graduated with a master’s degree in Biomedical Science.
- Sherry Morgenstern, who always dreamt of a career in photography, received her B.F.A. in studio art some five years after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). With the preliminary symptom of MS being loss of vision, Morgenstern was devastated. Five years later, she has her vision back and has learned how to take care of her MS and manage a healthy life, while pursuing her degree at FAU.
- Rose Hores graduated with a M.A. in anthropology after an educational journey that took her to the Amazon and never-before-documented research on monkey behavior. Hores began her studies in Ecuador in the field of archeology, but eventually moved into anthropology. In the Amazon, Hores documented the behavior of nearly 200 Howler monkeys and 20 Capuchin monkeys, observing how close the two species were to human interaction and if it affected habitation.
Some interesting statistics about the spring graduating class include the fact that 113 of the 2,447 degree recipients were over the age of 50. The oldest graduate was 71 and the youngest was 19. The graduates represented 81 countries.
For the convenience of family members and friends who could not attend the commencement ceremonies, the proceedings were cybercast at www.fau.edu.
- FAU -
