USF confers more than 2,600 degrees during summer commencement ceremonies

By Donna Smith and Althea Johnson, University Communications and Marketing

The University of South Florida awarded more than 2,600 degrees during summer commencement on Saturday, Aug. 3. The ceremonies included recipients of approximately 1,739 bachelor’s, 700 master’s, 162 doctoral and 11 specialist degrees.  

The group featured 10 undergraduate students earning a perfect 4.0 GPA, 66 student veterans and graduates from 41 states and 72 nations. More than one out of three graduates (775) are recipients of Pell Grants, reflecting USF’s impact on social mobility.  Pell is a federal financial aid program for students from modest socioeconomic backgrounds. 
  
At 18 years old, the youngest graduate earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. The oldest graduate, who is 67 years old, received a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social science. 
  
USF President Rhea Law presided over all ceremonies, which were held in the Yuengling Center on the Tampa campus.

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Boundless Bulls is a collection of stories about USF students who embody the university’s legacy of pushing boundaries – driven by determination and reaching milestones beyond what many thought was possible.

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Joshua Redmond

Bachelor of science, finance

Joshua Redmond is a true USF legacy student. Many of his family members went to USF, including both of his parents, his aunts, uncles and some cousins. Most notably is his grandmother, Martha Cerra, who earned her degree in elementary education in 1964. 

Redmond, the tenth member of his extended family to graduate from USF, says that being a legacy student definitely set a high bar, especially given that he followed his sister, Sarah, who graduated in 2022 with a degree in marketing.

Inspiration: “My mother, father and sister all have demonstrated things that I aspire to. My dad worked really hard and climbed his way up the corporate ladder, my mom is selfless and compassionate and sacrificed her career to homeschool me and my sister and my sister is someone I would like to be like all around.”

“It was certainly humbling to attend USF after my grandmother and my parents, so there was a level of expectation to succeed that I put on myself,” Redmond said. “But my sister was the main person, because she started two years before me and had a lot of success, and I wanted to be able to match that.”

Cerra remembers being part of the charter class welcomed by USF’s first president, John Allen, when the Tampa campus only had only three buildings, the mascot was the Golden Brahman and the unity felt among the small student body at the fledgling university was tremendous. She says it was important to her that her children and grandchildren also went to USF.

“I’m such a Bull that it would have broken my heart if they had gone anywhere else,” Cerra said. “The fact that my three daughters, their husbands, and my two grandchildren all went to USF, and that they’ve all become so successful in their lives, has meant a great deal to me.”

Redmond, who entered USF as a recipient of the USF Scholars Gold Award, a merit-based scholarship, and will graduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA, says it’s in his nature to strive for success in all areas of his life. 

“I run and I play the piano, and I definitely push myself in those places, but the areas where I most want to be at my best are in my spiritual walk and my studies.”

A member of The National Society of Leadership and Success, Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma, Redmond said he and his sister have a long history of inspiring each other to embrace challenges and give their all to their endeavors. 

“I always go back to the Proverbs 27;17, which says, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.’ We've done that throughout our lives, and we push each other to be the absolute best,” he said.

Redmond expects to begin law school in the fall of 2025, and he hopes to land an internship before beginning his studies. Although he got a great initial score on his LSAT, he’s planning to take it again in November before applying to law schools. He believes that attending USF is all part of a bigger plan.

“I think God worked it out perfectly for me. I lived in Tampa, and many of my family members went to USF, so it was a match made in heaven. For me, USF was the perfect choice.”

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Aneeshea Cason

Master of Science in pharmaceutical nanotechnology

Growing up in rural Loxahatchee, Florida, Aneeshea Cason was surrounded by a large, close-knit family that placed a heavy emphasis on education. When she began to read at age three, her mother opted to homeschool her so that she could set her own learning pace. That pace proved to be a rapid one, and Cason always found herself younger than her classmates, looking for ways to fit in. Her method was simple and effective and would be a catalyst for her success: She got involved. 

Inspiration: “My parents really did lay the foundation for me and they are the reason for my ambition and my having the confidence to pursue leadership roles at an early age.”

“My parents always encouraged me to surround myself with like-minded individuals who are ambitious and have the same goals and values that I do,” she said. “It's great to hear from different perspectives, but you want to be around people who can lift you up and who you can lift up as well.”

When she transitioned from homeschooling to a public high school in ninth grade, she was a 12-year-old freshman among students who had gone to elementary and middle school together, so she immediately began looking for a way into the social fabric of high school. A longtime basketball player, Cason joined the varsity team – with encouragement from her father and the team’s coach – where she played all four years and set a record. 

“It was a little scary at first, but my dad told me that if I was ready to take on the challenge, he was there to support me,” Cason said. “We put in the work, and I ended up being the first female basketball player at that school to score over 1,000 points.”

Cason graduated from high school at the age of 16 with her associate degree, and she was also class valedictorian and a National Merit Scholar. She enrolled at USF as a member of the Judy Genshaft Honors College, with her mom in tow to look out for her. She began to join organizations, including a premedical chapter of the medical fraternity Phi Delta Epsilon, the Orthopedics & Athletics Medicine Club, the STEM Academy, and many more over the years. She soon became a leader, serving as tutoring coordinator of the USF Chemistry Society, and president of both the Translational Nanobiotechnology Research and New Advancements in Nanotechnology organizations.

Over the years, Cason has also volunteered at Moffitt Cancer Center, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and the Feed-a-Bull food pantry. She served as a peer leader for Organic Chemistry I and II and as a graduate teaching assistant in biochemistry. She was also involved in research studies with the USF Department of Medical Engineering and USF Health Division of Allergy & Immunology.

Though she received several scholarships during her time at USF, Cason said her biggest accomplishment was when she received the King O’Neal Scholar Award when she graduated in 2023 with bachelor's degrees in biomedical sciences and sociology with a 4.0 GPA. 

“It was difficult, and I had my trials, especially with the pandemic my first year,” Cason said. “So being recognized for high academic achievement was very rewarding.”

Cason dreamed of becoming a doctor from a young age. This summer, she graduates with her master’s degree in pharmaceutical nanotechnology. She is already applying to medical schools, with her eye on USF as her first choice in Florida. She believes the degrees she has earned will all work in tandem to make her a better primary care physician. 

“My sociology degree offers a better understanding of people and how they were shaped by their environments,” Cason said. "And as a doctor, I want to fix what I can and try to innovate new ways to fix things. There are a lot of applications in medicine for nanotechnology, like making drug delivery more efficient or lessening side effects. But I also understand that there are no solutions for some things, so I want to be a trusted source that people can be comforted by during difficult times.”

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Daniel Doty

Bachelor of Science in economics

When Daniel Doty first came to USF St. Petersburg, he felt a little out of place. Having served active duty in the U.S. Army for five years, including a combat deployment to Afghanistan, he was older than most students and had many different experiences. 

“It is challenging when you come out of the military and go to a college campus where you might be 10 years older than most students and just have had a different life journey,” Doty said.

Inspiration: "I'm so grateful to all my professors who helped me earn this degree. They were interested in me and my background, they were helpful and easy to connect with when I needed them."

Eventually he discovered the Office of Veteran Success, which provides military-connected students with academic support and a sense of community by connecting them with others who have a similar shared experience. 

Doty soon became a regular fixture, helping out in the office and with student veteran initiatives on campus and regularly gave back to the community by volunteering with the Veterans of South Pinellas County.

“Though it took me a little while, I found myself getting more and more involved in OVS, and it really turned into my home base at college, with individuals who went through as much as I did in the military,” he said.

Doty, 28, will now be the first in his family to graduate from college this summer, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics. 

He began his higher education journey a decade ago in Indiana. At the time, college wasn’t for him. A year later, he left and joined the Army, something he said he’d always wanted to do. 

A member of the 82nd Airborne Division as an infantry mortarman, Doty was stationed at Fort Bragg until he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2019 for nine months, seeing combat in Nangarhar Province.

“Seeing other cultures, countries and worldviews really opened my eyes to the unique ways of life and challenges people deal with and also to what a good life we have in this country and not to take that for granted,” Doty said. 

Earlier this year, Doty accepted a job with Innovative Polymer Systems managing a distribution center for a spray foam company. Balancing completing his degree while working full time makes this achievement even more rewarding.

“It means everything,” Doty said of graduating. “I’ve put in a lot of work and it’s meaningful that I’m the first in my family and that it’s something I started 10 years ago. I stopped back then, but I stuck with it.”

Read more about Doty here. 

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Kadeem Thomas

Master of Science in supply chain management

Kadeem Thomas grew up in Tampa, but during his college years, he gained a love of travel that would shape his life.

“I had never really left Tampa before, and when I first went abroad, I met kids from all different cultures, including other Black kids from France or Saudi Arabia. I learned that I could be whoever I wanted to be, and my mind was opened.”

Inspiration: “I met Aly Toure, who was from Mali, Senegal, during my first study abroad trip. He was the smartest person I ever met who looked like me. He broke all the stereotypes I had grown up with, and he showed me that I didn’t have to fear being different.”  

Thomas had to fight his way back from challenges such as homelessness and a catastrophic scooter accident before he began his studies at St. Petersburg College in 2012, where he went on his first study abroad trips to Ireland and Spain before earning his associate degree. After coming to USF in the fall of 2015, he studied abroad six more times, in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica and France. 

“After that first trip, I knew I wanted to continue traveling and helping people,” Thomas said. 

It didn’t hurt that Thomas was quick to learn new languages – something he didn’t know about himself until college. He speaks English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, and is working on adding to the list.

“In high school, I barely passed English, and I think I failed Spanish and sign language,” he recalled. “But once I got into college, language became something I had a passion for.”

At USF, Thomas took every opportunity to join clubs and organizations, such as French Club, Poetry Club and the international/multicultural fraternity Sigma Lambda Beta, where he immersed himself with people from different cultures, learning from them.

Thomas has financed his studies and travels with many different jobs over the years, such as driving for ride-sharing services, working in restaurants, dealing cards at a casino and more. He wants other students who are from low-income backgrounds to know how they, too, can see the world, so he works as an on-campus recruiter for the Peace Corps and also touts the benefits and wonders of studying abroad. 

“When I find other students who don't think that they can study abroad, I love inspiring them to look for grants. I really love when they come back and tell me about their study abroad experiences.”

After earning his bachelor’s degree in international studies at USF in 2017, Thomas spent a couple of years working at a homeless shelter in Washington state with AmeriCorps before getting the nod from the Peace Corps in 2019, which took him to Botswana, Africa, to work with people who had HIV and AIDS. But 2020 brought the global pandemic, and Thomas decided it was a good time to come back home and earn a master’s degree – and then another.

Thomas will earn his master’s degree in supply chain management this summer, and then finish up his MBA in December. He is applying for jobs, including with the United Nations, and is already focusing on his next goal.

“I'm hoping to mainly be able to travel for a few years, get some experience, and pay down my loans,” he said. “My plan has always been to go into international law by the time I'm 40, so I still have another seven years to get to that point.”

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Lauren Sheehan

Bachelor of Science in marketing 

Lauren Sheehan played volleyball and flag football at Wharton High School in Hillsborough County, but she never imagined a career in sports. After earning an associate degree at Pasco-Hernando State College, Sheehan transferred to USF’s Muma College of Business to study marketing in 2022. After her junior year, it was time to look for an internship, and the one she landed couldn’t have been better timed. Sheehan began her event management internship with USF Athletics in the fall of 2023 during one of the best years for athletics in USF history, which set her on a clear career path.

Inspiration: “Hanna Vernetti, Director of Event Management for USF Athletics, showed me what effective leadership is, and her work ethic and time management skills were so admirable. But mainly, the enthusiasm and passion that she brought to work every day showed me it is possible to be a successful woman in a field dominated by men.”

“I think my biggest accomplishment was getting that internship with USF Athletics because it opened my eyes to a whole world that I had no idea even really existed, especially for women,” Sheehan said. “I had never really thought about the business side of sports, and how it could be a job, so this opportunity opened up a whole new realm of possibilities.”

Learning to run large sporting events from behind the scenes was eye-opening for Sheehan, who practiced preparing for game broadcast, from dealing with media to setting up for the event – all the way to securing snacks for players and guests.

“I didn't realize how much background and behind-the-scenes work these sporting events had,” Sheehan said. “I loved every second of it.”

Sheehan’s senior year couldn’t have been more different than the rest of her college career, in which she only took classes online. She wanted to make it count, so in addition to her studies and job as a restaurant server, she got involved wherever she could, volunteering with Junior Achievement at JA BizTown and Cards for Warriors, and also volunteering to work at USF sporting events, setting up merchandise tables and helping things run smoothly.

“I just wanted to open my brain and work as many athletic events as I could, so I signed up for almost every event,” Sheehan said. “I learned so much about myself and what I wanted to do with my career, which is definitely very rewarding.”

The internship inspired Sheehan’s marketing focus, and in fall 2024, she will enter the Vinik Sport & Entertainment Management program, where she will work toward a master’s degree in sport & entertainment management, as well as an MBA. 

“My internship helped me truly find my passion, and I’m excited to continue my education at USF to learn even more about the sports world,” she said. “I knew that everyone loves professional leagues, but seeing that passion for the university was extraordinary and something that will stick with me forever.” 

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Gaella Hawi

Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering

Gaella Hawi began her journey at USF online from her home in Beirut, Lebanon in the fall of 2020 and left her close-knit family the following year to join her classmates on campus. She says she faced her biggest hurdle in college during that time: Loneliness.

“Sometimes you can be surrounded by so many people and live together, and still feel lonely. It’s not the people around you, it’s more the loss of that feeling of home and building your life somewhere from the ground up.”

Inspiration: “My family has supported me so much, but my mom and my aunt have believed in me and given me so much energy and they are the reason for all my successes.”

Hawi didn’t let the loneliness end her dreams of studying at USF – she attacked it by reaching out and making connections where she could, and creating new ones, all in an effort to build community and help students from all over the world find community and friendships, no matter how different their backgrounds were.

Hawi began giving her time where she lived, first as governor of the Hall Council at her residence hall. She later served as a resident assistant on USF’s Tampa campus, where she not only oversaw a floor of about 90 residents, but also offered a hand in friendship to residents who were going through tough times. As an RA, she took home the First Year Student Staff Member of the Year award for 2022-2023.

“There's just so much happening in the background for a lot of students, and I’m so glad that I could be part of some healing journeys,” Hawi said. “It’s not an easy job, but seeing that I made a positive impact just makes it all worth it.”

Hawi said the experience helped broaden her own worldview as well.

“As an international student, having so many one-on-one conversations with the residents on my floor was just amazing,” she said. “I learned to listen to different perspectives and see many different points of view. I’m a different person because of that.”

Upon her arrival at USF, Hawi was part of a former pathway program for international students that helped them assimilate to American culture. When the program ended, she wanted to recreate that experience, so she founded a student organization called INTO America, with the goal of creating opportunities for international and American students to connect through various events such as game nights and potlucks, as well as through social media. The group won Outstanding New Student Organization last year.

“I'm thrilled that INTO America has gained so much attention and popularity. People have been enthusiastic, wanting to learn more about different places and cultures.”

While studying for her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Hawi had the opportunity to work as a research assistant in the Smart and Sustainable Systems lab, where she honed her critical thinking skills, learned to collect data and write code, and also found a passion for sustainability. 

“This is an amazing opportunity that I would invite everyone at USF to try to do, because it gives you so much. It opened my mind, and I was able to discover what I really like and want to do.”

Driven by her new interest in sustainability and design and a desire to make the world better, Hawi will pursue a master’s degree in the fall in product design and manufacture at Boston University, where she received a merit-based scholarship.

"I want to take what I learned at USF and implement that into my studies at Boston University to try to provide solutions that will directly impact people, especially those who are otherwise overlooked and not given the necessary attention."

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Kelly Drago

Master of Science in medical sciences

Kelly Drago actually hated science class as a kid, but an anatomy class in high school, along with some personal experiences, set her on a trajectory toward a career in medicine.

“My older sister has autism, and my grandma had Alzheimer’s, and studying anatomy shows you how the body works and why things are the way they are,” Drago said. “So that really piqued my interest in understanding the different pathways and mechanisms that work together to make us human.”

Inspiration: “My parents, Tania and Henry Drago, have made a lot of sacrifices for me and my sister, and they are always encouraging me to reach for the stars and make me feel like I can accomplish anything I want.”

Drago is the daughter of first-generation Americans whose parents immigrated from Cuba. She says she chose USF to complete her undergraduate studies in biomedical sciences and psychology because she felt right at home. Drago grew up in Pembroke Pines, Florida, which she says, like USF, is very culturally diverse.

“Where I grew up, everyone looked different and came from different backgrounds, and that was normal for me. The culture I found at USF just seemed normal to me – like how it should be.”

A Judy Genshaft Honors College student during her undergraduate years, Drago immediately immersed herself in campus life at USF. A lifelong softball player, she became one of the founding members of USF’s club softball team. She also served as public relations chair for the Undergraduate American Medical Women's Association and volunteered with Moffitt Cancer Center and the Reach Out and Read program. She says her most fulfilling experience was her three years spent as a resident assistant because of the opportunity it presented to directly impact the lives of other students. 

“I had a lot to figure out on my own when I got to USF, and I often saw students competing with each other, and doing that had really hindered me for a while,” Drago said. “So, I tried to let students who were struggling know that they could do whatever they wanted, and they didn’t have to compete – everyone could reach their goals.”

Drago didn’t decide that she wanted to become a doctor until the middle of her junior year, so when she finished her degrees in biomedical science and psychology, she immediately began her master’s program in medical sciences to prepare for medical school. She credits good advice from her honors advisor, Arnie Mejias, for helping her set her goals, along with her Honors College professor, Donna Gambino, whom Drago worked for as a teaching assistant during her master’s program.

“I don’t usually seek out special services, because I just like making personal connections with people, so I’m really grateful to them both for taking me under their wings and helping me figure things out.”

After graduating, Drago is taking a year off to study for the MCAT and prepare to apply to medical schools. She has also been offered a position at the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Center and Research Institute, where she has volunteered under Dr. Lianchun Wang since her undergraduate years. She says her parents’ advice about the payoffs of hard work ring true.

“They always told me that eventually, all the sacrifices and hard work would get me where I wanted to be. I feel proud to have earned two degrees.”

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Richard Draper

Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary social science

Born with a degenerative eye disease, Richard Draper can only see light perception and shadows. At 67, he is earning his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social science – decades after beginning.

Draper first started pursuing a college degree in the 1970’s, but due to his impaired vision, he struggled.

Inspiration: "My parents inspired me to finish my degree. Their hard work ethic and sense of community kept me going, even when things got tough. They were the hardest working people I have ever known. They were an immense help to me, raising my four daughters. I don't know what I would have done without them."

“There was limited technology to help people with vision loss,” said Draper, who relied on CCTV magnifiers, a tedious technology that gave him headaches within half an hour of reading. “I also could not read material on the black board.” 

He eventually left his dream of a college degree behind and spent the next 20 years working in the food service industry. When Draper decided to retire in 2019, when his vision had deteriorated to the point where he could no longer do certain aspects of his job, he decided to give higher education another shot.  

“Even though I enjoyed a successful career, I always regretted my decision to quit school,” Draper said. “There was nothing left to hold me back.” 

After beginning his studies at State College of Florida, Draper transferred to USF Sarasota-Manatee, which he could access by city bus. With his guide dog Shiloh in tow, Draper navigated the small campus, and also took remote classes when he could. He also relied on audio books and used spreadsheet programs to assist with math courses.

“Finishing my degree made me realize that I could do this,” said Draper, whose favorite class subjects included psychology and sociology. “I was no longer the quitter. I am the graduate.” 

After graduation, Draper plans to work with the visually impaired community in Sarasota. 

Matt Cimitile and Georgia Jackson, University Communications and Marketing, contributed to this article.

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