Celebrating Commencement

“All your hard work, sacrifices and sheer persistence, and the support of the people that love you, have gotten you to this milestone day, to new beginnings. I am so proud of you.”

With those words, Stetson President Wendy B. Libby, Ph.D., offered congratulations to the Class of 2018 to open Commencement 2018 on May 12 at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium near the university’s historic campus in DeLand.

A total of 648 undergraduate students received degrees. Two days earlier, 180 students were awarded degrees during Graduate Commencement.

Student speaker Lucas Ludwig Coura

The speakers for the undergraduate commencement were Lucas Ludwig Coura, Bachelor of Music in voice and music theory, and Kaitlyn Orien Silva Forsythe, Bachelor of Arts in digital arts.

In his address, Coura compared the ups and downs of life to a game of Pokemon. “Strength is found in diversity. As a Pokemon trainer, you form a team of creatures who fight on your behalf, each with a unique skillset,” Coura said.

Forsythe spoke about the Stetson community, saying she “watched leaders in this community work like gardeners to prime organizations, programs and campus spaces to blossom.”

Student speaker Kaitlyn Orien Silva Forsythe

At Graduate Commencement, degrees were awarded in six fields: Master of Education, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Executive Master of Business Administration and Master of Accountancy.

Awards

During Undergraduate Commencement ceremony, Provost and Executive Vice President Noel Painter, Ph.D., presented special awards to a student and members of the faculty.

  • The Etter McTeer Turner Award honors Stetson’s first woman dean of students and was established by the family of former Stetson President J. Ollie Edmunds through their Gualala Foundation. It is awarded for outstanding academic performance, leadership and community service. This year’s recipient: Alexandra Overdijking, Bachelor of Business Administration with double majors in accounting, and business systems and analytics.
  • The Hand Awards for Distinguished Faculty Achievements are made possible through the generosity of longtime trustee and alumna Dolly Hand, LL.B.’49, Hon ’08, and her husband, Homer Hand. The recipient of the Hand Award for Community Impact: Pamela Cappas-Toro, Ph.D., assistant professor of world languages and cultures (Spanish). The recipient of the Hand Award for Research, Creative and Professional Activity: Terence Farrell, Ph.D., professor of biology.
  • The William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching is considered Stetson’s most prestigious faculty award, with the winner chosen by students and faculty. Excellence in classroom teaching is the primary criterion, although other factors may be considered, such as intellectual growth, academic activities outside the classroom, and service to students and the university. The recipient: Megan O’Neill, Ph.D., associate professor of English.

Additionally, Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller, Ph.D., president and CEO emeritus of The National World War II Museum in New Orleans, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate. Mueller earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at Stetson in 1961, plus a master’s degree and doctorate at the University of North Carolina, and has done postgraduate work at Yale, Harvard and several European universities.

On May 11, at the 2018 Undergraduate Awards and Recognition Ceremony, more than 50 awards were given to students and faculty. The event was held at Lee Chapel on campus. Approximately 30 awards also were presented to outstanding academic achievers at other college, school and university program venues.

  • The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, jointly conferred by Stetson and the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation to two members of the graduating class (male and female), was presented to Adam Cooper, a chemistry major, and Sarah Coffey, who majored in environmental science and geography. The award was created nearly 100 years ago, with Stetson recognizing the male and female student who best personifies “nobility of character.”
  • The John Hague Award for Distinguished Teaching in the Liberal Arts and Sciences was presented to Mayhill Fowler, Ph.D., an assistant professor of history and director of Stetson’s Program in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies. Hague, Professor Emeritus of American Studies at Stetson, was an admired teacher, scholar and academic leader who led the university’s application to earn a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in 1982; Stetson’s chapter was the first established at a private university in Florida. Under Fowler’s spirited leadership, SPREES is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

New Second Lieutenants

On May 11, five graduating seniors in Eagle Battalion Army ROTC marched forward in their careers during Stetson’s Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, held at Lee Chapel, as family members applauded and, in some cases, pinned gold bars on the new officers’ shoulders.

The five new officers: 2nd Lt. Christian Acosta, Active Duty – Armor; 2nd Lt. Richard Cupoli, U.S. Army Reserves – Adjutant General Corps; 2nd Lt. Joshua Gilliland, Active Duty – Military Intelligence/Detailed Armor; 2nd Lt. John Hester, Active Duty – Infantry; and 2nd Lt. Thomas Williams, Active Duty – Field Artillery.

The ROTC program at Stetson provides students the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge necessary to serve as an officer in the Army.

Michael Candelaria and Cory Lancaster