Media Relations
University of South Florida
Polytechnic
3433 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 667-7077
Fax (863) 667-7097
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Writer:
Brenna
Smith
(863)
667-7010
Contact:
Willette
Roach
(863)
667-7033
LAKELAND,
FL (April 14, 2003) - Spring
has come to Central Florida and that can only mean one thing for area
seniors: graduation is right around the corner.
The University of South Florida’s Lakeland campus has planned Spring
2003 commencement exercises for Monday, May 5, 2003, 7:00 p.m. Over 100
students are expected to graduate from the local campus this Spring.
This year’s speaker will be Lakeland native, Representative
Dennis A. Ross.
Born in Lakeland, FL on October 18, 1959, Representative Ross has served
in Florida’s House of Representatives, District 63, since November
of 2000. He is a graduate of Auburn University, receiving his Bachelor
of Science Degree in Business administration in 1981, then earning his
law degree from Cumberland School of Law at Sanford University in 1987.
He has served as an associate with the law firm of Holland and Knight,
concentrating on workers’compensation defense litigation. Representative
Ross used his experience from Holland and Knight in his following position
as in-house counsel for Walt Disney World Company of Lake Buena Vista.
In 1989 he started his own law practice specializing in worker’s
compensation defense.
In the House of Representatives, Rep. Ross currently serves on the Judicial
Appropriations Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee and Insurance Committee
(Subcommittee on Insurance Regulation). Additionally, House Speaker Johnnie
Byrd chose Mr. Ross to chair the House Select Committee on Worker’s
Compensation.
Also featured in the USF Lakeland Commencement ceremony will be the USF
Lakeland King O’ Neal award recipient, Kristen Renee Moore and
USF Lakeland’s Outstanding Senior award recipient, Lydmarie Spruill.
The USF Lakeland King O’Neal award is given each semester by the
Alumni Association in honor of 1962 Charter USF graduates Lucas King
and Evelyn O'Neal. It is an honor bestowed upon graduating seniors with
the highest cumulative grade point average (4.0). This year’s recipient,
Kristen Renee Moore, will be graduating with a degree in Interdisciplinary
Social Science from the College of Arts and Sciences. A plant city native,
she has been involved in the Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.
Moore, a graduate of Plant City High School, sites her mother as the
person who has had the most influence on inspiring her to reach her goals. “She
always stressed to me the importance of a college education and what
a difference it can make in one’s life. It doesn’t just affect
employment and economic status, but also self-esteem and self worth,” states
Moore. After graduating with high honors from from USF Lakeland, Moore
plans to attend law school and hopes to study law as it relates to poverty
and human rights.
The USF Lakeland Outstanding Senior Award is given annually to a senior
who has demonstrated exceptional achievements in leadership, community
service, work experience and school spirit. This year’s recipient,
Lydmarie Spruill, will receive her degree in Elementary Education from
the College of Education. A native of Puerto Rico, Spruill moved to Lakeland
four years ago in an effort to learn English to pursue career opportunities
in America. Throughout her life, Lydmarie has been dedicated to excellence
in her education and has persevered through great obstacles to earn her
degree. Married with twins, Lydmarie has been devoted to her courses,
completing her Fall Semester courses only weeks after giving birth. She
has been the recipient of the University of South Florida’s Provost’s
Scholar award, and was one of only six students chosen to receive the
Florida Minority Fund Scholarship for the University of South Florida.
She has represented the University of South Florida as an educator and
guest speaker in several venues and has served her community through
volunteer work at Scott Lake Baptist Church and Tutoring at Valleyview
Elementary. She has served as an intern and substitute teacher in the
Polk County school district for two years and has been granted membership
in the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. She and her family currently reside
in Lakeland.
For more information about the USF Lakeland Commencement ceremony contact
the Office
of Student Services at (863) 667-7033.
The University of South Florida is ranked one of the top 100 Universities
in the nation. As a Doctoral/Research extensive institution, the highest
educational ranking available, USF Lakeland is dedicated to serving the
citizens of Polk, Highlands, Hardee and eastern Hillsborough counties,
in a regional setting. Established in 1988, the Lakeland campus is a
distinctive locally available University with premier research and instructional
status, providing a variety of complete undergraduate and graduate degrees,
web-based courses, certificate programs and program partnerships with
the Tampa campus.
For more information contact USF Lakeland at (863) 667-7000 or visit us on the
web at www.lakeland.usf.edu
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