FAU distributes 2,600 degrees at spring commencement

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Florida Atlantic University conferred more than 2,600 degrees Friday during three commencement ceremonies held in the FAU Arena on the Boca Raton campus. 

The new graduates join more than 104,000 alumni who have graduated from FAU since the university opened its doors in 1964.

“Commencement is a wonderful 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 success at FAU, these students will have the opportunity to achieve a part of the American dream.”

During the 9 a.m. commencement ceremony, FAU presented the Alumni Hall of Fame Award to Mary Wood, ’76, vice president and controller of The AES Corporation, a $14 billion global power company.  An accounting major, Wood earned her undergraduate degree from FAU’s Barry Kaye College of Business.  

During the 1:30 p.m. commencement ceremony, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science awarded three degrees posthumously.  The degrees were accepted by the families of Damion Marx and Philip Heidemann – who were killed in a plane crash during a surveying assignment in March - and Jennifer Anselme. 

At the 6 p.m. commencement ceremony, Betty Zinman, former chair of the FAU Foundation, received the President’s Medallion for Distinguished Service.  Zinman has been advocate of the university and major donor to many programs at FAU.

FAU’s graduating class included 103 graduates over the age of 50.  The oldest graduate was 62, and the youngest graduate was 18.  The graduates represented 62 countries.

Some students cited for special circumstances were:

Pamela Hand

School officials said Pamela encountered many adversities, but still fulfilled her dream of obtaining a bachelor’s and, now, master’s degree in social work. 

Hand, a 46-year old, single mother of three children, is divorced and has a mentally handicapped child. The problems turned to despair when her son, Jeremy, passed away, and her father died six months later.

While Jeremy was sick, Hand continued her studies, keeping a focus on her undergraduate degree.  “I gave myself permission to feel whatever I was feeling that day,” said Hand.  “I trusted my environment and I had the support of family and friends to help.”

“I hope my patients will realize that they can overcome anything,” said Hand.  “Especially when they see a mother experience the death of a child and still have the perseverance to get through each day.”

Angel Rodriguez

Student Angel Rodriguez was born with Jarcho-Levin syndrome, a rare genetic disorder in which the trunk of the body is undersized, never lost focus on obtaining his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from FAU.

He realized some of his physical limitations while in high school.  For example, this syndrome causes his lungs to have only half the capacity of other’s his age.  He said he was encouraged by his father who told him it might take a little longer to finish a task, but if you believe in yourself, you can do anything. 

Once at FAU, Rodriguez was able to make the adjustment to university life with assistance from FAU’s Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD). 

“If OSD wasn’t here, I would probably have moved back home,” said Rodriguez.  “FAU’s electrical engineering department also opened its doors to me and helped me to look forward.”

Cheryl Birmingham

Cheryl, a master’s degree student in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, has been battling breast cancer for seven years.  She finally stopped treatment this past December, as she entered remission.  While going through intense sessions of chemotherapy, Birmingham maintained her goal of earning a master’s degree. 

Birmingham worked to serve as a role model for her staff at Memorial Health System in Broward County, where she will be celebrating her 25-year anniversary this year. 

As a nurse manager of a surgical ICU, Level One Trauma Center, she oversees 90 employees and has urged many of them to earn a bachelor’s in nursing.

Birmingham’s goals are to become a certified nursing administrator and ultimately a director of nursing.  For now, she is going to celebrate her 20-year wedding anniversary with her husband and enjoy the accomplishment of earning a master’s degree.