By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, DEC. 10, 2015 – Countless hours of hard work during seasons and semesters have paid off for another impressive group of Bulls.
USF Athletics showed its appreciation to 19 student-athletes set to take part in this weekend's fall commencement ceremony with a dinner reception at the Sun Dome Arena Club on Thursday evening.
“It's a special moment for my parents and everyone that's seen me grow. Going through the graduation will be great and enjoyable,” said Eric Lee, a defensive end for the bowl-bound football team.
Soon after dining with their fellow classmates, the Bulls concluded a special night for the program by gathering in their caps and gowns for a group photo not far from the stage they'll walk across Friday and Saturday. Coaches and staff members filled the hallways to capture their own memories of another collection of USF student-athletes poised for success in many avenues.
“I finished with a good GPA and I finished strong, just like my dad told me. I'll be excited to see the whole family come in,” said volleyball player Wylie Devlin, a psychology major who wants to get into sports psychology. “USF set me up for success tremendously, especially the Mentoring U program. I met a mentor who has helped set me up with a doctor for graduate school.”
Also headed to grad school are track and field/cross country student-athletes Bethany Evans and Katie Perkins, both health sciences majors.
“Health sciences is a really good program, especially the Moffitt Center and all the research they have available for us,” said Evans, who will pursue a graduate degree in epidemiology and bio statistics.
“There are also a lot of opportunities on campus for us to get involved and I think that helps a lot to prepare us for graduation,” said Perkins, who plans to earn a doctorate in physical therapy.
Football will be USF's most represented sports team during graduation weekend with nine Bulls set to receive their degrees before playing in the Miami Beach Bowl on Dec. 21.
All-conference left guard Thor Jozwiak made head coach Willie Taggart proud by earning his second degree at USF in psychology. Jozwiak graduated with a degree in communication and public advocacy last fall and appreciated all the tools USF supplied to him to make two degrees possible.
“You have access to tutors, computers, printers and the staff all works around your practice schedule and class schedule,” he said. “Everything is here for you to succeed and for you to get better academically and on the field.”
Lee, also an all-conference selection, will be training for a football career after the bowl game and has plenty of options off the field as well. The management information systems major interviewed with companies throughout the season and already has job offers waiting for him.
“All my efforts go into training with a safety net,” Lee said. All the resources at USF are here. It was a matter of taking advantage of every single one of them that I could. I've gotten more prepared as the years have gone by and understand what it's going to take.”
View the complete list of USF Athletics' fall graduates below:
