Commencement 2016: PEL graduates celebrate endings and beginnings

PEL graduates were recognized at the 2016 PEL Celebration held in Cobb Gallery on Saturday afternoon, May 21, which was followed by the Baccalaureate Service in Wireman Chapel. Just after sunrise Sunday morning, graduates and their families gathered in the South Beach area for the Commencement Ceremony. Scroll below to see a list of the graduates, a slide show of the PEL Celebration and commencement, and graduating senior Andrea "Andi" Gordon's Commencement speech.

Or read all the speeches and view all 608 images of the Sunday morning ceremony in the College's online photo album by going to the 2016 Commencement page.

P.S. We did our best, but we most likely did not get pictures of everyone. If you have images to share, or if you recognize yourself in a picture we did not include in the album below, please email them to us or notify us (andersaw@eckerd.edu or hagoodca@eckerd.edu) so we can add them. Thank you!

courtesy of SweetClipArt.com

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Warmest congratulations to these PEL students who completed their programs of studies and graduated in May, 2016 :

Frank Abdel (H), Business Management

Muinat O. Adejumo, Human Development

Michelle L. Bailey-Reed, Human Development

April N. Barkley, American Studies

Robert J. Blayet (HH), Concentration in Business Management
Tracy L. Bohannon (D), Human Development
Lacey Bradigan, Human Development
Fred C. Brown (HH), Visual Arts
Adriana Catena (H), Business Management
Rebecca Cavallaro, Business Management
Corey S. Collins (H), Business Management
Candace L. Cooke (D), Business Management
Thaddeus A. Engle, Concentration in Technical Theater
Aristos S. Georgiou (D), Business Management
Joyce C. Giddens (H), Human Development
Andrea G. Gordon (HH), Business Management
Dan Gray (D), Human Development
Gregoire Nicole A. (D), American Studies
Cynthia E. Griffith, Business Management
Troy A. Ippolito (D), Organizational Studies
Christine A. Jackson (HH), Organizational Studies
Erica N. Johnson, Human Development
James P. King, Business Management
Waleska Lozada (D), Organizational Studies
Kristine L. McAdams (HH), Human Development
Jennifer L. Nash, Business Management
Jessica C. Obrien, Human Development
Aracelys E. Parra, Humanities
Lori C. Pinkerton (HH), Business Management
Ginette Ramos, Business Management
Michael Reed, Humanities
Tobin A. Robeck, Business Management
Tracy C. Taylor (HH), Concentration in Creative Non-Fiction
Dovev T. Weaver, Humanities
Yamisha Wells, Business Management
Kathleen G. Winterberg (D), American Studies
H - Honors; HH - High Honors; D - Distinction

PEL SLIDE SHOW

ANDI GORDON: GREETINGS FROM THE PROGRAM FOR EXPERIENCED LEARNERS

PEL people recognized for academic excellence and service

Left: (l-r) Jasmine Rothgeb and Kristine McAdams were two of the three senior Honors Scholars recognized at the PEL Celebration by Professor Catherine Griggs, Honors Program Director, and retired Dean of Eckerd College, Lloyd Chapin. Not pictured is senior Noel Lake.

Several PEL people were recognized for academic excellence and for community service at a reception in Cobb Gallery on Saturday, May 21. Family and friends joined PEL seniors, faculty, and staff members in celebrating the many accomplishments of graduating seniors and those who supported them along their journey.

Because an academic class includes all graduates from June of one year through May of the following year, the Class of 2016 award winners includes students who graduated in August or December 2015 and in January or May 2016. Academic awards presented at the PEL Celebration included the following:

Kristen Marie Wright, who graduated in December 2015, was awarded the Excellence in American Studies Award.

Matt Stonehouse

Matthew Jacob Stonehouse, who graduated in August 2015, was awarded the Excellence in Business Management Award. Professor Tom Krzesinski spoke on behalf of himself and Professor Naveen Malhotra in announcing the award. Although unable to attend the reception, Matthew expressed his appreciation in an email:

Shortly after graduating in August, I approached my VP and I told him I was ready for a new challenge. His response was, “I knew once you graduated this conversation would take place.” After waiting a few months for corporate approval, I was appointed as MMSEA Business Analyst. In my new role, I am working as Project Manager for a new reporting platform that was launched in 2015. And I have the luxury of telecommuting in this new role.

Obtaining my degree from Eckerd has already provided great benefits. I live on the beach, I surf when there are waves, I work from my new home office, and I received a promotion as well. Life is pretty good. Tom, the knowledge I picked up in your business and finance courses, as well as other business related Eckerd curriculum, has already been a huge help in my career advancement. I am truly honored that you and Naveen nominated me for an award.

Professor Catherine Griggs with Tami Toms and Academic Advisor Alaina Tackitt.

Kathleen Ann Nix, who graduated in December 2015, was awarded the Excellence in Creative Writing Award. 

Rachel Ruth Wolff, who graduated in December 2015, was awarded the Excellence in Human Development Award.

Tami Lee Toms, who graduated in December 2015, was awarded the Excellence in Humanities Award. Tami also was selected to be one of the PEL readers at the Baccalaureate Service, which  followed the PEL Reception on May 21.

Christine Jackson with Dr. Margret Skaftadottir.

Christine A. Jackson, graduating in May 2016, was awarded the Excellence in Organizational Studies Award. Chrissy also was selected to be one of the PEL readers at the Baccalaureate Service, which followed the PEL Reception on May 21.


Noel Duane Lake, Kristine Lynn McAdams, and Jasmine R. Rothgeb were recognized as PEL Honors Scholars by Professor Catherine Griggs and retired Dean Lloyd Chapin.

Noel Duane Lake also was awarded the Clifford E. Griggs Award for Excellence in Pre-Law Studies.


Read about the Writing Excellence Awards presented in a separate article.


Receiving the 2016 Dana Cozad Community Service Award was Director of Writing Services and Academic Advisor Alaina Tackitt '08. In presenting the award, which was named after the second Director of the Program for Experienced Learners, current PEL Executive Director Amanda Hagood commented:

Alaina Tackitt and Amanda Hagood.

This year's Dana Cozad Award goes to a PEL staff member who has shown great wisdom, humor, resourcefulness, and dedication in advocating for our students. Alaina Tackitt has counseled countless students through their courses of study, writing exhibits, and life's many "teaching  moments." She has a near encyclopedic knowledge of the program, having experienced it as a student, a writing tutor, an admission counselor, and an academic advisor, contributing much in every stage along the way.

Perhaps even more impressive, Alaina has channeled this experience, and particularly her love of writing, into doctoral-level research. She has the grit, patience, and acuity needed in a successful educator, but she also has the warmth, humor, and empathy needed in an advisor who can truly make a positive impact in student's lives -- provided she has been fueled with enough chocolate and/or sweet tea!

Professor Tom Krzesinski congratulates Alaina Tackitt.

Why does she do it? I think it's because she believes that education can be a transformative experience, a thing that makes not only individual lives better but builds better citizens, better opportunities, and fundamentally a better world. This passion and conviction shows in every conversation she has and in every service she provides, and that's why it gives me great pleasure to present this year's Dana Cozad Community Service Award to Alaina Tackitt.

Article and photos by Anne W. Anderson, PEL's director of blended and online learning and co-editor of The PEL Connector.

Seven PEL students recognized for writing excellence

 Left: (l-r) Writing Excellence Award nominees Trace Taylor, Troy Ippolito, Chrissy Jackson, Matt DiPalma, and Writing Excellence Award winner Jasmine Rothgeb with PEL Director of Writing Services Alaina Tackitt. 

by Craig Anderson

photos by Anne W. Anderson

PEL senior Jasmine Rothgeb was presented with one of Eckerd College's 2016 Writing Excellence Awards at the PEL Celebration Reception held Saturday, May 21, in Cobb Gallery on the Eckerd main campus. Rothgeb, majoring in American Studies with a core discipline in Environmental Humanities, also received a cash award and a notation on her diploma.
 

But, with a newborn baby at home, she almost didn't attend the celebration.

“When I emailed Jasmine to see if she would be at the reception," Tackitt said, "she wasn’t sure she could attend because she has a one-month old daughter. I pressured her to come, because I knew her family would be excited to know that she is no longer a nominee, she is a winner!”

Six other PEL seniors, nominated for Writing Excellence Awards, received certificates of achievement from PEL Director of Writing Services Alaina Tackitt.

Alaina Tackitt (l) with Writing Award nominee Chris Fort.

In addition to Rothgeb, PEL nominees, who came from many disciplines, included:

• R. Matthew DiPalma, majoring in Humanities with a core discipline in History,
• J. Christian Fort, completing a Concentration in American Culture and Society,
• Heather M. Hollister, completing a Concentration in Business Management,
• Troy Anthony Ippolito, majoring in Organizational Studies with a corporate focus,
• Christine A. Jackson, majoring in Organizational Studies with a corporate focus, and
• Trace Carol Taylor, completing a Concentration in Creative Non-Fiction with a minor in Anthropology.

PEL graduates take pride in knowing they have acquired and demonstrated writing competency that sets them apart professionally and prepares them to succeed in graduate and professional advanced degree programs. One way Eckerd College students demonstrate proficiency in writing is through the Writing Exhibit, a selection of papers that show competency in four academic genres of writing: narrative/descriptive, argumentative/persuasive, interpretive/analytic, and an extemporaneous (timed) writing.

While all students -- residential and PEL -- must successfully pass the Writing Exhibit in order to graduate, a small number of students each year are recognized for having submitted outstanding work by being nominated for a Writing Excellence Award.

“I was so proud to have so many PEL seniors nominated this year,” Tackitt said. “And it was great that most were able to be at the reception, so they could be recognized by family, friends, and peers.”

Craig Anderson is the Tampa campus Office Manager and the PEL Academic Writing Coach.