Fall Commencement Features Gust Speaker Scott Staples, 18 International Grads

December 14, 2012

Santa Fe College will hold fall commencement ceremonies at the Northwest Campus in the gym, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, marshaled by Professor Robert J. Connelly of Academic Foundations.

Approximately 827 students have applied to graduate, including 40 BAS graduates. Of that number 313 will "walk" in the ceremony, and 116 will graduate with honors.

This fall, 18 international students will graduate, representing nine foreign countries.

"This is a marvelous indicator of the global diversity of our student body and reflects the potential that we have to reach even more international students," said SF Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Naima Brown.

Mr. Scott D. Staples, President of Americas for Mindtree, Ltd. will be the guest speaker. Staples played a pivotal role in strategizing and establishing Mindtree's first U.S. Development Center, located in Gainesville. According to Mindtree's website, 47 people have been hired at the global information technology company – including University of Florida and Santa Fe College recent graduates. The Development Center will eventually bring 400 new jobs to Gainesville.

Bagpiper Benjamin A Pugh will perform, along with a Gainesville Brass Quintet performance of "Pomp and Circumstance No. 1" by the late Edward Elgar. The Santa Fe Singers, under the direction of Lynn Sandefur, will convey a musical interlude.

Attendees are advised to arrive early, as SF's graduation ceremonies tend to be crowded.