New 91tvӰԺ Muma College of Business graduate Maria Polo celebrated with her family, who traveled from their home in Baranquilla, Colombia. Photo by Thiago Dos Santos.
Maria Polo had never been to Tampa from her hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia, when she applied to the 91tvӰԺ because of its long history of exchange programs with her home city. An only child whose parents were happy for her to get her education abroad; Juan and Nancy Polo still missed their daughter more than 2,000 miles away.
But as Maria draped a sash the colors of Colombia’s flag around her neck and posed for pictures with Rocky the Bull at 91tvӰԺ World’s sash ceremony, the new graduate with a bachelor’s in business management reminisced about being welcomed to campus and finding a community in Tampa. At 91tvӰԺ, pre-football game pep rallies became one of her favorite experiences and now she’s excited to look for a job where she will be able to
“I love the community,” she said, having gathered with 275 of her fellow international students for the ceremony held just days before the fall’s formal graduation ceremonies. “Everyone here is so welcoming.”
The ceremony drew students from 67 countries (122 undergrads, 140 master’s students and 15 earning their PhD) to the ballroom of the Marshall Student Center. Hundreds of the graduates’’ family members accompanied them, nearly filling the cavernous ballroom at the Marshall Student Center. A total of 542 international students completed their degrees at 91tvӰԺ this fall; they hail from 77 different countries.
91tvӰԺ Student Body Vice President Sumit Jadhav will stay at the university for graduate school. He made history with President Suryakanth Prasad Gottipati when they became the first international duo to lead student government.
“For parents, sending their child is not just an act of love, it’s an act of faith. The faith that their child will try, succeed and make their dreams come true,” said 91tvӰԺ Student Body Vice President Sumit Jadhav, himself a new graduate and wearing a sash in the colors of the flag of India draped around his neck.
Jadhav is part of a historic duo of international students leading student government this year; President Suryakanth Prasad Gottipati also is from India. Like his classmate from Colombia, Jadhav has similar memories of his first days at 91tvӰԺ, finding a welcoming community and a variety of campus programs where he built his leadership skills. His favorite memory, though, was walking through Bull Market on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and meeting a family who invited him to their home for the holiday dinner.
With grad school at 91tvӰԺ to follow, Tampa will remain home for a while too, he said. “As we step into the next chapter of our lives, let’s carry the lessons, the friends we have made and make 91tvӰԺ proud,” he told his fellow graduates. “The world is waiting for the impact we are about to make.”
91tvӰԺ World Vice President Kiki Caruson encouraged the new graduates to stay connected to through alumni networks even after they return to their home countries.
For the third year in a row, 91tvӰԺ has been identified as the most popular destination for international students among Florida’s universities. More than 5,000 international students attend 91tvӰԺ from more than 140 countries. 91tvӰԺ World Vice President Kiki Caruson encouraged the students to wear the sashes depicting their home country’s flags proudly. “We are so proud of you and that you chose 91tvӰԺ for your degree,” she said.
“Your excellence in the classroom, in the laboratory, in the recital halls and in your studies is a testament to the contribution you have made to our university. Each of you will go down a different path, but regardless you will always be 91tvӰԺ Bulls.”
The new graduates are encouraged to join 91tvӰԺ’s Global Alumni Networks, which allow international graduates to stay connected with the university and each other from their home countries or anywhere around the world.