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Summer 2014

Congratulations, Parents of 2014 Graduates! 
 

Eckerd College celebrated its 51st Commencement on Sunday, May 18, 2014 with more than 500 students receiving their degrees. As is usual the week before, the campus was buzzed in preparation. Our Commencement tent, the largest of its kind in Florida, is a hallmark of Eckerd's ceremony. Click the image below to watch a time-lapse video of the raising of the tent. 

Eckerd College Commencement Tent
Eckerd College Commencement tent raising
 

The Class of 2014 hails from 41 states and 10 countries. More than 5,000 family members and friends gathered under blue skies in cool breezes to watch the newest class of Eckerd graduates be welcomed by President Eastman and receive their degrees. Political scientist and MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry delivered this year's Commencement address and received an honorary degree.

 

Commencement 2014
See more candid photos of the 2014 Commencement ceremony
 
Speeches and Remarks

 

To read the remarks from Sunday's Commencement and Saturday's Baccalaureate service, follow the links below.

 

Saturday, May 17, 2014 

 

Donald R. Eastman III, President of Eckerd College 

 

Sunday, May 18, 2014

 

Reverend Douglas McMahon, Director of the Center for Spiritual Life and College Chaplain

 

Dr. Donald R. Eastman III, President of Eckerd College

 

Miles C. Collier, Chairman of the Eckerd Board of Trustees
 
Wyatt Cameron McMurry '14, Residential Graduate
 
Kevin Duane Johnson '14, Program for Experienced Learners Graduate

 

Dr. Donald R. Eastman III, President of Eckerd College

 

Purchase a Commencement DVD

 

If you were unable to attend the ceremony or wish to have a copy on hand, you may order a Commencement DVDPlease note: Due to a contractual agreement with Melissa Harris-Perry, her Commencement remarks are not included in the DVD. All other aspects of the ceremony, including the conferral of Melissa Harris-Perry's honorary degree, are captured in the video.

 

Special Award Recipients Announced

  

Graduates from the Residential Program and the Program for Experienced Learners, along with two meritorious faculty members, were recognized for their excellence during the 2014 Commencement ceremony. A list of award recipients has been posted online.
 
Winter Term 2015

    

The Office of International Education has been industriously planning for Winter Term 2015. Every January, Eckerd students travel around the globe to spend Winter Term actively learning in courses designed and led by Eckerd Faculty. The following is a list of programs available for 2015.

 

Austria: The Culture of Coffee and Chocolate led by Grace Lager, visiting assistant professor of communication

Belize: Ethnobotany led by Liza Conrad, assistant professor of biology, and Jessie Fly, assistant professor of anthropology

Caribbean: Science at SEA led by David Hastings, professor of marine science and chemistry

China: Environmental Studies led by Alison Ormsby, associate professor of environmental studies

China (Shanghai): Chinese Language Immersion led by Hong Gu, assistant professor of Chinese

Costa Rica: Living Off the Grid led by Rev. Doug McMahon, director of the Center for Spiritual Life and College Chaplain

Costa Rica: Spanish Language Immersion led by Nancy DiBella, visiting assistant professor of Spanish

Cuba: Economic Systems led by Peter Hammerschmidt, professor of economics 

Ecuador: Galapagos Islands led by Bruce Barber, visiting professor of marine science

Fiji: Service Learning led by Olivier Debure, director of international student services 

Ghost Ranch, New Mexico: Applied Arts, faculty leader TBA

Greece: Sacred Byzantium led by Bruce Foltz, professor of philosophy

Honduras (Roatan): Tropical Marine Environments led by Gregg Brooks, professor of marine science and geosciences, and David Duncan, assistant professor of marine science and geosciences

Italy (Northern Italy): Culinary Science in Northern Italy led by Lisa Bonner, visiting assistant professor of chemistry 

Italy (Sicily): Italian Language Immersion led by Thomas DiSalvo, professor of Spanish

London: Comparative Health Care led by Scott Strader, director of counseling and disability support services

London: London Street Markets led by Frank Hamilton, associate professor of management

New York City and Chicago: Art and Architecture led by David Gliem, assistant chair and associate professor of art history 

New York City: Finance led by Robert Jozkowski, assistant professor of finance 

Southeast Asia: Business and Multicultural Adventure led by Ed Grasso, professor of decision sciences

Spain (Salamanca): Spanish Language Immersion led by Yanira Angulo-Cano, assistant professor of Spanish 

 

Melanie Johnson '15
Melanie Johnson '15, management major, becomes the newest member of the Long Neck Tribe in the Thai hills
during her 2014 Winter Term trip

Additional Study Abroad Opportunities

 

Semester Program

 

London Study Centre (Spring 2015)

Faculty Leader: TBA

  

Xiamen, China Study Centre (Spring 2015)

Faculty Leader: Ed Grasso, professor of decision sciences

 

Spring-into-Summer Programs

 

The Hague, Strasbourg and International Law

Faculty Leader: Bill Felice, professor of political science

 

Ireland: In Literature and In Person

Faculty Leader: Julienne Empric, professor of literature

 

To learn more about Study Abroad opportunities for your Eckerd student, please contact the Office of International Education.

 

In addition to Study Abroad programs, on-campus offerings are available during Winter Term. Application dates, program costs and travel grants (if available) will be announced on or about August 15.

 

Important Passport Information

 

Students should check their passports if planning to participate in a Winter Term trip. Please note: If a student's passport expires prior to August 1, 2015, he or she must apply for a new one. Students should do this as soon as possible to ensure their documents are in order for program applications. 

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Important Dates and Deadlines 

 

Summer Term Session A

May 27-June 20

 

Summer Term Session B

June 23-July 18

 

Summer Term Session AB

June 2-July 5

 

Freshmen Arrive

(Ceremony of Lights)

August 8

 

Autumn Term Begins

August 9

 

Transfer Student Orientation

August 27-August 30

 

Autumn Term Ends

August 28

 

Residence Halls Open for

Returning Students

August 29

 

Fall Semester Begins

September 1

 

Family Weekend 2015

February 20-22 

 

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