Class of ’08:
Largest Hodges
University
class ever
graduates
|
By
ELYSA BATISTA
Naples
Daily News
06/08/08
Be
fearless and take
chances.
That was the message
state Sen. Burt L.
Saunders delivered
during the keynote
speech at Hodges University’s
18th annual commencement
Sunday at Germain
Arena in Estero.
“Have the nerve to
go into unexplored
territory. Be brave
enough to live life
creatively and take
risks to accomplish
your goals,” said
Saunders, R-Naples.
He added that, even
if they had to leave
their comfort zone,
graduates shouldn’t
shy away when it comes
to making the difficult
— if sometimes uncomfortable
decisions — because
the payoff was worth
the effort.
“What you will discover
will be wonderful,”
said Saunders. “What
you will discover
is yourself.”
More than 1,000 people
attended the nearly
two-hour long ceremony
Sunday.
Hodges conferred
degrees to 576 graduates
at the event, the
largest graduating
class since the founding
of the school in 1990
— and one-third of
the school’s current
population.
“Of these 576 students,
95 percent will stay
right here in Southwest
Florida ... and give
back to the community,”
said Hodges spokesman
Joe Turner.
The graduates’ ages’
ranged from 20 to
63 and spanned the
school’s 23 programs.
In addition, members
of the graduation
class hailed from
counties all over
Southwest Florida,
including 38 from
Charlotte, 213 from
Collier, 57 from Hernando,
243 from Lee, 17 from
Manatee and seven
from Pasco County.
Among those graduating
were 21-year-old twins
Alyssa M. DeLora and
Cara M. Enright.
Their brother had
attended Hodges, which
led to DeLora to enroll
there. Enright followed
soon after, and both
received their associate
degrees.
“It was an excellent
experience,” said
Enright, who received
her degree in criminology.
“It’s a great college.”
It was a family affair,
with more than 20
members of the Enright
clan attending the
ceremony.
Among them was Alyssa’s
husband Peter DeLora,
32, who attended the
event with their 5-month-old
daughter Isabella.
“(Alyssa has) put
a lot of work into
it,” said DeLora.
Also in the stands
was the twins’ father,
Anthony Enright, 47,
who cheered as each
walked up to receive
her diploma.
“I’m extremely proud,”
their father said.
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