USF Sarasota-Manatee honors graduate with perfect 4.0 GPA

SARASOTA, FL (April 27, 2009) – Erika Szoke has wanted to be a nurse since she was five years old, and has let nothing stand in her way.

On Sunday, May 3, Erika will graduate with 310 other seniors from the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee with a bachelor of science in Nursing, but she stands out from the crowd in one unique way--her perfect 4.0 grade point average.

At the Spring 2009 Commencement ceremony, Erika will receive the King O’Neal Scholar Award, which is given to graduating seniors with the highest cumulative grade point average, 4.0. A tradition since 1988, the King O’Neal Scholars are recognized each semester by the Alumni Association in honor of charter graduates Lucas King and Evelyn O’Neal.

“There are usually only four to five King O’Neal Scholars across the entire USF System,” said USF Provost Ralph Wilcox. “The fact that the Sarasota-Manatee campus has one speaks volumes about the quality of the students there and is commendable.”

Erika has come a long way from bandaging her cousins’ knees as a child, and she attributes her drive to her parents and husband.

“I’ve always been a perfectionist, “she said, “but it was my parents that taught me to always be that way, to keep pushing and never settle for anything less. My husband has also been there for me, always telling me to keep doing my best in everything.”

Growing up in a “medical” family didn’t hurt either. Erika has volunteered at the adult family care assisted living home that her parents own in Avon Park since she was small, and her brother is a doctor. Always an overachiever, she finished all her college prerequisites while still in high school, and then went to South Florida Community College in order to stay close to home and work part time as a PRN at a nursing home nearby.

When it came time to graduate with her RN, Erika knew she had to keep going, and chose USF Sarasota-Manatee for its availability of online courses.

“Things are always changing in nursing and you really need more education to be competitive and competent,” she said. “I was able to take all of my bachelor’s degree coursework online, with the exception of a few tests on campus and some clinicals in Arcadia. I can’t even describe how important that was. I’m so busy volunteering at my parent’s business and church and working at the nursing home, I needed to be able to do the coursework when I had time and study in between all of my other responsibilities.”

Erika is honored to be receiving the King O’Neal Scholar Award and proud that she was able to keep up with her grades. She is planning to apply to the Florida Hospital Heartland Division in Sebring when she graduates, but for now is just focusing on the big day.

“I’ll probably have more than 10 guests coming to graduation, including my parents, husband, aunts, uncles and cousins,” she said. “I can’t wait to finally be done.”