The USF Alumni Association awards the King O’Neal Scholars award every semester to those students completing their USF coursework with a 4.0 GPA. The award was created in honor of charter USF graduates Lucas King and Evelyn O’Neal.

Jessica will be graduating with a 4.0 GPA and a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Management. Jessica excelled in her time at USFSM with an eye on her future. She chose the Business Administration degree with a concentration in Accounting, because it provided her with the widest range of opportunities.

Jessica is planning on attending law school to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming an attorney.

What special accomplishments did you have that allowed you to win this award?

I had a 4.0 GPA throughout my Bachelor’s Degree Program.

What are some of your qualities that made you a good match for this award?

I am hard-working, determined and willing to make the sacrifices necessary to succeed.

What would you like to do for a career upon graduation?

My plan is to attend Stetson University College of Law to become an attorney. Practicing law as an attorney has been a longtime dream of mine.

Why did you choose the major that you chose?

I chose Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Management because I believe it is a versatile degree and offers the widest range of opportunities and different applications in the business world.

Why did you choose USF Sarasota-Manatee?

I chose USFSM because of the convenient location, the affordability and the amenities of a bigger university with a more hometown feel.

Would you recommend USFSM to someone else?

Yes, I especially like the family movies shown in Selby Auditorium.

How has USFSM prepared you for your career goals?

The challenges that I have faced and overcome while pursuing my degree at USFSM has taught me the value in and necessity of being a self-advocate and an active participant in my education rather than merely a bystander. If you believe in it, then fight for it, because neither college nor life is designated to give you anything.

What was your favorite class at USFSM and why?

My favorite class was Cost Accounting with Professor Liz Carlson. She makes a difficult subject fun and I formed some lasting friendships in that class.

Stephany and Mark Richmond served as the volunteer chairs of Brunch 2012. The savvy owners of The Furniture Warehouse, a chain of stores in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties that began in 1988, are both USF alumni and met during college. Stephany studied accounting and Mark, marketing. Son Morgan is also a business grad from USFSM.  

Mark says he always knew he’d go into the furniture business after graduation, having started in the industry when he was just a teen. In 2010, the Florida Home Furnishings Representatives Association named Mark its Distinguished Retailer of the Year, an award only bestowed 10 times since 1981.

The Richmonds’ first exposure to Brunch came when they were guests of Bob Turner, publisher of the Bradenton Herald. Their youngest son, Morgan, 27, is a USF graduate. Landon, 28, is an an artist living in Boston.

What has USFSM meant to your family? 

Stephany and I met on the Tampa campus of USF in 1976. We were both business majors with Stephany graduating with an accounting degree and I graduated with a marketing degree. At graduation we became engaged and upon graduating we were married and moved to Sarasota. Our youngest son Morgan also graduated USF Sarasota campus with an accounting degree and join our family business The Furniture Warehouse. USF gave our family the educational foundation to build our family business and we are honored to be involved in helping USF today.

What do you think our role is in the community?

USF has a unique opportunity in our Sarasota – Manatee community to provide a four year college opportunity to our community. This will bring young people to our area for a college education and will allow us to retain college graduates to our area to support our community and businesses. 

How did your USF educations prepare you for your business success?

USF provide the core foundation for our business career with the prefect combination of Stephany’s accounting skill and the marketing knowledge that was provided to me. With our accounting and marketing knowledge we have been able to build a successful business in Sarasota market. Our son also receiving an accounting degree and joining our business is just the icing to the cake and will allow our business to be passed to the next generation.

Are you involved in other nonprofits/charities? If so, which ones and why?

We believe that giving back to our community is an important part of our community involvement. We support Habitat for Humanity, The All Faith Food Bank, Breast Cancer research, The Boys and Girls Clubs and many local kids’ sporting activities.

What was the best thing you got out of your USFSM experience?

The entire experience was outstanding. When my classmates and I started the program, we and didn’t even know each other. Now, in addition to getting a great education, we’ve become lifelong friends.

Do you have one anecdote or story to tell that sticks out in your memory?

One day, my classmates and I had to present to some visitors. Shortly after introducing the presentation I began to cough uncontrollably, embarrassing myself and distracting from the presentation. Our professor, Dr. Delaney Kirk, very discreetly handed me a cough drop which quickly squelched my cough. Her actions confirmed what I had heard about USFSM’s faculty and staff; they would do anything to help us succeed. Albeit a small act, it set the tone for me to get the help I needed when I needed it regardless the situation. All of my professors, and the administration, went out of their ways to avail themselves and help.

How did it prepare you for the work you do now?

The education I’ve gained has given me the ability to look at issues from an entirely different perspective. I am able to see things from the perspective of the decision maker sitting across from me and am able to anticipate his or her needs.

What would surprise people the most to know about USFSM that you want to share?

I think it would be the high regard in which the program is held in this community. Whenever a colleague or co-worker was made aware that I was pursuing my MBA at USFSM, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Before I started the program, I honestly had no idea how proud Sarasota is of USF.

What would you like to do for a career upon graduation?

I’ve done the first career and have a lot of pride with that.  My career goals now are to complete the process of opening a small non-profit spiritual center working in the greater North Port, Port Charlotte, Englewood, and Venice areas to facilitate Spiritual Retreats for life enrichment.  We are currently in our fourth year with our signature series-Woman to Woman-and hope to expand the day-long retreats into weekend-long events.  With my education at USFSM, I can introduce new workshops to the Center focusing on educational subjects such as Sleep Deprivation, Motivation, and Happiness (using some of my psychology tools), as well as various Religious practices (introduced through my religious studies.)

In the Fall of 2013, I will be enrolling in the Funeral Services curriculum at St. Pete College to obtain the license as a Funeral Director.   This may sound like a strange pursuit; but my religious studies education at USF sparked a new desire in me which was to honor life!    All life; even those whose stories do not get told until their final arrangements.  I want to be a part of those stories and counsel the families through this very difficult time in their lives.

Why did you choose the major that you choose?

Originally I wanted to pursue Licensed Mental Health Counselor and to ordain in a non-denominational ministry.  Hence, the ISS program was a perfect fit for me and I could tailor my education to be specifically for these areas.

During my educational path, I knew my heart was not really into the LMHC area, but counseling others, especially religiously and spiritually definitely was.  Then, after the Death and Dying class (at Eckerd) and Life After Death (USF online), I knew the better direction for me was Funeral Director.

Why did you choose USF Sarasota-Manatee?

Honestly, USF has been able to keep tuition costs down and that was a big factor for me as I paid for my education completely out-of-pocket!  No student loans for me!  But even more than that, I was able to direct my education to the fields that specifically interested me through the Interdisciplinary program.  USF offered, through a blend of in-class and on-line courses that allowed me to select very specific fields of study.  That was very important to me.

Would you recommend USFSM to someone else?

 Oh – YES – Absolutely!

It is a university large enough to offer career specific AND interest-driven courses; yet small enough that course instruction is personal and student oriented.  The faculty and staff truly care about student achievement!  Plus, USFSM is diverse; so I was confident I could receive an unbiased, yet comprehensive education-especially in the religious studies field.

How has USFSM prepared you for your career goals?

Not only did I appreciate my education in the psychology cognate; but I was also able to use it right away!  I enjoyed the Sleep and Dreams class so much; I put together a few notes and submitted them to Ilana Marks for her “What Matters” radio show airing on Friday mornings on WENG.  She invited me on and I aired a program with her on the topic of Sleep Deprivation in March 2012 (http://theumbrellaprojectllc.com).  This will definitely be a workshop I will facilitate in the future.

My experience at USFSM has provided me with a much clearer direction on the paths I want to move forward on such as facilitating workshops, leading prayer and meditation circles, and eventually providing funerary services.

What was your favorite class at USFSM and why?

It is hard to pick . . . but I would say for a web class it was definitely Life After Death (REL 3191) with Don Saunders.  This class was fascinating to me and it was the deciding factor on the pursuit of funeral director.  My favorite in-class would have to be Women in Lit (LIT3383) with Dr. Florence Hesler.  I took this class to meet my women’s studies requirement, but it was one of the most challenging and enlightening courses I had.  Dr. Hesler has a talent for breaking down stories and underlining the images they create.  She helped me so much in truly appreciating the art of story telling.

What is the best part of USFSM?

Outside of their career-specific curriculum  I would say the best part of USFSM is the excellent faculty and staff – from the support of the advisers to the professors, the student government senators and their excellent involvement with student activities, and the assistance that is available for every need.  The writing center, the libraries, the service personnel, and even Ms. Barbara Thomas at the lobby information desk – were all excellent people to work with and so supportive   I am very grateful that at USFSM you are NOT a student number; you are a person and the university knows that.  This is what helped me to succeed and not get lost in a system of numbers and statistics.  Thanks USFSM! 

What was the best thing you got out of USFSM experience?

The best thing I got out of my experience was the opportunity to take evening classes at the USFSM so that I could continue my full-time training as a Team USA athlete (figure skater) as well as continue my part-time jobs during the day.  During these evening classes, I was able to meet and network with other hard-working and motivated students striving to better their education. 

Do you have one anecdote or story that stills in your memory?

When I made it to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, it gave me plenty of opportunities.  I learned that I would always be a role model to the community due to my humble successes.  I was very honored when USFSM with the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau invited to tell my story with other prestigious and successful women in the area. This event inspired me to continue giving back to the community as a motivational speaker as I have done a handful of events since then.   

Here’s a link to the event USFSM had hosted last year :  http://www.takecarehomehealth.com/join-courtney-r-wise-msg-at-herstory/

How did it prepare you for the work you do now?

I chose to attend college and get a degree as a back-up plan to my figure skating career.  About a year ago, I was recommended for an office job in downtown Sarasota.  The company offered me the job understanding I would be achieving a degree in Business Administration – Management and Marketing.  With my recent summer graduation from  USFSM, I now work for Specialty Products Holding Corp. as the Office Administrator. 

What would surprise people the most to know about USFSM that you want to share?

I am very excited about the recent formation of the USFSM Rowing Club that was announced a little more than a year ago.  By the sounds of it, there’s a lot of interest in rowing in our area, and I wish to see the growth of this Olympic sport in our university!

Dan works in Wealth Management for BB&T Bank

What would you say to someone who is considering an MBA?

Having an MBA really sets you apart from the crowd. It is kind of the new standard for what you have to have in business.

Why did you choose USF Sarasota-Manatee and why would you recommend it to others?

If you want to get a job in the area you want your degree from USF. The alumni in the area are great about hiring USFSM grads.

What is one of the major incentives you would highlight about the MBA program here?

You really bond with the other students, in the MBA program you build camaraderie because you work in teams and you make a lot of friends and connections for the future.

Nicole is the Guest Services Manager at Longboat Key Club

What do you look for when hiring someone?

In hiring people for positions we have, I look at their education. If they have their degree and education in that field then I know they have a passion for it.

What do you see as one of the biggest benefits of the Master’s in Hospitality program at USFSM?

In the hospitality field, our professors understand our crazy schedules and are very understanding and work with us.

Jennifer is the Manatee County Probation Services Manager

What advice would you give to someone considering getting a Master’s Degree?

As a manager, even at the entry level, it is much more difficult in the job market now and people with their Master’s Degree set themselves apart. I’m getting my master’s degree to further my career. I’m investing in my future and know that it will help me get further in my career.

What do you enjoy most about taking classes?

Getting your Master’s Degree opens your mind, keeps you thinking and provides new opportunities. I really enjoy being on campus and taking classes.  I enjoy that my classes aren’t all online or all in class and it has a nice mix of the two so you get to know other students and it is great for networking.

Why would you recommend USF Sarasota-Manatee to a prospective student?

In this area, people understand the prestige of USF. I don’t know that the online classes that others have are of the same quality and I obviously look for USF graduates when I’m hiring.

Josh is the Principal at Bashaw Elementary School

Why did you choose to attend USF Sarasota-Manatee for your Master’s Degree?

I chose USF Sarasota-Manatee because the program wasn’t on-line. The University did a great job of laying out the program. It was set up ideally for what I was looking for. Not only did I get an outstanding education, but those who were in my class are now assistant principals and principals in the area and we have kept in touch so we know each other.

As a principal, why would you hire a fellow USFSM alum?

In our profession, where they went to college is very important and what they have their degree in is important. By attending USFSM, I know how rigorous the program is and the quality of the internships so it helps give justification for why I hire someone from USF Sarasota-Manatee.

How did your time at USFSM impact your career?

The program (education) had a foundation of critical thinking and in my current job those skills are needed a lot and I can draw upon that. It is this University that helped me get to where I am today.  The colleagues I call on now are those I went to school with at USF Sarasota-Manatee because I trust in them and have spent a lot of time with them.

You’re from California originally, why the move to Florida? 

I moved here with my fiancé to get out of California, for some new scenery.  I’m a Southern California girl and Florida seemed like a good trade off.  We wanted a new start somewhere, his family is here as well, and for him to finish school.

Why did you choose USF Sarasota-Manatee?

After hearing from friends about how much they enjoyed USFSM, I decided to enroll so I could finish the degree that I started in California.  I liked that it was close to home, and the classes worked well around my work schedule.

You’re very involved on campus – why did you choose to get involved with Crew/Ambassadors?

I joined Crew because I never played competitive sports in high school.  I thought this would be a fun chance to get in shape, meet new people, and get some of that “college experience” by being part of a sports team/club.  From there, I met the Crew advisor, and he told me about Ambassadors, which he also advises. I liked that I would be able to be more involved at the school, and be able to represent USFSM at special events.  Joining these two clubs have turned out to be the best decision that I’ve made!  I have made lots of new friends, met many interesting people, and have been able to participate in a lot of great activities with the University!

What is the biggest benefit of your campus involvement?

Like I said earlier, meeting new people has been the biggest part of being involved on campus.  USFSM is a small campus, and many of us have jobs and other things going on, but by involving myself in these clubs, I have been able to meet a lot more students and faculty than I would have just by attending class.  Club involvement also gives you more of that college feel, something that I thought I might not get by attending a small campus.  

What are your 3 favorite things about USFSM?

One of my favorite things about USFSM is the size of the campus.  It’s small and personal, and because of that I feel like I’m able to get more out of my education.  I love the staff and faculty and their dedication to the students.  They are always so available and willing to help us out.  Finally, another favorite thing about USF Sarasota-Manatee is that they (the staff and faculty) really do try to make this campus a fun place to be.  We might be a small University, but they work really hard to put on events and activities that get you involved.  It’s nice for those that feel that they might miss out on the big campus feel by going to USFSM.  I’ve been completely happy since I have been here and I don’t feel like I have missed out on anything!