Apple Inventor Steve Wozniak, Broward Elections Chief Brenda Snipes Featured Speakers at June 25 commencement ceremonies

(Photo): Steve Wozniak	(Photo): Brenda Snipes

The man who revolutionized home computing said he was humbled June 25 when he was granted the Honorary Doctor of Science from Nova Southeastern University.

Addressing more than 600 graduates from NSU’s graduate and professional schools, Steve Wozniak, developer of the world’s first line of commercial home computers, urged students “to live for what’s inside you.”

More than 1,200 students attended NSU’s commencement ceremonies held in the Office Depot Center.

Wozniak spoke to the graduating classes of the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, the Center for Psychological Studies, the Oceanographic Center, the Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences, and the Criminal Justice Institute. Later that day, Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda C. Snipes delivered a special address to the more than 600 students receiving master’s, doctoral, and specialist degrees from the Fischler School of Education and Human Services.

With business partner Steve Jobs, Wozniak introduced the world to Apple's first commercial model, the Apple II. By 1980, Apple had gone public, Jobs and Wozniak were millionaires, and “The Woz” (as Wozniak is known) had become a symbol of “free-wheeling nerd enterprise and ingenuity.” He was awarded the National Medal of Technology by the President of the United States in 1985, the highest honor bestowed upon America’s leading innovators.

In 2000, Wozniak was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame and was awarded the prestigious Heinz Award for Technology, The Economy and Employment for “single-handedly designing the first personal computer and for then redirecting his lifelong passion for mathematics and electronics toward lighting the fires of excitement for education in grade school students and their teachers.”

An NSU graduate, Snipes served as a program specialist, district level administrator, co-principal, and principal in the Broward County Public School System before Governor Jeb Bush asked her in November 2003 to serve out the term of Supervisor of Elections.

During her tenure, she has held several successful elections, including the Presidential Election in November 2004. She has also been credited with improving the staff morale and office operating procedures. Additionally, the voter rolls have been updated, budget management systems are in place, and voter outreach and education are at an all time high. In May of 2004, 7,250 high school juniors and seniors were added to the voter registration rolls as a result of a highly successful high school voter registration drive.

See a photo gallery of images from the 11 a.m. commencement ceremony.