May 9, 2005

NSU to Host Commencement Ceremonies this Saturday - May 14
Undergraduates to March at 11 a.m. and Law Center Graduates to March at 4 p.m.

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, FL — Throughout the years, Nova Southeastern University graduates have represented diverse backgrounds, and this year proves to be no different for the NSU students that will graduate this Saturday, May 14 at the Office Depot Center in Sunrise.

The ceremony for the undergraduate students of Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, Fischler School of Education and Human Services and H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business & Entrepreneurship will begin at 11:00 a.m., with commencement speaker Paul Hersey, founder and chair of the Center for Leadership Studies.

The ceremony for the students of the Shepard Broad Law Center will begin at 4:00 p.m., with commencement speaker Robert J. Grey, Jr., president of the American Bar Association.

Among the graduates that will receive their respective degrees, are students that have overcome language barriers, poverty and family illness. These graduates include:

• Gina Peralta, fled Bogotá Colombia in 2000 to escape guerrilla violence just one year away from completing law school. After coming to the U.S. the 25 year old Pembroke Pines resident had to learn to speak English, and return to college as a freshman because of the difference in U.S. and Colombian legal educational systems. Gina will receive her bachelor's of science degree during the 11:00 am ceremony.
  
  
• Raquel James, 34 year old single mother of three, will receive her Juris Doctorate degree with honors at 4:00 p.m. The Miami resident struggled for ten years to finish her undergraduate degree before getting accepted into NSU's Shepard Broad Law Center . During her three years as a full time student, she has had to struggle with financial hardships, and her son's diagnosis of meningitis.

Additionally, Class of 2005 graduate Kathy Eikosidekas who received the highest score of anyone taking the Florida Bar Exam in the 6 counties under the jurisdiction of the Fourth District Court of Appeal and whose combined score placed her in the top 25 statewide, will receive special recognition during the 4:00 p.m. commencement ceremony.

For more information, please contact Office of Public Affairs at (954) 262-5350.

Media Note: Mara L. Kiffin, Office of Public Affairs, will be the on-site contact this Saturday. She can be reached on her cell phone at (954) 224-4642.