LAKELAND, Fla. (May 10, 2005) — Three hundred three Florida Southern College students received diplomas during two spring graduation ceremonies held April 30 on the FSC campus.

Students receiving degrees during the morning commencement included 44 students from the Lakeland evening (17), MBA (8), and Orlando (19) programs. Fifteen students graduated with honors, with four summa cum laude, six magna cum laude, and five cum laude.

Bishop Robert E. Fannin gave the commencement speech. Fannin, a 1958 FSC graduate and former senior minister of First United Methodist Church of Lakeland, currently serves as Bishop in Residence at Florida Southern. Prior to his retirement, Fannin was presiding bishop of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Afternoon commencement for 259 Lakeland day students took place in the Jenkins Field House on campus. Honors went to 66 graduates, with 21 summa cum laude, 21 magna cum laude, and 24 cum laude.

Dr. Sherry Magill, president of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, a private grantmaking foundation, delivered the commencement address. Magill holds a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Alabama, and a doctorate in American studies from Syracuse University. She serves as a senior moderator for the Aspen Institute and is the founding executive director of the Wye Faculty Seminar, a nationally recognized enrichment program for professors teaching in the nation's small colleges.

An Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree was presented to Sarah McKay, chair of the college’s board of trustees, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the community.

About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1885, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive, United Methodist college with a liberal arts core. The college maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 38 undergraduate majors and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 14:1 student/faculty ratio, provides strong student/faculty mentorship programs, boasts 24 NCAA Division II national championships, and is ranked by U. S. News and World Report as one of the top ten Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelors. Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is the home of the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.