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Florida Southern holds 
winter commencement 

LAKELAND, Fla. (Dec. 17, 2002) - One hundred eighty-four Florida Southern College students received diplomas at winter graduation ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m. in Branscomb Auditorium. Bishop Timothy Whitaker, bishop of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church and member of the college's board of trustees, delivered the commencement address. 

Graduating seniors included 103 from the college's traditional day program, 25 from the Lakeland evening program, and 45 from the Orlando program. Eleven students received their MBA's. Forty-seven students received honors, with 18 summa cum laude, 12 magna cum laude, and 17 cum laude. 

President's Scholarship Medals went to Angela Toth, a psychology and sociology major residing in Lakeland, Fla., and Lisa McGee, a nursing major from Maitland, Fla. The scholarship is awarded to a student with 3.85 or higher grade point average and who represents the best qualities of an FSC student, participating in the life of the college and the community. The student speaker chosen by the Commencement Committee was Jonathan Todd Henry, a criminology and Spanish major and son of Douglas and Jacqueline Henry of Nashville, Tenn. 

Whitaker and Frank H. Furman, a member of FSC's board of trustees, received honorary degrees. Whitaker received a degree of Doctor of Humane letters in recognition of his years of service and leadership in the United Methodist Church. Furman is chairman and executive officer of Frank H. Furman, Inc., a general insurance agency. He received a Doctor of Public Service degree in recognition of his career of service to the community, the United Methodist Church, and Florida Southern College. 

About Florida Southern College
Florida Southern is a four-year, private, co-educational liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The college offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and a master of business administration degree accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Located in Lakeland, Fla., the college is home to the largest, single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. 

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