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Danylo Solomentsev
Bachelor of Science in marketing
Danylo Solomentsev persevered through several major challenges during his academic journey. In 2017, Solomentsev left his home in Ukraine to pursue his studies at USF. He was 16 years old and was determined to learn more about American culture, marketing and business culture. He studied marketing at the Muma College of Business while also pursuing an online bachelor’s degree in Ukraine. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted his studies and internship plans in the U.S., which prompted Solomentsev’s return to Ukraine. Solomentsev refers to the period as the “long pandemic break” where he worked and waited for the opportunity to resume his studies in person. Solomentsev returned to Tampa in January 2022, just a few weeks before the Russia-Ukraine war began. The event divided Solomentsev’s life in two. Solomentsev’s mother fled for safety but the rest of his family stayed in Ukraine. Despite the constant news of the war, Solomentsev remained focused on completing his assignments and staying on track to graduate. He also sought ways to help Ukrainians affected by the war. Solomentsev teamed up with a small group of Ukrainian and Russian friends at USF and used his marketing skills to help coordinate a campaign that raised more than $7,000 for humanitarian relief. Solomentsev and the team designed branded items such as wristbands, stickers and cupcakes and secured suppliers for tabling and event efforts. After graduation, Solomentsev plans to pursue a master’s degree at USF.
Danylo Solomentsev
Bachelor of Science in marketing
Danylo Solomentsev persevered through several major challenges during his academic
journey. In 2017, Solomentsev left his home in Ukraine to pursue his studies at USF.
He was 16 years old and was determined to learn more about American culture, marketing
and business culture. He studied marketing at the Muma College of Business while also
pursuing an online bachelor’s degree in Ukraine. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted
his studies and internship plans in the U.S., which prompted Solomentsev’s return
to Ukraine. Solomentsev refers to the period as the “long pandemic break” where he
worked and waited for the opportunity to resume his studies in person.
Solomentsev returned to Tampa in January 2022, just a few weeks before the Russia-Ukraine war began. The event divided Solomentsev’s life in two. Solomentsev’s mother fled for safety but the rest of his family stayed in Ukraine. Despite the constant news of the war, Solomentsev remained focused on completing his assignments and staying on track to graduate. He also sought ways to help Ukrainians affected by the war. Solomentsev teamed up with a small group of Ukrainian and Russian friends at USF and used his marketing skills to help coordinate a campaign that raised more than $7,000 for humanitarian relief. Solomentsev and the team designed branded items such as wristbands, stickers and cupcakes and secured suppliers for tabling and event efforts. After graduation, Solomentsev plans to pursue a master’s degree at USF.
Gabrielle DeVita
BS in Biology
Gabrielle “Gabby” DeVita has excelled in academics since childhood, but the aspiring physician says it was a childhood tragedy that made her think about a career in medicine. DeVita was 8 years old when her mother passed away from cancer. Though a youngster, DeVita stepped in to help her father, an endodontist, care for her younger sister and her older brother who has down syndrome. Those early experiences brought out her caring side while also prompting questions about the origin and treatment of illnesses. Combined with a determination to push herself academically, DeVita went on to excel in school – a practice that continued at USF where she studied biology at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. DeVita will graduate with a 4.0 GPA, having achieved perfect scores throughout her entire college career. She said she hopes to pursue a medical degree through USF Health.
Daniel Sun
BS in Public Health
When he was just 5 years old, Daniel Sun fell in love with the game of tennis. So much so, in fact, that he decided to dedicate much of his life to it. At 13, his family moved to Florida so he could pursue tennis fulltime. By 18, after one semester at USF, Sun decided to put his education on hold and began focusing on tennis exclusively in pursuit of a professional career. Unfortunately, a back injury would mean the end of his playing days but the beginning of a new journey. Sun found himself drawn back to USF, this time in pursuit of a degree in public health. Now in his 20s and back in college, he found himself filled with doubt and uncertainty about his ability to keep up with his peers. He credits the support and guidance from USF professors, family and friends for helping him overcome those anxieties and flourish in his program. While working toward his degree, Sun also conducted research at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and volunteered at Moffitt Cancer Center and the USF Learning Academy. After graduation, he plans to continue his education in medical school with the hopes of one day becoming a physician.
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Yaniris Garcia-Jerez
Bachelor of Arts in psychology
Born in the Dominican Republic, Yaniris Garcia-Jerez immigrated to the United States with her mother when she was just three years old. Growing up, Garcia-Jerez struggled with anxiety and depression and felt "insecure" and "stupid" when, in high school, she struggled to find the motivation to complete certain assignments. Everything changed two years ago when, at age 20, she was diagnosed with ADHD while attending USF.
As Garcia-Jerez, who is the first in her family to attend college, prepares to graduate debt-free with a degree in psychology from the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, her vision for the future is clear. She wants to work with others — children, teens and young adults with disabilities — who struggle with their mental health in academic settings. In the meantime, Garcia-Jerez plans to be kind to herself, to continue her work at USF World, where she advises students on study abroad opportunities — like the one she took part in this summer in Florence, Italy — and to apply to graduate programs. She has her sights set on USF's Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program.
