University of South Florida

Boundless Bulls

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Fall 2021 Commencement

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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.

Vivian Mills poses out the MSC at USF's campus in Tampa

Danylo Solomentsev's portrait out the MSC at USF's Tampa campus.

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.

Yasmeen Armoush

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.

Gabrielle DeVita

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.

Daniel Sun

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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.

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Students

USF student Meg Nelluri

Meghana Nelluri

"Being a first-generation American makes me even more motivated to accomplish as much as I can and really make sure that the sacrifice that my parents have made is worth it."

Faculty and Staff

USF faculty member Kemesha Gabbidon

Kemesha Gabbidon

"I’m excited to get folks in the community involved with this research. To me, it’s their project at the end of the day. Some people say we’re giving a voice to the voiceless, but these members of the community already have a voice. We’re just giving them the space to speak."

Alumni

Dominic Puglisi

Dominic Puglisi

"USF was the defining experience of my life. Most people don’t understand how absolutely critical USF was, especially for us in Ybor City. There were six or seven guys who grew up together in the old neighborhood, all children of immigrants, who became members of the charter class. We were so proud, so gratified to be accepted. It made an enormous difference in our lives."

Students

Christine Grossman sitting at the USF St. Pete campus

Christine Grossman

"“When I stepped foot on this campus, I instantly knew that this is where I was meant to be, and it’s been a perfect fit.”"