Marcia Taylor, USF World's Assistant Vice President, shares the bold history of USF
and honors international graduates.Gathering alongside families, friends and campus leaders, USF World celebrated graduating international students on Aug. 5 at the traditional stole ceremony. Each student marked the successful completion of their academic goals with commencement regalia in the colors of their home country’s flag.
This summer, 165 international students graduated from USF, including 84 earning bachelor’s degrees, 50 master’s students, and 31earning doctoral degrees. Together, they represented 55 countries.
“You literally are bringing the world to USF and to Tampa Bay,” Marcia Taylor, USF World’s Assistant Vice President Immigration Compliance, told the graduates. “We appreciate your perspectives in the classroom, your contributions in the laboratories, and your creativity in art and music studies.”
Also addressing the graduates and their families was Minh Anh Bui, a Muma College of Business 2026 graduate who also served as Tampa campus co-chair for USF Student Government and was deeply engaged in student activities.
International USF graduates proudly wear stoles that represent their home countries
as they shout "Go Bulls!"“Every person in this room made a decision most people never have to make,” she said. “You got on a plane to a country you don’t call home, chose a future you couldn’t fully picture because you had faith that it would be worth it. And it turns out, you were right.”
Minh Anh Bui, a distinguished USF graduate, invites her fellow international graduates
to reflect on their journey.Growing up in Vietnam and moving to the United States as a teen, Bui grew up valuing hard work, community and resilience. At USF, she was a Muma College of Business 25 Under 25 Honoree, a King O’Neal Scholar recognized for her perfect 4.0 GPA, and graduated with a dual degree in global business and psychology. She also was a founder of the Vietnamese Student Association.
“On day one, you knew absolutely nobody. And yet, you’ve built an entire life here, a home away from home,” Bui told her fellow graduates. “That is not a small accomplishment. It’s extraordinary.”
“You have proof that it’s possible to step into the unfamiliar and build something that lasts,” Anh Bui says. “You will carry your time at USF into every new city, every new job and every opportunity that comes your way.”
The graduating students were encouraged to stay connected to USF and each other through the USF Global Networks, which bring together alumni, students, faculty and partners in a worldwide community of support.