NFL Hall of Famer Rondé Barber Awarded

 

NFL Hall of Famer Rondé Barber Awarded Honorary Doctorate as Florida Southern College Celebrates Record-Breaking Graduation.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout delivers keynote at Florida Southern College’s commencement, inspiring its largest-ever graduating class with lessons in leadership, resilience, and community impact.

Florida Southern College, established in 1883, is the oldest private college in Florida. The college offers more than 70 undergraduate programs and several specialized graduate programs, focusing on areas such as business administration, education, nursing, and physical therapy. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, the college excels in engaged learning and has secured 30 NCAA Division II National Championships.

In the U.S. News & World Report's 2025 "Best Colleges" guide, Florida Southern ranks 11th among Best Regional Universities in the South, ranks 9th for Most Innovative Schools and ranks 20th in Best Value Schools. It also features in The Princeton Review's 2024 Best 389 Colleges and the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2025. Furthermore, the 2024-2025 Colleges of Distinction guidebook applauds the college's AACSB-accredited Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise, as well as its School of Education and Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Florida Southern is renowned for its collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, the largest in the world at a single location. For 13 consecutive years, it has been included in The Princeton Review's top 20 "Most Beautiful Campus" listings nationwide, 

Now ranking at 5th. To discover more, connect with Florida Southern College.

On May 3, Florida Southern College reached a milestone by awarding degrees to its largest graduating class ever, consisting of 580 students. The ceremony featured a keynote speech from Rondé Barber, a respected figure in the NFL . In acknowledgment of his exemplary career and sustained contributions to society, Barber received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.

Barber focused his speech on integrity, leadership, and the importance of forging a lasting legacy. His 16-year career in the National Football League was spent entirely with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Throughout his career, he achieved significant milestones, including a Super Bowl XXXVII win and induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023. Barber was a five-time NFL Pro Bowl selectee, part of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, and holds the Buccaneers' record for most interceptions. Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Barber plays a vital role in community service as the General Chairman of Copperhead Charities, which organizes the PGA's Valspar Championship. In this capacity, he supports various local charitable initiatives and community programs, such as Habitat for Humanity and The First Tee of Tampa Bay.

The ceremony also included a speech by Molly Kennedy, a senior and marine biology major, who emphasized the essential role of resilience. Biology student 

Haley Thomassy was honored with the President's Scholar Medal for her outstanding achievements as a scholar, athlete, and leader on campus. 

Erick Tran, who received the 2025 Honor Walk award, completed both a bachelor's degree in accounting and a Master of Science in accountancy. He also served as executive vice president of Beta Alpha Psi, a notable position reflecting leadership.

Alex Ortiz from the communication department was awarded the Miller Faculty Award for significant contributions to academia. Professor Katherine Upshaw was recognized for her achievements with the FSC Omicron Delta Kappa Circle Award.

This ceremony marked the first spring commencement under President Jeremy P. Martin, who started his role as FSC's 18th president in August 2024.

In his welcome address, Dr. Martin stated, "Graduates from this class join others who have been accepted into prestigious graduate programs in law, medicine, fine arts, education, nursing, and business, both across the nation and globally. Many have begun careers as healthcare professionals, educators, military officers, artists, musicians, clergy, and business leaders in Fortune 500 companies throughout the country."

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