Stephenson Receives Spring 2009 Outstanding Graduate Award

(St. Petersburg, Fla.) May 13, 2009 - Scott B. Stephenson received the Spring 2009 Outstanding Graduate Award at the Spring Commencement Ceremony Sunday, May 3. Stephenson is a College of Business alumnus who graduated with a degree in Accounting.

His path to college was non-traditional – he spent his first five years after high school on marine vessels, working his way from deck hand to first captain. He is a Merchant Marine officer and holds a 500 Ton Master Oceans License from the U.S. Coast Guard. But knowing he wanted a degree, he moved to Florida and enrolled at USF St. Petersburg, where he excelled in his courses and became an exemplary leader.

From his first semester at USF St. Petersburg, Stephenson stood out as a focused student and a leader among his peers. He sought the establishment of Beta Alpha Psi, an accounting honor society, and went on to become a member of the founding class of the Mu Gamma chapter at USF St. Petersburg. He led the chapter as Vice President in Fall 2008 and President in Spring 2009. Due to his leadership, the chapter was recognized as a Distinguished Chapter in 2008, a distinction earned in a chapter’s inaugural year by only two of 279 chapters worldwide. Through the chapter, Stephenson organized community service projects with Habitat for Humanity and ASAP Homeless Shelter. He also made presentations about accounting careers to first-year students with undecided majors.

In 2007, Stephenson represented the College of Business as a Student Government Senator. He served on the Senate Budget Committee and the Capital Improvement Trust Fund Committee. He worked with the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library administration for two years to establish extended exam week operating hours.

Stephenson also joined the university’s Sailing Team, quickly becoming a valued member of the team. He formed a fundraising committee and helped raise needed money for the team’s new fleet.

His spirited participation across the university continued in the classroom with his unending commitment to academic success. He received the Transfer Academic Scholarship and the Teresa and Paul Mueller Accounting Scholarship. Stephenson earned a place on the Chancellor’s Honor List in Fall 2008 and will work as an intern with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Summer 2009.

-USF St. Petersburg-

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