Former student finishes degree after 33 years, returns for commencement

April 21, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When Roger Blum left the University of Florida in 1978, just three elective credits away from graduating, he didn’t expect that 33 years later he’d be back in Gainesville to receive a bachelor’s degree during this spring’s commencement.

On April 30, Blum’s wife, his 8-year-old daughter and his 10-year-old son will be at the O’Connell Center watching him walk across the stage to receive his bachelor’s in economics.

The lure of the seas is what made the Miami Beach native leave Gainesville. The opportunity to work on a ship with Carnival Cruise Lines presented itself, and he figured there would never be a better time for him to cruise the Caribbean. He said he was looking for what most people in their early 20s seek — fun.

Carnival quickly moved him up their professional ladder, and Blum soon found himself as hotel manager for the cruise ships. His life at sea was one he enjoyed.

“I loved it on board,” Blum said.

His lifestyle wasn’t the only thing he loved about cruise ships. Blum met his future wife, a performer on the ship, in 1992. Knowing the off-shore life wasn’t conducive to the family life that was around the corner, the couple moved off the ships to Miami in 1994, just one year before they married.

After holding various positions with Carnival and finally being promoted to a vice president position for 15 years, Blum’s job was eliminated due to a change in management, and he knew it was time to consider other options.

With his unfinished degree on his conscience, Blum contacted UF wondering whether it was possible to pick up where he left off.

After comparing degree requirements in the 1970s to requirements now, it was determined he needed only two four-credit courses, business law and operations, and supply chain management.

In addition to this achievement being a personal and professional goal, Blum is also trying to set an example for his children.

“I’m trying to show my kids that it’s better to finish things when they’re started,” he said.

Blum of Miami will be among about 6,800 graduates participating in this spring’s commencement ceremonies, based on the number of caps and gowns ordered through the UF bookstore as of Tuesday. This semester, 5,771 students applied for undergraduate degrees, and 3,580 students applied for graduate and professional degrees.

Three multi-college undergraduate ceremonies will take place at the O’Connell Center April 30 at 9:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The following students will be recognized at these ceremonies as Outstanding Student Leaders: Jessica L. Clements, Kara Olesky, Marcus L. Dixon, Cecil A. Duffie, Charly Hillman, Johnathan Lott, Andrew Stricklin, Megan T. Vu, Jacob Burns and Nicolle Vasquez.

Outstanding four-year scholar awards will go to Zachary J. Grabel, Peter M. Posada, Melinda Grosser, Christina Iglesias, Johnathan Lott, Christopher J. Marth, Andrew G. Scheuermann, Regina Topolinskaya, Anh-Thuy H. Le and Stephen N. Morgan.

Charles “Chas” Henry will receive the Doug Belden Award during the 9:30 a.m. undergraduate ceremony April 30.

Jack Hartmann and James Bill “W” Heavener will be awarded distinguished alumnus awards during the undergraduate ceremonies, and North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue will receive her distinguished alumna award during the advanced degree ceremonies.

The College of Design, Construction and Planning, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering will hold their own undergraduate degree ceremonies April 30 at 3 p.m., May 1 at noon and May 1 at 5 p.m., respectively.

Advanced degrees, including master’s and doctoral, in all colleges will be honored with a ceremony April 29 at 4 p.m. at the O’Connell Center. Honorary doctorates will be awarded to the following individuals at this ceremony: John Esposito for a doctorate of humane letters; Sam Gibbons for a doctorate of public service, and William King for a doctorate of fine arts.

Doctoral mentoring awards will go to Allan Burns, Yuguang “Michael” Fang, Karen Kainer, Douglas Levey and posthumously to Lynda Lee Kaid.

Professional degree ceremonies will be held throughout May between the Phillips Center for Performing Arts and the O’Connell Center. They start with the College of Pharmacy on May 2, Levin College of Law on May 13, the College of Medicine on May 14, the College of Dentistry on May 20 and the College of Veterinary Medicine on May 28.