UF graduate leaves legacy of learning about the world with local students

December 6, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Growing up as a “military brat” across the U.S., Krista Schumacher was sensitive to varying cultures. After coming to the University of Florida as undergraduate, her sense of the larger world was enhanced further through different experiences.

She interned at UF’s International Center and was a peer mentor in the Yulee Global Living and Learning Community. A turning point came when was enrolled in an international development and humanitarian assistance course. She felt hopeless about the challenges facing the world and wanted to make a difference.

She thought a good way would be to broaden the perspective of local middle school children, so she started Gator Global Educators.

“I realized how much I was learning from them (international students) sharing their personal stories about their lives,” said Schumacher, who will be among the 3,265 UF students scheduled to graduate Dec. 14-15.

Through the group, Schumacher helps more than 40 international students make distant worlds become real for Gainesville’s middle school students.

“It’s interesting to see their reaction,” she said. “Foreign is becoming familiar to them.”

Schumacher continues to share three meals a day with her international counterparts and is someone they depend on, she said.

Schumacher plans to continue traveling and learning about the world next semester and then become a teacher in San Antonio through the Teach For America program.

This fall, 1,891 students applied for undergraduate degrees and 1,047 students applied for master’s and specialist degrees. There were 327 doctoral degree applicants. A total of 1,946 students have order regalia as of this week.

Two multi-college ceremonies will take place for master’s, specialist and bachelor’s degree-seeking students at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Dec. 15 in the O’Connell Center. The ceremony for College of Pharmacy doctoral candidates and master’s students will be held in the Health Professions, Nursing and Pharmacy Auditorium at 10 a.m. Dec. 15. All other doctoral candidates will be recognized at 4 p.m. on Dec. 14 in the O’Connell Center.

The outstanding four-year undergraduate scholars are Marla Borkson, Allyson Sharf, Stephanie Daniel and Kara Lowe. Marshall Sewell will be recognized as an outstanding two-year scholar. Teresa Crippen, Paul Benjamin King and Eileen Cowdery will be recognized as outstanding student leaders.

UF Trustee Earl Powell will be recognized as a distinguished alumnus on Dec. 14. Beth McCague will be recognized on Dec. 15.

Honorary degrees will be given to Mary Ann Cofrin, Daniel Lewis and Jerry Uelsmann.

UF will also recognize Alexandre S. Lopes, Cheryl Conley, Brenda Collier and Taylor McGrew and Harriet Brady as distinguished educators.

For more information about the commencement ceremonies, go to http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/commencement/.