USF College of Education and SUNRIPE Family of Companies to Host 10th Annual SUNRIPE Golf Classic to Benefit Migrant Education

TAMPA, Fla. (April 2, 2009) – On April 18, 2009 the University of South Florida College of Education and the SUNRIPE Family of Companies will host the tenth annual SUNRIPE Golf Classic at the Legacy Golf and Country Club in Bradenton, Florida. This golf course is designed by Arnold Palmer and is ranked as one of the top 10 golf courses in Florida.

All of the proceeds through golf registrations, non-golfer fees, and generous sponsorships will be used to support the SUNRIPE Migrant Scholarship Fund.  In its history, the annual event has raised over $1.1 million for migrant education scholarships at the USF College of Education. Dr. Judith Genshaft, President of the University of South Florida, has said this is one of the most far reaching and important efforts for the Migrant Education Program at the University -- and in the country.

Since the SUNRIPE Family of Companies began the Golf Classic in 2000, 40 students from migrant families have received scholarships and are earning degrees in Education at the undergraduate and graduate levels at the University of South Florida. Dr. Ann Cranston-Gingras, USF Professor of Special Education and Director of the Center for Migrant Education said, “the scholarship benefits not only the students themselves, but the communities where they return to work after they graduate.” For example, one former scholarship recipient who began his career teaching migrant children is now working as a migrant education program administrator in Immokalee.

 
"We are proud of our migrant education scholars and grateful for our partnership with Sunripe," said College of Education Dean, Colleen Kennedy. “Many of the recipients worked in the fields with their families, never dreaming that they would be able to pursue a university education.  Thanks to Sunripe, these students have a promise and a pathway to become educators and educational leaders.” 

To register for the event or to see what sponsorship opportunities are available, visit the following website: 

http://sunripe.sunripeproduce.com/index.php?pr=Golf_Classic_2009.

To participate in the tournament, or for more information, contact Liz Esformes at (941)722-3291 or email: liz.esformes@sunripeproduce.com.

The USF College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and is fully approved by the Florida Department of Education. The USF College of Education is the 7th largest public college of education in the nation. For more information about the USF College of Education, visit: itunes.usf.edu or: www.coedu.usf.edu.

The University of South Florida is one of the nation's top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded more than $360 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2007/2008. The university offers 219 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 46,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.
 

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