Eckerd College Honors 60 Pets with Diplomas in St. Petersburg

Eckerd College honored nearly 60 pets belonging to graduating seniors at its 14th annual Pet Graduation on April 30 in Saint Petersburg.

The ceremony recognized 11 species with honorary diplomas: 22 dogs, 16 cats, six lizards, four snakes, two turtles, two guinea pigs, a hermit crab, a ferret, a crayfish, a parrot, a bunny, and an axolotl. Tito the crayfish, owned by senior Averi Kochiss of Shelton, Connecticut, received a diploma in absentia.

The college also presented honorary "dog-torates" to individuals who advanced Pet Life or animal welfare at Eckerd. Dixon and Pam Grayless of Houston, Texas, established the Pet Life endowment fund in honor of their daughter, Emily Grayless '25, a program participant. Professor Elizabeth Forys, an environmental science and biology professor, received a dog-torate for installing bird-safe window decals across campus to reduce collision deaths.

Shayla Lapp, assistant director of residence life, oversaw her first Pet Graduation this year. "What is great about it is it's a tradition that has stayed the same over the years," Lapp said.