2017 UG Commencement Program

28 C ollege of H ealth C are S ciences Christina Marie Di Luigi , a speech-language and communication disorders major, is from Davie, Florida. She is a dual-admission student who will transition into the master’s degree program for Speech-Language Pathology later in 2017 and has been on the Dean’s List for six semesters. Di Luigi has worked several summer jobs since 2014, including as an assistant teacher and summer camp counselor at a full-immersion German language preschool. She also acted as a caregiver to infants and was lead camp counselor of elementary- aged children. In 2015, she received the Certificate of Excellence from the German Consulate in Miami, Florida. In 2016 she was a laboratory assistant for students taking human anatomy and physiology courses at NSU. In the summer, she plans to attend an intensive language course in Germany before beginning her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in the fall at NSU. She recently took a job at the Baudhuin Preschool to work as an ESE teacher’s aide once she starts the graduate program. Di Luigi is very proud to have completed her bachelor’s degree in three years. Natasha Noble , an exercise and sports science major, is from Grand Junction, Colorado. She was hand-selected as a research assistant in the spring of 2017 through a grant obtained by Peter Sprague, PT, D.P.T., OCS, and Morey Kolber, PT, Ph.D., OCS, from the Physical Therapy program and Monique Mokha, Ph.D., ATC, from the Exercise and Sport Science program. During this research study, Noble conducted several movement education sessions with other physical therapy students at fire stations with firefighters and paramedics of Broward County. She has been a member of the Alpha Eta Society for Allied Health Professions since 2015, and made the Dean’s List in 2016. Noble has also been a member of the Exercise Science Student Organization since 2015, where she represented the organization on multiple Counselor Connections panels and attended many guest lectures. Noble has worked with the Special Olympics of South Florida for about six months in an internship, where she has received hours of training working with athletes with intellectual disabilities. She has also helped with fund-raising for silent and live auctions, thus educating herself in the program’s sole source of funding, which allows the athletes to participate and travel at no cost to the families. Noble enjoys giving back to the community at events such as the Million Meal Pack through the Miami Dolphins and AARP Foundation as well as assisting in fund-raising events for the Special Olympics and volunteering at sporting events. She has also volunteered at NSU events, including the annual Anything Can Float raft race. She recently helped Mokha organize a fitness assessment clinic for seniors and others with disabilities. Noble has submitted her resume to the Special Olympics of South Florida for a coveted coaching position for the Young Athletes Program, where she hopes to work one on one with children. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Noble is a decorated U.S. Navy veteran who served five years on active duty in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom from 2008 to 2013. She is also a wife and the mother of an 11-month-old daughter.