Fall Commencement To Be Held at The BayCare Sound Dec. 10
12/6/2024
By Samantha Stanich
St. Petersburg College will hold its Fall 2024 commencement ceremony at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at The BayCare Sound at Coachman Park, 255 Drew St., Clearwater.
Committed to celebrating student success
The College and the Titan community demonstrated resilience in the face of the challenges posed by Hurricanes Helene and Milton this past fall. Despite significant damage to Tropicana Field, which traditionally hosts SPC's graduation ceremonies, the College has remained dedicated to celebrating its students' success by moving forward with this fall’s graduation at The BayCare Sound. SPC’s determination to honor our students' hard work shows its commitment to community and educational excellence.
“We are looking forward to celebrating our graduates who have overcome hardships with the recent storms and endured to walk the stage,” said SPC President Dr. Williams. “We are proud of our Titans' strength and perseverance that continues to demonstrate SPC’s mission to provide better jobs and better lives to build better communities.”
Graduating student to be highlighted at Ceremony
Vanessa Williams, a local educator and soon-to-be graduate of SPC, is set to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
A teacher at Job Corps Pinellas where she currently works with medical assistants, Williams is inspiring the next generation of health care professionals. With her bachelor’s degree, she will transition into a new role teaching the LPN program.
After a challenging yet rewarding educational journey, Williams’ perseverance and commitment to her dreams are a testament to her resilience. She began her studies in 2021, balancing work and school while raising her goals higher.
"I didn’t become a nurse right away, as life became hectic. But SPC worked with my schedule, and that flexibility helped me reach this milestone," said Williams.
Her dedication to her students is also evident. Vanessa has encouraged her students at Job Corps to remain focused on their dreams and never give up. They will be at the commencement to show their support and encouragement.
"It means a lot to me to bring my students to my graduation ceremony. I want to be an example for them. They can do it, too, if they keep pushing forward," she said.
Williams’ story highlights the importance of resilience and staying positive, even when the path forward is not clear. "Failure is only when you give up," she said. "Keep pushing, even when you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Stay positive, stay encouraged, and you will accomplish your goals."
Graduates by the numbers
SPC is Florida’s first community college and the first to offer bachelor’s degrees. With this graduating class, SPC has awarded 205,057 credentials since the college was founded in 1927.
SPC’s youngest Fall 2024 graduate is 17 years old, the oldest is 77 years old, and 13 graduates from the Summer and Fall terms are over the age of 60. There are 336 graduates that are the first in their family to graduate with a college degree and 178 who will be the first in their families to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.
For the Summer and Fall 2024 terms, SPC awarded 1,742 degrees and certificates:
- 694 Associate in Arts degrees
- 347 Associate in Science degrees
- 205 Bachelor of Applied Science degrees
- 152 Bachelor of Science degrees
- 344 certificates
SPC prides itself on offering more than 200 degrees, certificates and transfer programs, as well as many high-demand, high-skill, industry-recognized workforce certifications. Some of the credentials awarded in the Fall Term include:
- 83 Associate in Science in Nursing
- 54 Bachelor of Applied Science in Management and Organizational Leadership
- 47 Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- 35 Associate in Science in Veterinary Technology
- 31 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- 20 Bachelor of Applied Science in Technology Development and Management
- 18 Bachelor of Applied Science in Health Services Administration
- 17 Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity
- 44 Cybersecurity certificates
- 38 Paramedic certificates
Information on The BayCare Sound
The BayCare Sound is an outdoor with limited seating for 4,000 on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional seating is available on the lawn. Guests may only bring in a blanket or towel for lawn seating. Chairs are prohibited. All graduates and guests must abide by The BayCare Sound policies. As a sustainable venue, guidelines on prohibited items will be strictly enforced. Prohibited items include but are not limited to strollers, outside containers, flowers, balloons, or oversized bags.
The event will also be streamed live on the College’s YouTube channel.
