SPC Foundation Hosts 25th Annual Donors and Scholars Appreciation Luncheon

As single mom Antoinette Catalano finished sharing her journey from foster care and abuse to overcoming medical injuries to earning her degree at the age of 32, the audience stood and cheered in support.

On Friday, April 4, more than 350 supporters of St. Petersburg College and scholarship recipients attended the 25th annual St. Petersburg College Foundation Donors and Scholars Luncheon at the Hilton St. Petersburg at Carillon Park.

The luncheon is a celebration for all SPC donors and supporters to thank them for their involvement. The event provides an opportunity for donors to meet some of the SPC students who have benefited from SPC Foundation scholarships and program funding, and featured moving speeches from Catalano and others, and music from SPC students.

The Foundation supported the College with almost $5 million in funding in the past year, including more than $2.7 million in scholarships to over 4,000 students. In addition, more than $157,000 was distributed to more than 450 students whose lives were impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“Your unwavering support of the SPC Hurricane Relief Fund made an extraordinary difference. Your generosity provided immediate assistance to those most affected – our students, faculty and staff – when they needed it most,” said Mark Strickland, SPC’s Interim Vice President of Student Affairs, who emceed the event. “We proudly honor the resilience and accomplishments of our students – many of whom have persevered through immense challenges and competing demands to stay on course and pursue their dreams.”

Catalano persevered through years of personal and physical challenges before finally earning her associate’s degree, and is now continuing in SPC’s Human Services bachelor’s degree program with aspirations to attend law school.

“I am especially thankful to the SPC Foundation donors for making the impossible possible,” said Catalano, who endured 10 broken bones and 10 surgeries following a car accident years ago. “I knew I had to go to college because I needed a career that did not involve standing for prolonged periods of time, and I also knew I needed to generate a gainful income to support my son and me. Without scholarships, that would not have been possible.”

SPC alum Dr. Jackie Munro also shared her journey with the College. Munro is the Vice President of Nursing Systems and Resources at BayCare Health System, which is a longtime SPC partner and donor.

“My best memories in nursing school [at SPC] included valued conversations with faculty about nursing practice,” said Munro. “They inspired me to continue my education and begin my nursing leadership journey.”

She thanked SPC faculty for paving the way for student success by uplifting students and inspiring them to think big, using her story as an example of how one program can influence one student and, in turn, help shape the future of a community. SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams gave closing remarks, echoing Catalano’s comments.

“How we were raised, the mistakes we’ve made, they do not define us, but they make us stronger, and they make us work harder,” said Dr. Williams. “There are so many people who say, ‘I am who I am because of SPC,’ and that’s because of our wonderful faculty, our staff, our board of trustees, our Foundation board and our donors...We are SPC! And we could not do that without you.”

Thank you to all our SPC donors and supporters! For more photos of the event, check out the photo album on Facebook.