SPC Invites Community Over for Open House

St. Petersburg College will be hosting a series of fun Open House events over the next few weeks that are open invitations to one and all to visit campuses for fun, free events and, at the same time, learn more about college life at SPC.

Fun is definitely the headliner for the series of events, which include game nights, a men’s basketball game, movies on the lawn and a Greek festival. During each Open House, visitors can take a campus tour to see landmarks and available resources.

“Visitors can see classrooms, labs and different programs specific to each of the campuses,” Director of Recruitment Services Jacob Wortock said. “Every campus is different, and the programs look a little different.”

Attendees can also find out what clubs and organizations the campuses offer, and there will be just about any type of resource on hand to answer questions.

“We’ll have some academic program leaders their, as well as people from Admissions, Advising, Financial Aid and Recruitment,” Wortock said. “And everyone who comes will have an opportunity to fill out an application, with staff on hand to help them.”

Wortok said the events will hold relevance for current students as well as future Titans.

“We designed the Open Houses to make sure there’s something for everybody,” Wortok said. “It’ll be a fun, low pressure way to come out and see all we offer at SPC and have some fun in the process.”

Check out the lineup:

SPC Game Night at the Downtown Center
November 9, 5:30 p.m.

SPC Game Night at the Midtown Center
November 16, 5:30 p.m.

SPC Men’s Basketball Game at St. Pete/Gibbs Campus gymnasium
November 17 at 4:30 p.m. (Game starts at 7 p.m.)

Greek Festival at the Clearwater Campus
November 18 12-2 p.m.

Movie on the Lawn at the Seminole Campus
November 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Winter Wonderland and Movie at Tarpon Springs Campus
December 9 at 5:30 p.m.

Learn more and save your spot here.

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Fast Track to Success

Since students all learn in different ways, it’s essential to offer different forms of support and context to encourage success. St. Petersburg College’s 12-in-12 program was created with optimized student learning in mind. The program, which successfully piloted last fall and has expanded this year, allows students to complete 12 college-level credits within 12 weeks in a structured community learning environment.

Ideally, 12-in-12 students complete core courses as a group. Student Support Manager Brooke Janik says that by being a part of a learning cohort, students find support and belonging that makes them more likely to succeed.

“They can engage and encourage each other in the persistence of completion of their goals,” Janik said. “They hold each other accountable and support one another along the way.”

Since 12-in-12 classes begin in mid-September, the program is also great for students who missed the beginning of the traditional 16-week semester.

“Sometimes people start too late in the registration game,” Janik said. “We don’t want them to miss an entire semester, so this makes it possible for them to complete a full semester with a later start date.”

Janik said the general education courses offered in 12-in-12 are perfect for students looking to earn Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degrees.

“We tried to make it as universal as possible so that students aren’t wasting time on classes that won’t transfer or go towards their degree.”

The program offers classes at SPC’s Downtown and Midtown centers, and includes the following courses:

Downtown Center
Composition I, Humanities, American Government, and Intermediate Algebra or Liberal Arts Math I

Midtown Center
Humanities, American Government, Ethics and Computer Applications

Interested students should contact their advisor or reach out to Angela Trujillo Trujillo.Angela@spcollege.edu for questions about the Downtown program or Takita Cuthbertson cuthbertson.takita@spcollege.edu for questions about the Midtown program.

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Midtown Job Fair for South St. Pete Residents

St. Petersburg College, in partnership with St. Pete Works, the Pinellas County Urban League and CareerSource Pinellas, will host two job fairs for St. Petersburg’s Midtown area, where more than 20 local companies will be looking to fill immediate job openings and some hiring on the spot.

St. Pete Works Program Manager Dr. Reginal Belizaire said there will be a variety of jobs to be filled at the event.

“We have companies looking for administrative assistants, hospitality workers, call center operators, and in areas such as cosmetology, customer service, health care, specialized manufacturing, data analytics and much more,” Belizaire said.

The job fair will be offered in both online and in-person formats. The first event, on Aug. 25 from noon to 5 p.m., will be held on the first floor of the SPC Midtown Center at 1300 22nd St. S. in St. Petersburg. The second will be held virtually on Thursday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Employers are prepared to interview and hire at both events. At the online event, job seekers can upload their resumes and go into private chat rooms to discuss opportunities with potential employers. Attendees are encouraged to dress for success and have resumes ready. There will also be opportunities for resume and interview coaching on site.

Job fair attendees will be able to:

• Meet HR professionals from multiple industries for on-site interviews
• Learn about available full- and part-time positions
• Explore business incentives opportunities
• Talk with career service professionals
• Discover short-term training programs at SPC
• Get a new job or look for a career change at these job fairs

Belizaire said that anyone in the South St. Pete area who is looking for a job should definitely plan to attend.

“South St. Pete residents of all ages should come with an open mind to learn about all the different career opportunities in the area,” he said.  

Ready to go? Register today at stpe.co/jobfairrsvp.

Have questions? Contact Reginal Belizaire at 727-302-6556 or email info.stpeteworks@SPCollege.edu.

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SPC to Distribute Free Food Boxes

In his acceptance speech for the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture of their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits. 

Each year, on King’s birthday, volunteers all over the country come together to try to make that belief a reality. This year, St. Petersburg College has partnered with Hope Villages of America to challenge students, faculty, staff and the community, as well, to help distribute food boxes to those in need on Friday, Jan. 15, at the college’s Clearwater and Midtown campuses.

Dr. Misty Kemp, SPC’s Executive Director of Retention Services, and Dr. Tara Newsom, Director of SPC’s Center for Civic Learning and Community Engagement, are overseeing the event. Kemp says she hopes it will support Dr. King’s desire to make sure people don’t go hungry.

“We recognize the need is there,” Kemp said. “Food insecurity continues to increase, and this is one way we can give back.”

There are two ways to get involved. Those who wish to take part can share the news of food availability with neighbors, co-workers, students and families, or they can help with food distribution at either campus. Kemp says social distancing will be strictly followed at the outdoor event, as face masks and gloves will be required of volunteers, and those picking up food will not leave their vehicles.

Boxes will be filled with non-perishable items such as canned fruits, vegetables, and meats, as well as pasta, sauce, peanut butter and soup. Community members who are in need are invited to come and get a food box during the event. Parking lots will be set up for a drive-through distribution, and people will be asked to remain in their car. They will also be required to fill out a survey before having items loaded into their vehicle. There are a limited number of boxes, so it will be first come, first served.

When:  Friday, Jan. 15, 9-11 a.m.

Where:
SPC’s Clearwater Campus
  2465 Drew St
  Clearwater, FL 33765

 SPC Midtown Center
  1300 22nd St S
  St. Petersburg, FL 33712

For more information, please contact either Dr. Misty Kemp at kemp.misty@spcollege.edu or Dr. Tara Newsom at newsom.tara@spcollege.edu.

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Midtown Center Offering 12 Credits in 12 Weeks

Want to accelerate earning college credit and get a closer to a degree in only 12 weeks? Explore the 12 in 12 program, now underway at St. Petersburg College’s Midtown Center.

The new 12 in 12 opportunity is a unique Express Session at the college that allows students to take four classes, earning 12 credits in just 12 weeks. This helps to take the guesswork out of what to take and when, with the convenience of a schedule that makes sense for your needs. Students who have not yet registered for the spring will still have the ability to complete a full term.

The four classes, humanities, political science, speech communication and English composition, allow students to complete 12 hours of core requirements by attending classes for about four hours per day, Monday through Thursday, for the duration of the session.

The 12 in 12 session begins Feb. 10. Students who are interested should contact their advisor. Or for more information, email Takita Cuthbertson at cuthbertson.takita@spcollege.edu.

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Kids Leave Care Fair with New Backpacks, Big Smiles

A lot of people loved back-to-school shopping as children. There was something about freshly sharpened pencils, a pristine box of crayons, and a new backpack that would make the impending school year feel more tangible and exciting.

But not everyone has the luxury of new school supplies. For some, a new backpack every year ranks low on the priority list when money is stretched thin, and you have bills to pay and a family to feed.

The Care Fair was a family affair, with older siblings helping younger brothers and sisters pick out their favorite backpack design from 20 options.

That’s where Junior League of St. Petersburg (JLSP) and Community Health Centers of Pinellas, Inc. (CHCP) step in.

In partnership with the St. Petersburg College Midtown Center, the two local organizations hosted the 23^rd Annual Back-to-School Care Fair on Saturday, July 27. SPC frequently teams up with area groups and businesses both on- and off-campus as part of its Community of Care initiative. A large part of the college’s mission is to make sure that the entire SPC family—students and employees—as well as the surrounding communities, have what they need to lead a healthy and productive life.

The Care Fair was busy from start to finish, with many guests showing up before it began at 8:00 a.m. Not only were there a plethora of local vendors and community resources located inside of the Jamerson Building at the Midtown Center, including an SPC recruitment table, but school-aged children could also pick up a free backpack filled with new school supplies. The backpacks and supplies were provided by JLSP and kids were able to choose from 20 different colorful designs.

Just next door at the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Center, students received complimentary medical and dental exams from CHCP, ensuring that they show up on the first day of class with a bright smile and clean bill of health. Ten local barbers were also on-site to provide fresh haircuts for the kids.

Members of CHCP leadership officially cut the ribbon on their new Mobile Health Center at the Care Fair.

Outside in the SPC parking lot, fairgoers were treated to a live DJ, a drumline, fitness activities, a multitude of vendor tents, and even a police K-9 demo. Representatives from area professional sports teams handed out branded giveaways while the always colorful NOMAD Art Bus acted as a canvas for anyone feeling creative. Kids were given free teddy bears from the Tampa Rough Riders and a close-up look at a fire engine from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue’s Station 3.

The Care Fair was also an opportunity for CHCP to cut the ribbon on their new Mobile Health Center. The completely paperless clinic on wheels will allow for greater patient accessibility and is even equipped with a dental chair and dental x-ray machine. It is also wheelchair-friendly.

Overall, the Care Fair was a great success, and many kids and parents left the festivities with big smiles on their faces. SPC was happy to collaborate with so many local organizations and vendors as it continues to cultivate a Community of Care in Pinellas County.

To learn more about SPC’s Community of Care initiative, please visit stpe.co/communityofcare.

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St. Petersburg College offers guaranteed admission to FAMU with Ignite program

St. Petersburg College celebrates the launch of Ignite, a guaranteed admission program into Florida A&M University (FAMU). The new program guarantees admission for eligible students to a specific program at FAMU after earning an associate degree from SPC.

SPC will host an information session from 4 – 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16 at the SPC Midtown Community Room, 1300 22^nd St. S, St. Petersburg.

“We are excited about this great partnership with one of the nation’s most esteemed HBCUs,” said SPC President Tonjua Williams. “This relationship allows us to expand educational opportunities for our students, who can start their college career as an SPC Titan and finish it as a FAMU Rattler.”

After completing an associate degree at SPC, eligible Ignite students will transfer to one of five programs at FAMU including:

• Biology
• Accounting
• Engineering
• Criminal Justice
• Journalism

For more information about Ignite, visit why.spc.edu/ignite.

 

 

 

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St. Petersburg College hosts College Visit Day for high school seniors on Oct. 11

Eligible Pinellas County seniors are invited to St. Petersburg College’s “College Visit Day” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, for open house events. These open house events count as an official college visit day. While events will vary slightly from campus to campus, students can:

• Explore different majors – and the careers they lead to
• Tour campuses
• Learn how to pay for college
• Attend College 101 Seminars
• Learn how to apply to SPC

Students should ask for an official college visit letter to take back to their school as proof they attended the event. Campuses hosting College Visit Days are:

• Allstate Campus – East Lobby, 3200 34th St. S, St. Petersburg
• Clearwater Campus – ES-104, 2465 Drew St.
• Downtown Center – First Floor Lobby, 244 2^nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg
• Health Education Center – Lobby, 7200 66^th St. N, Pinellas Park
• Midtown Center – Lobby, 1300 22^nd St. S, St. Petersburg
• Seminole Campus – UPC Lobby, 9200 114^th St. N
• St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus – Music Center, 6605 5^th Ave. N
• Tarpon Springs Campus – Career and Advising Center Lobby, 600 Klosterman Rd

For more information, call 727-341-3400 or visit stpe.co/collegevisitdayfall17.

 

 

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SPC hosts College Visit Day for high school students Oct. 19

Pinellas County high school students can take a day off from classes on Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to visit St. Petersburg College’s open house events. Open to high school juniors and seniors, these events count as an official college visit day. While events will vary slightly from campus to campus, students can:

• Explore different majors – and the careers they lead to
• Take a tour of our beautiful campuses
• Learn about how to pay for college
• Attend College 101 Seminars
• Learn how to apply to SPC
• Attend motivational seminars
• Enjoy free refreshments

Ask for your official college visit letter to take back to your school as proof that you attended the event. Choose the campus nearest you:

• Clearwater Campus, ES-104
  727-791-5953; Navab.Saied@spcollege.edu
• Downtown Center, First Floor Lobby
  727-341-7966; Hall.Nicole@spcollege.edu
• Health Education Center, Lobby
  727-341-3777; hampton.michelle@spcollege.edu
• Midtown Center, Lobby
  727-791-2491; Walker.Calandra@spcollege.edu
• Seminole Campus – UPC Lobby
  727-394-6994; Reynolds.donna@spcollege.edu
• St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus, Music Center
  727 341-3533; Williams.Lucy@spcollege.edu
• Tarpon Springs Campus, Career and Advising Center Lobby
  727-712-5741;  dugas.becky@spcollege.edu

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SPC group gives back to the community #spcinspires

Over the past year, Diana Wright, St. Petersburg College’s Director of Facilities Services, has organized several community service opportunities for the college’s Facilities department.

The department added a food drive to their holiday party, collected bags of healthy snacks for children in need, and on May 21, some of the Facilities group spent their Saturday representing SPC at a Habitat for Humanity house down the street from the Midtown campus.

Wright said she was inspired by the Leadership SPC volunteer group project to bring an SPC staff group together to do community service.

“It’s just something we’re doing informally right now,” Wright said.

The five Facilities staffers who could volunteer on Saturday were ready for work, which included painting, carpentry and installing insulation.

“They had a supervisor on-site who gave specific instructions on what to do,” Wright said. “He said our team was probably the best group he’s had in a long time because they needed very little direction.”

Associate Vice President of Facilities Planning & Institutional Services Jim Waechter said their work was very much appreciated. Board Member Deveron Gibbons heard that the group would be there, so he stopped by to offer his support and thanks, and the future homeowner worked alongside them, as well.

“It was great to meet her and her appreciation was very gratifying,” Waechter said. “Everybody left with a nice sense of gratification and a willingness to do it again.”

Waechter worked on the team that was installing insulation that day, and he said the work was no joke.

“We were dripping with sweat,” he said. “I took a shower and a nap as soon as I got home.”

Wright said the group will definitely be doing more service projects in the future.

“I started this group of volunteers so that staff with similar interests could come together and serve in their communities,” Wright said. “Lending a helping hand is something that has personally helped me stay eternally thankful and serves as a reminder of how blessed we all are.”

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