
St. Petersburg College held its 144th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 13 at Tropicana Field, bringing the number of degrees the College has awarded to 197,493 since it was founded in 1927.
SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams opened the ceremony with commendations.
“Our students are far from ordinary – they are extraordinary,” Williams said. “They are overcoming obstacles and juggling priorities to change their lives. Not only have they persevered, but they did so with academic honor.”
After Ryan Marr, pastor at Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg, led the invocation, and SPC music student Aaron Trill sang the National Anthem, Williams took back the mic for recognitions of members of the SPC Board of Trustees, faculty and students. She took a moment to talk about the new Promise Scholarship offered at SPC, which offers all graduates from Lakewood, Northeast, Pinellas Park, Clearwater and Tarpon Springs high schools the opportunity to earn an associate degree that is fully paid for by the scholarship.
“If you have a family member graduating from one of those high schools, and they want to be a Titan, SPC is where it’s at,” she said.
Award Winners
SPC Trustee Nathan Stonecipher presented this term’s award-winning students. The first, Elizabeth Hurley, is the 2023 Apollo Award winner, the highest honor an associate degree graduate can achieve.
Hurley served as a vice president for Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, Eta Nu Chapter, and actively serves her community by volunteering at Dunedin Youth Sailing Association and participating in on-campus events such as Project HEAL (Healthy Emotions and Lives) and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) that bring awareness to mental health. She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree at St. Petersburg College.
In her address, Hurley compared the journey of a life to a book.
“The first chapter of your book does not determine how your last chapter will end,” Hurley said. “You have everything you need inside of you: all the wisdom, all the knowledge, and an abundant world of resources. The world is in need of more people like you, and your voice has power. You have to use it – even if it shakes.”
Ke’Andre Chisom is the 2023 Alumni Achievement Award winner, which is the highest honor a bachelor’s degree graduate can achieve at the college.
Chisom, who attended SPC on a Take Stock in Children scholarship, is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, as well as The National Society of Leadership and Success Honor Society, Men Achieving Excellence and the Tampa Bay Bridge to Baccalaureate program. He serves his community by volunteering at Largo Middle and Largo High schools. He plans to pursue master’s degrees in both Project Management and Architecture from the University of South Florida.
Chisom emphasized the importance of setting goals.
“If you have not made a plan for your future, I encourage you to do that today,” he said, “Decide what you’re going to do; decide what you are going to be; envision it today and take action.”
By the Numbers
Check out some items of interest regarding this graduating class:
- 1,530 degrees and certificates were awarded this semester:
685 Associate in Arts degrees
414 Associate in Science degrees
162 Bachelor of Applied Science degrees
103 Bachelor of Science degrees
166 certifications
- The college’s youngest graduate is 16 years old.
- The oldest is 69 years old, and 13 graduates are over the age of 60.
- 516 were the first in their families to graduate with a college degree.
- 166 were Early College grads.
- 156 were Collegiate High School grads.
Williams wrapped up the ceremony with parting words, sending the graduates off to start their careers or further their education.
“You have received a lot of knowledge from the finest faculty,” she said. “Now the challenge is to apply this knowledge with wisdom, and by doing so, you will most likely experience even more success in your lives.”
Watch the graduation ceremony in its entirety here.
See more photos from graduation here.
Learn more about becoming a future SPC graduate here.