Carol Mitchell
May 19, 2023 – Carol Mitchell graduated from South Florida State College (SFSC) on Tuesday, May 9 when she earned her Associate in Science in Nursing (ADN). In fact, she was the student Commencement speaker for the 4 p.m. ceremony. She is also the first person in her family to graduate from college.
Over her 45 years, she’s held many jobs — patient care technician, medical secretary, realtor, licensed practical nurse, radiology technician, and even truck driver. Her life took twists and turns but it always came back to the desire to serve and care for others.
“When I was 18, I helped a friend care for a woman in her home,” Mitchell said. “She was Tess Miller, the matriarch of the Miller’s Central Air family. I fell in love with the ability to come into someone’s life and care for them and try to make their day a little better. Some people just do it for a paycheck, but some do it because they feel good about helping others. Working with Tess was why I got my Patient Care Technician certificate at SFSC.”
After working as a patient care technician and a medical secretary, Mitchell made a foray into the real estate business. In the early 2000s, her sister was a realtor and she invited Mitchell to work with her. “The market was such that you could practically walk across the street and someone would want to sell their house,” she said. “When I went to work in real estate, I excelled. I made over $300,000 my first year.” But when the market took a downturn, health care called Mitchell back and she applied to SFSC’s Practical Nursing program and, eventually, became a licensed practical nurse (LPN).
Mitchell’s first job out of College was in a physician’s office. When the office lost its X-ray technician, the doctor offered to send Mitchell through a Radiologic Technician program. She practiced nursing and radiography in the physician’s office until her mother-in-law, a quality assurance director at a psychiatric and behavioral health facility in Okeechobee, mentioned that they had an opening for a nurse.
“It was a youth prison,” Mitchell said. “Although I wasn’t interested at first, my mother-in-law convinced me to apply. And the experience was life-changing.”
“At the facility, I worked as a nurse in the infirmary,” Mitchell said. “A boy had a seizure and the teachers and other boys panicked. Often, during emergencies, people panic, and their brains shut down. In this instance, no one was helping the boy. I did CPR on him for five minutes. His heart had stopped and he was unconscious. I was able to get his heart started and he was breathing, but he wasn’t conscious. Then the EMT got there and took him to the hospital. When the boy returned to the facility three days later, he came to the infirmary. He said, ‘I heard that I have your breath.’ I laughed and said, ‘You’ve got more than a little bit of my breath.’ He cried and asked me, ‘Why did you do that? Why would you do that for me? Nobody would have done that for me.’ I said, ‘Of course, I would have.’
“What stands out is the appreciation this child who was in prison had for my breath saving his life, that he felt as if he didn’t deserve it,” she said. “That stays with you because you realize that’s where you belong and that’s what you should be doing — helping to care for others.”
Mitchell, eventually, wanted more. After a brief stint working as a truck driver alongside her husband, she made her way back to SFSC and entered its Associate in Science in Nursing program.
Everyone has challenges in their lives and, with great personal strength and determination, Mitchell had overcome a big one. When she was 15 years old, she was sexually assaulted and became a teen parent.
“It would have been easy to let it consume my life and give up my dreams,” she said. “But I refused to let it define me, take me off course, and keep me down.”
Mitchell explained that a high school teacher had called her an abomination and an embarrassment and that Mitchell shouldn’t be allowed to attend high school because she was pregnant.
“She didn’t know my story,” Mitchell said. “To this day, those words still hold weight. But, instead of letting them define me, I used them as motivation to push myself forward and focus on being the best version of myself. My parents’ love gave me the foundation I needed to keep going. I was determined to use my voice to make a difference and propel me toward my goals and a better future for myself and my daughter, Haley, who is now a decorated soldier in the United States Air Force. She’s the best part of me.”
Mitchell is deciding how she wants to move forward in her career. “I love the operating room and critical care,” she said. “However, I haven’t decided what the next step will be. There are so many opportunities for nursing. If I stay locally, I want to participate in a residency program that both AdventHealth and HCA have offered. I just haven’t decided what area I want to go into. I want to be well-equipped as a nurse and know everything I can before I get out there and start practicing. I want to work toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, then a master’s degree in Nursing, and maybe become a nurse practitioner. That’s the long game. I don’t know if I’ll have that done by age 80.”
Mitchell has advice for people who think they can’t go to college. “The biggest problem I have is when someone says, ‘I’m too old, it would be too hard, or I can’t afford to go back to college right now.’ Have a meeting with yourself. Get to SFSC and speak with someone about placement tests and see where you’re at. If you need help, the College has tutors in math, English, science, or foreign languages. Then, there’s financial aid. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and see where you’re at. You may be qualified for funding such as scholarships and grants. There are programs that pay you while you go to college. Check out the academic and workforce programs offered at SFSC and see what you’re interested in. They may have a program that you didn’t even know existed.”
Mitchell is particularly proud of her college career and all she has attained. She was vice president for the Phi Theta Kappa honor society; she served as a student ambassador during the College’s 10-year reaffirmation for accreditation; she was a proctor, lab assistant, and tutor in the Natural Science Department; and she participated in undergraduate research and presented that research at student and professional science conferences. And she graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
“I’m proud of the fact that I persevered and never gave up,” Mitchell said. “Those people who are 20 years ahead of me in their careers — it doesn’t matter. I’m proud that I graduated and will be a registered nurse. That achievement is different for me than someone who graduated from high school and kept going. It might be exciting for them, but is monumental for me. I’m just proud of where I am.”
Tina Stetson, director of financial aid, and Jamie Bateman, VP for institutional advancement and external affairs
May 15, 2023 – A $90,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has been awarded to the South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation, Inc. to benefit part-time students and student-parents who are attending SFSC in summer 2023, fall term 2023, and spring term 2024.
The grant comes from the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund, which was established by Roberts as a legacy to support Florida’s community colleges and other charitable organizations. Managed by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the fund continues Roberts’ vision of making higher education a priority, particularly for those motivated to seek better lives for themselves.
SFSC’s grant funds are designated to aid students who attend college part-time and may not qualify for other forms of financial aid and students who are parents, whether single or married. Individual students may receive up to a maximum of $2,500 through the end of the grant period, March 2024. The grant covers tuition, housing, books, childcare, transportation, and needs that would otherwise prevent students from attending college.
At least $30,000 of the $90,000 will be allocated for students at the SFSC DeSoto Campus in Arcadia. It will provide scholarships for parents referred through the Parent Resource Center at the DeSoto County School Board, for graduates of DeSoto County High School who participate in the Links2Success program, for recent dual enrollment high school graduates in need of summer session funding support, for Panther Prep participants to cover for-credit courses during the summer bridge program, and any other DeSoto Campus student following the general criteria of the grant.
Scholarship recipients are identified by SFSC’s Office of Financial Aid. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for any Pell Grant-eligible programs.
“Because of grants from organizations such as the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the SFSC Foundation can support the educational goals of SFSC’s students,” said Jamie Bateman, SFSC vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs. “The funds from this grant allow our students to concentrate on their studies and prepare for personally and financially rewarding careers. This grant also addresses the needs of parents. With this financial support, students can achieve their higher education goals.”
For more information, contact the SFSC Foundation at 863-453-3133 or email foundation@southflorida.edu. To apply, see the Edward K. Roberts Scholarship Application.
For information about the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, visit cfsarasota.org.
The graduates recite the Nightingale Pledge.
AVON PARK, Fla. – May 12, 2023 – South Florida State College (SFSC) honored 37 Associate in Science in Nursing (ADN) students in a traditional pinning ceremony on Thursday, May 11 in the Alan J. Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts at SFSC on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park.
The graduates are Stacy Acosta Cordoba, Isabella Adams, Kinley Bennett, Maureen Calhoun, Jackeline De La Cruz, Jordin Foster, Lucy Garcia, Michaelyn Grantham, Margarita Gutierrez, Jessica Harnage, Nubia Hernandez, Laura Holda, Sherry Jones, Ashley Lehman, Cristina Loez-Rojas, Shelby Luke, Jasmine Main, Lindsey Martin, Vanessa Mascorro-Estrada, McKenzie McCormick, Arielle Meier, Carol Mitchell, Cheyenne O’Hara, Tristen Orr, Taylor Painter, Veronica Ramos, Berenice Roblero, Johnny Saldivar, Jennifer Salgado, Jezebeth Sanchez, Skyla Stidham, Candice Story, Monike Thomas, Ashley Thompson, Brandy Tiption, and Daniella Vazquez.
Guest speaker for the ceremony was Rasheena Morris-James, SFSC Nursing instructor and nurse practitioner, who addressed the students and said, “Remember that your degree is more than a piece of paper. It’s a symbol of your commitment to learning, growth, and personal development. It’s a testament to your resilience and determination in the face of adversity. And it’s the foundation on which you will build a fulfilling and meaningful life. Being a nurse means being a patient advocate. You will be the voice for your patient and ensure that they receive the highest possible quality care. Being a nurse is about being a leader and a lifelong learner. Learn to work effectively as part of a team and ask for help if you need it. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish when you work together. You have worked so hard, you have persevered and shown that you have what it takes to become an exceptional nurse.”
Ashley Lehman presents the Golden D.U.C.K. Award to Mary Ellen Powrie.
Each year, Nursing graduates award the Golden D.U.C.K. to someone who has served as a mentor to the students in the program. The D.U.C.K. acronym represents the foundational elements of the mentoring arrangement: Developing, Understanding, Compassion, and Knowledge. During the ceremony, graduate Ashley Lehman presented the 2023 Golden D.U.C.K. Award to Nursing instructor Mary Ellen Powrie. This is the second time Powrie has been bestowed this award.
“Her passion for nursing and education flows through every ounce of who she is,” Lehman said. “She is a strong advocate, reminding us that we matter and to never be afraid to use our voice. If we were ever having a bad day, she always knew the right words to put us at ease. She didn’t want us to just survive nursing school, she wanted us to thrive in nursing school.”
During the ceremony, the graduates’ loved ones presented them with their individual nursing pins. The graduates, then, passed the flame of a lamp, one to another, before reciting the Nightingale Pledge.
The pinning we know today originated in the 1850s at the Nightingale School of Nursing at St. Thomas Hospital in London. Having been awarded the Red Cross of St. George for her selfless service to the injured and dying during the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale chose to extend this offer to her most outstanding graduating nurses by presenting each of them with a medal of excellence. The presentation of the lamp is a symbol of the caring devotion nurses administer to the sick and injured in the practice of nursing. After nurses were pinned, Nightingale would light a lamp and pass the flame to each nurse as they recited the pledge. The passing of the flame represents a formal welcoming of new nurses to the profession.
Graduates of the ADN program become registered nurses by passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam. SFSC Nursing graduates are usually fully employed in nursing within a few months of graduation.
SFSC offers an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a two-year generic Associate in Science in Nursing, a 13-month transition licensed practical nurse to registered nurse Associate in Science in Nursing, and an 11-month Practical Nursing (PN) Career Certificate. For more information about SFSC’s Nursing programs, contact Danielle Ochoa, Health Sciences advisor, at 863-784-7027 or by email at healthsciences@southflorida.edu
Emily Dressel
AVON PARK, Fla. – May 12, 2023 – Every child has a dream of their job in adulthood. At age 10, Emily Dressel decided that she wanted to move to Los Angeles, Calif. and become a YouTuber when she grew up. On Tuesday, May 9, she was the student speaker during South Florida State College’s (SFSC) 7:15 p.m. spring Commencement ceremony at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park. Although her dream has changed, Dressel overcame challenges in life, completed an associate degree, and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication.
A resident of Avon Park, Dressel graduated from the Florida Virtual School in December 2019 and earned her Associate in Arts from SFSC on May 9.
Dressel attended Avon Park High School her freshman year but didn’t feel academically challenged. “For the first time, I was struggling,” she said. “My grades were dropping. I went from being a student who made A’s my whole life to almost failing my freshman year in high school.”
Then Dressel discovered Florida Virtual School. “It was the first time that I was able to write and debate and be told that it’s OK to disagree,” she said. “For instance, we were studying the Vietnam War. It was the first time I was able to voice my opinion on a heated political topic. The teachers explained that there is no right or wrong answer. They just wanted students to back up and argue their point of view. That kind of environment excites me to learn.”
Through Florida Virtual School, Dressel discovered her love of communications. “I worked on the student newspaper, News in a Click, for three years,” she said. “The first year, I was a staff writer. The second year, I became the editor of the Arts and Entertainment section. The third year, I was named editor-in-chief. Florida Virtual School opened my eyes to communications. There’s social media, writing, public speaking, so many avenues to this. That’s where it all started for me.”
Dressel had always wanted to attend college, but didn’t think she could afford to attend. So, she started looking into joining the military. “I was getting ads and hearing about how the military would pay for all your schooling,” she said. “Of course, I’d matured a bit and decided that communication was a bit more up my alley than being a YouTuber in L.A. And most branches of the military offer Mass Communication as a job. I thought that it would offer me a secure job and a free education.”
She enlisted with the Marine Corps and was in the delayed entry program. “I was almost ready to ship out, when I had a hip injury. The hip pain was sending up red flags for my recruiters, so they kept pushing my ship date back.”
During that time, Dressel went to a local gym and met Andy Polk, SFSC student activities coordinator. “He said that he could rehabilitate my hip and give me some training,” she said. “During our conversations, he suggested that I stay mentally active and take college classes.”
When Dressel expressed that she didn’t have the money to attend college, Polk sent her to speak with Rob Hampton, director of the SFSC Career Development Center, and Erin Warner, financial aid advisor.
Hampton, a Marine Corps veteran, suggested Dressel start off small with two or three classes. “Rob told me not to join the military for the sake of getting my education paid for,” Dressel said. “He said to join because of a willingness to serve or for the love of country. Not that I don’t feel those things, but I truly wanted to go to college first and foremost.”
Dressel then met with Warner to discuss financial aid. Although Dressel would be ineligible for a scholarship in her first term, she had to take out a student loan. Beginning with her second term at SFSC, she qualified for scholarships through the SFSC Foundation.
Now that she’s graduated from SFSC, Dressel will head to Florida Southern College in Lakeland on a full scholarship. She plans to work toward a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication. “I’d like to pair it with a minor that’s going to help me in the long term, whether it’s in Leadership or Education,” she said. “Higher education is the long-term goal.”
Dressel has indicated that her aspirations for the future are to assist businesses with social media marketing and management, teach at the post-secondary level, and become an administrator for an educational institution.
“There was a time when I didn’t think that I could become what I wanted to because of money,” Dressel said. “I think people fall into that trap. Coming to SFSC opened my eyes. There will be stressors along the way, but you can follow and achieve your dream. It’s liberating when you come to know that.”
“If I could ever make a video or have a donor read my story, I would want them to know just how impactful the SFSC Foundation scholarships are to students like myself,” she said. “They are life-changing. Without the scholarships and without my time at SFSC, I would not be headed to Florida Southern College. I would not be advancing my education. I get really emotional when I think about it.”
Commencement speaker Carol Mitchell (right) with Dr. Mark Bukowski
AVON PARK, Fla. – May 10, 2023 – South Florida State College (SFSC) marked the end of the 2022-23 academic year with its spring Commencement held in two ceremonies on Tuesday, May 9 in the SFSC Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park.
During the 4 p.m. ceremony, SFSC honored recipients of the Associate in Science (AS), Career and College Credit certificates, and State of Florida High School Diploma.
Honored during the 7:15 p.m. ceremony were students who earned their Associate in Arts (AA), Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management (BAS-SM), Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEE), and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Opening the ceremonies, Terry Atchley, chair of the SFSC District Board of Trustees, told the graduates, “Your ability and desire to participate in this evening’s ceremonies tell the world that you are ambitious, passionate, and tenacious. These qualities have equipped you to make a difference in changing lives and shaping our communities for the better. Graduates, as you embark on the next chapter in your lives, remember that SFSC is forever your home.”
In her presentation to the graduates during the 4 p.m. ceremony, Carol Mitchell, who earned her Associate in Science in Nursing and is the first person in her family to graduate from college, shared her personal story. She was sexually assaulted as a teenager and became a teen parent. She related how family support and her determination and internal strength brought her to this point in her life.
“It would have been easy to let it consume my life and give up my dreams,” she said. “But I refused to let it define me, take me off course, and keep me down.”
Mitchell explained that a high school teacher had called her an abomination and an embarrassment and that Mitchell shouldn’t be allowed to attend high school because she was pregnant.
“She didn’t know my story,” Mitchell said. “To this day, those words still hold weight. But, instead of letting them define me, I used them as motivation to push myself forward and focus on being the best version of myself. My parents’ love gave me the foundation I needed to keep going. I was determined to use my voice to make a difference and propel me toward my goals and a better future for myself and my daughter, who is now a decorated soldier in the United States Air Force.”
Commencement speaker Emily Dressel (right) with Dr. Mark Bukowski
The 7:15 p.m. ceremony featured Emily Dressel, who earned her Associate in Arts and looks forward to continuing her education at Florida Southern College. Dressel didn’t think she could afford to attend college and was about to go into the Air Force. When she met Andy Polk, the SFSC student activities coordinator, he introduced her to people at the College who could give her guidance.
“If you take what life gives you, the positive and the negative, and build on it, you can define success,” Dressel told the graduates. “SFSC has been the first step in my journey. I’m always going to hold this place, the people, and my time here close to my heart. I want my words today to be a reminder to anyone sitting in the audience that there is always … a way. Through hard work and searching for the right people and support system, there is always … a way. As you get ready to do whatever is in store for you next, always aim high in the pursuit of growth and dare to dream.”
Dr. Thomas C. Leitzel, SFSC president, has served the College for 10 years and will retire at the end of June 2023. During the Commencement ceremony, his final remarks to graduates were moving and heartfelt. “As I leave the College, like you, I take a part of everyone [at the College] with me. I’ve been inspired by them and also by you, our graduates. You provided me the opportunity to stand here and I am humbled beyond belief. Graduates, my challenge to you is to remember those who impacted your life. Reflect on the important life lessons. Be humble, be kind, and have a loving and forgiving heart as you move forward to make a change to a world that could use some adjustments. May God richly bless you, and may God continue to bless South Florida State College.”
Approximately 528 students met the SFSC requirements by spring 2023 Commencement. Of these, 19 will receive their BAS-SM, three receive their BSN, 13 receive their BSEE, 123 receive their AA, 54 receive their AS, 16 receive their State of Florida High School Diploma, and 72 receive the Career and College Credit Certificates. Students participating in the Commencement ceremonies will total 300.
Mace bearer and chief marshal for this year’s ceremony was Michele Macbeth; marshals were Joan Briand, Tina Gottus, Courtney Green, Cindy Kinser, Garrett Lee, Dr. Maday Leon, Robert Hampton, Mlisa Manning, Sofia Ochoa, Ricardo Pantoja, Michael Pate, Dr. Mintoo Patel, Lena Phelps, Andrew Polk, Anthony Record, and Tina Stetson.
Dental Hygiene graduates (from left): Maritza Banda, David Moises Fernandez-Castanon, Jeanette Contreras, Nakisha Whetton, Kindall Aynnalee Patton, Kimberly Wright, Chenoa Bond, Maria Tirado, Danielle Barnhill, Cyntia Olvera, Baylea Dery, Ashley Tufts, and Ivy Main
AVON PARK, Fla. – May 8, 2023 – South Florida State College (SFSC) honored graduates of its Dental Hygiene program in a traditional pinning ceremony in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park on Thursday, May 4. The graduates had just completed their Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene.
Receiving their pins were Maritza Banda, Danielle Lyn Barnhill, Chenoa Grace Bond, Jeanette Contreras, Baylea N. Dery, David Moises Fernandez-Castanon, Ivy G. Main, Cyntia G. Olvera, Kindall Aynnalee Patton, Maria Tirado, Ashley Elizabeth Tufts, Nakisha M. Whetton, and Kimberly M. Wright.
Dr. Michele Heston, SFSC vice president for academic affairs and student services, welcomed the Dental Hygiene graduates and offered words of wisdom. “No exercise is better for the human heart than reaching down and lifting someone else up, to serve others, and to enrich your community,” she said. “This truly defines a successful life, for success is personal and it is charitable and it is the sum, not of our possessions, but of how we helped others.”
Graduates were presented their dental hygiene pins by Dr. Deborah Milliken, chair of SFSC’s Dental Education program.
Addressing the graduates, Dr. Milliken offered parting words of advice: “The faculty is so proud of you and the work you’ve accomplished. It is my task to leave you with things to consider about where to go from here.
“Don’t forget about yourself,” she said. “This is a time that will never come again. The choices you make will have an impact on where you go from here. As you’re exploring your options for employment, understand the people you’re trying to connect with. Be aware of the people around you. They’re looking to you for guidance, help, support, friendship, and care, even on your bad days. As you’re re-entering a community that you’ve probably neglected for the last few years, invest in your community where people need you. Look for opportunities to be there for others who can benefit from your gifts. You have a lot to offer. And there are many who have a lot of needs. And remember to thank God for your many blessings and share those thanks with others.”
Special recognition was given to four of the graduates. The Golden Scaler Award was presented to Ashley Tufts for demonstrating remarkable skill and talent over the course of her classes. The Colgate Student Total Achievement Recognition (STAR) Award was presented to Chenoa Bond for showing excellence and commitment to the Dental Hygiene profession. The Community Award was presented to Baylea Dery for her special interest/achievement in community dentistry and dental public health. The Outstanding Student Award was presented to Cyntia Olvera.
Upon completing the Dental Hygiene program, graduates become dental hygienists by passing the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination and the Florida State Clinical Licensure Examination. They can, then, work alongside a dentist as a member of a dental health care team.
For more information about SFSC’s Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene, call Danielle Ochoa, Health Sciences advisor, at 863-784-7027 or email healthsciences@southflorida.edu.
Drs. Vinod and Tarlika Thakkars are inducted into Foundation Legacy Society.
AVON PARK, Fla. – May 8, 2023 – During the South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation Legacy Showcase and Fundraiser on Saturday, May 6, Drs. Vinod and Tarlika Thakkar were inducted into the 2023 Legacy Society for their service to the Foundation, the College, and the community. Jamie Bateman, SFSC vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs, made the presentation.
“Drs. Vinod and Tarlika Thakkar have been friends of our community for many years,” Bateman said. “Their support and dedication to help advance students through scholarship opportunities and in the medical field have been tremendous. Over the past couple of decades, the Thakkars have donated to SFSC in a way that would help nursing students achieve their goal of obtaining a nursing degree and entering into the health care field. It is a privilege to recognize them with the SFSC Foundation Legacy Award. They are the epitome of what a donor looks like. It’s an honor to call them friends.”
This is the fifth year that such an honor has been bestowed. Ben Hill Griffin III was posthumously inducted into the Legacy Society in 2022, Bill and Lisa Jarrett in 2021, Joan Hartt in 2020, and Joe Jr. and Gloria Davis in 2019.
Dr. Vinod C. Thakkar has served on the SFSC Foundation board of directors since 2021. He is a gastroenterologist in Highlands County, and Dr. Tarlika V. Thakkar is an anesthesiologist in Highlands County.
“I first met the Thakkars when I became part of our YMCA in the early 90s,” said John Shoop, mayor of Sebring and Highlands County YMCA board of director’s treasurer. “They donated many funds, from a building campaign to scholarships for our kids. They continue to help us on an annual basis through our Strong Kids campaign, helping kids and families who can’t afford to come to the YMCA to be part of the programs and part of our community. If it wasn’t for the Thakkars, our YMCA wouldn’t be where it is today. It is such a force in our community.”
Mike Swaine, a Highlands County attorney, discussed the Thakkars’ support of education. “By providing funds for the SFSC Foundation to carry on certain projects creates a better educational atmosphere, a better foundation for it, and it supplements what the state government can and will do. The Highlands County Bar Association provides a scholarship fund through the SFSC Foundation for young people who might not otherwise be able to attend SFSC or another college. That is something the Thakkars believe in doing. In talking to Vinod, he sees education as a way for people to rise above whatever level they started out at. The Thakkars have seen the benefit of education and they encourage others to get an education. They have been beyond charitable, more than anybody I know and they’re very proud of the College.”
“When I think of the Thakkars, when one hears that name, the immediate thought is their commitment to family, community, health care, and education,” said Dr. Michele Heston, SFSC vice president for academic affairs and student services and a registered nurse since 1982. “They’ve supported educational excellence at all levels, from their work in the local health care facilities, to the elementary schools, to the College. Their passion and focus is a healthy and thriving community. Their mission is truly lived.
Dr. Heston continued: “They have an unwavering commitment to excellence in all aspects of life, whether it be through the Thakkar Award, recognizing educational excellence and leadership at the middle schools, by providing monetary recognition for nursing students for clinical and academic excellence, or hosting events at their home featuring healthy fare, their commitment to education, health, and to the community is unparalleled.”
AVON PARK, Fla. – May 4, 2023 – South Florida State College (SFSC) celebrates spring Commencement with two ceremonies on Tuesday, May 9. The first ceremony is at 4 p.m. and the second is at 7:15 p.m.; both in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the SFSC Highlands Campus in Avon Park.
The 4 p.m. ceremony features students who are earning their Associate in Science (AS), Career Certificate, College Credit Certificate, and State of Florida High School Diploma. Carol Mitchell, who earns her Associate in Science in Nursing, will be the student Commencement speaker at this ceremony.
The 7:15 p.m. ceremony features students who are earning their Associate in Arts (AA), Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management (BAS-SM), Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEE), and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Emily Dressel, who earns her Associate in Arts, will be the student Commencement speaker at this ceremony.
Live online streaming, accessed by clicking a website banner at southflorida.edu, will allow friends and relatives to see everything from the processional to the last graduate crossing the stage. The stream begins on May 9 at 4 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. EDT.
Approximately 528 students will have met the SFSC requirements by spring 2023 Commencement. Of these, 19 will receive their BAS-SM, three receive their BSN, 13 receive their BSEE, 123 receive their AA, 54 receive their AS, 16 receive their State of Florida High School Diploma, and 72 receive the Career and College Credit Certificates. Students participating in the Commencement ceremonies will total 300.
Mace bearer and chief marshal for this year’s ceremony is Michelle Macbeth, and marshals are Joan Briand, Tina Gottus, Courtney Green, Cindy Kinser, Garrett Lee, Dr. Maday Leon, Robert Hampton, Mlisa Manning, Sofia Ochoa, Ricardo Pantoja, Michael Pate, Dr. Mintoo Patel, Lena Phelps, Andrew Polk, Anthony Record, and Tina Stetson.
The Commencement rehearsal takes place Tuesday, May 9 at 10 a.m. in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the SFSC Highlands Campus.
