Photo courtesy of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.

Every semester at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF), I am reminded that a college degree is never just a piece of paper. It is a declaration of courage, of perseverance, of possibility. This winter, we proudly awarded more than 983 degrees and certificates. Among them were 541 associate in arts degrees, 197 associate in science degrees, 168 bachelor’s degrees, and 77 workforce certificates, each representing a unique journey, a personal story, and a dream inching closer to reality.

Across two ceremonies and our Grad Walk events, our graduates crossed the stage in Bradenton and Venice, cheered on by faculty, staff, family, and friends who witnessed firsthand what “We’re Everyone’s College” truly means. It means access. It means opportunity. But most importantly, it means meeting students where they are and walking with them as far as their determination will take them.

One of this year’s graduates, Blondine, represents the determination and perseverance that define so many SCF students. Her path to completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing began in 2018 and included multiple pauses due to pregnancy, family responsibilities, and surgery for both herself and her father. During those years, she balanced homeschooling her children with a demanding work schedule, 10-hour shifts, four days a week, from Wednesday through Saturday, while serving patients as a case management coordinator for BayCare HomeCare. As a trilingual nurse, fluent in French, Creole, and English, she uses her languages when needed, especially to support Haitian patients who may not speak English. Despite the challenges, Blondine persisted, often studying late into the night, and ultimately completed her degree with unwavering personal drive and the encouragement of her family and SCF faculty.

Her story is not one of convenience. It is one of conviction.

Blondine pushed forward because she wanted a credential earned here, at a college she now considers part of her family. She shared that she completed many of her assignments at 2 a.m., logging into online coursework long after her children were asleep. What kept her going? A deep personal desire to advance, family members who supported her at every turn, and the steady encouragement of SCF faculty like Dr. Tinley, who emailed her persistently but lovingly, “You need to finish this.”

After seven years of stops and starts, Blondine walked across our stage, nursing pin earned that afternoon, bachelor’s degree in hand that evening, with her husband, sons, and parents beaming. “I’m glad. I’m happy,” she said simply. But her journey tells a far bigger story. At SCF, persistence is not just possible. It is expected, nurtured, and celebrated.

Stories like Blondine’s unfold every day on our campuses. They are reflected in the single parent studying in a parked car between shifts. The first-generation student discovering she belongs in college. The dual-enrolled high school student becoming the first in her family to earn a degree. The veteran reinventing his career. The adult learner returning after decades away.

Our graduates prove that talent is universal, even when opportunity is not, which is why SCF exists. We expand opportunity. We remove barriers. We champion every student’s ambition.

To the Class of Winter 2025: your accomplishments strengthen our community, fuel our workforce, and inspire future students who will follow your path. You have shown that resilience is powerful, education is transformative, and the future of our region is bright because of you.

From all of us at SCF, we are proud of you, we believe in you, and we cannot wait to see what you do next.

Tommy Gregory, J.D., is the President of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.

Photo courtesy of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.