CLEARWATER, Fla. — As St. Pete College prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, the college is reflecting on nearly a century of growth and community support.

On Wednesday, they celebrated reaching a major milestone — hitting $1,000,000 in the “Pathway to Better” Centennial Campaign.

With the $1,000,000 check from Achieva Credit Union, St. Pete College is celebrating hitting its $100,000,000 goal for its “Pathway to Better” Centennial Campaign.

“It started several years ago in anticipation of the college turning 100, and so we thought this was a great time to really help the college not be the best kept secret in our community and emphasis all the great things we do,” said Jesse Turtle.

Turtle is the vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the foundation for SPC. He says it’s thanks to the community’s support and generosity over the years that they’ve become the institution they are today. SPC is the oldest state college in Florida.

“We started as a two-year, private school in 1927, St. Pete Junior College, then we became a public institution, then Gibbs Junior College merged with us in the late 60s, then we became St. Petersburg College,” he said.

Bill Williamson is a proud alum. He went on to work for Pinellas County Schools for over 30 years, and says he is proud to see what SPC has become.

“Well my goodness, back then there was no St. Pete College, it was a junior college and there was no Clearwater branch, there was no Tarpon Springs branch,” he said. “And I lived in Palm Harbor, as did a number of other students and we would share a car, carpool and drive to St. Petersburg every day, so it’s come a long way.”

And while SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams is celebrating, she attributes SPC’s success to its students. 

“Our students pick us. We don’t select them, they don’t go through a tedious process. Our job is to make them the best they can be, get the best job they can, with the highest wage, and live a better life. That’s what makes it special,” she said.

And now, she says she is focusing on the future, and SPC’s next centennial. 

St. Pete College will officially turn 100 on Sept. 12, 2027.  Even though they reached their $100,000,000 fundraising goal, they’ll keep the campaign going through the 100th anniversary.