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Julia Campa\nGraduate spotlight: A student\u2019s path to purpose<\/p>\n
As St. Petersburg College approaches its 100th anniversary in 2027, the College will celebrate its Spring 2026 graduates at the 149th Commencement on Wednesday, May 13, with a return to Tropicana Field, marking a meaningful homecoming after hurricane-related disruptions. The ceremony will recognize students\u2019 achievements while symbolizing resilience for the SPC community. Since its founding in 1927, SPC has graduated more than 161,336 students and awarded more than 207,026 credentials through Fall 2024, reflecting nearly a century of impact across the region.<\/p>\n
The College will host two ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., each lasting approximately 90 minutes, as graduates gather once again at Tropicana Field to celebrate their achievements.<\/p>\n
The event will honor students who have completed their degrees and certificates, recognizing the dedication, perseverance and achievement that define SPC\u2019s commitment to student success and community impact.<\/p>\n
Building the next generation of educators<\/p>\n
That commitment is also reflected in SPC\u2019s efforts to strengthen the teacher pipeline through its Grow Your Own (GYO) Teacher Apprenticeship Program. The program\u2019s first cohort of 17 apprentices will join the graduating class at the Tropicana, marking an important milestone in developing future educators.<\/p>\n
Supported by the Florida Department of Education\u2019s Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant, the program combines paid, on-the-job classroom experience with college coursework aligned to state requirements. Apprentices work alongside mentor teachers while progressing toward a bachelor\u2019s degree and full Florida teacher certification.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis apprenticeship program has meant more to me than I can put into words,\u201d said Rashad Harrell, an SPC apprenticeship graduate. \u201cIt taught me the importance of preparation, hard work and commitment while giving me real-world classroom experience that helped me feel confident and ready to become an educator.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harrell said the support and mentorship he received throughout the program played a major role in his success.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the moments that impacted me most was when my field supervisor told the Superintendent he would want me teaching his own child,\u201d said Harrell. \u201cThat affirmation meant everything to me. I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone looking to grow their career in education.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since launching in Fall 2024 with a partnership with Pinellas County Schools, the program continues to grow with new cohorts planned in high-need areas of elementary and exceptional student education. By removing financial barriers and embedding training directly in the classroom, the program is preparing future educators to enter the profession ready to make an immediate impact.<\/p>\n
Julia Campa
\nGraduate spotlight: A student\u2019s path to purpose<\/p>\n
That same spirit of preparation and purpose is reflected in this year\u2019s graduates, including Julia Campa, a first-time student from Seminole who will earn her degree in education this spring.<\/p>\n
Campa said her decision to attend SPC was rooted in both accessibility and opportunity. As the first in her family to pursue higher education, she chose a path that allowed her to stay close to home while building a future she once thought was out of reach.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to choose a path that I knew I could stick with and succeed in,\u201d said Campa. \u201cSPC gave me that opportunity and helped me work toward earning my bachelor\u2019s degree.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her journey has been shaped by personal challenges and a desire to make a difference. Inspired by her own experiences growing up, Campa plans to become a first-grade teacher in Citrus County, creating a classroom that supports and inspires young learners.<\/p>\n
One of the most defining moments of her time at SPC came during a practicum, when she saw her students fully grasp a lesson she was teaching.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat moment made me realize that teaching was exactly what I wanted to do,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Campa also credits SPC faculty, including her practicum supervisor, with helping her build confidence and grow as an educator. Reflecting on her experience, she hopes to challenge misconceptions about state colleges.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust because a school is affordable doesn\u2019t mean it provides any less opportunity or preparation,\u201d she said. \u201cAt SPC, I felt well-prepared and supported every step of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As St. Petersburg College approaches its 100th anniversary in 2027, the College will celebrate its Spring 2026 graduates…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":273459,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[116930,202,204,203,199,201,200],"class_list":["post-273458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-st-petersburg","tag-spc-149th-commencement","tag-st-pete","tag-st-pete-headlines","tag-st-pete-news","tag-st-petersburg","tag-st-petersburg-headlines","tag-st-petersburg-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273458"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273458\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}