Spring 2021 西瓜视频 Graduate Profiles
Spring 2021 西瓜视频 Graduate Profiles
April 28, 2021 Suzanne Seldes
FORT PIERCE, FL鈥� In an academic year like no other more than 3,200 students will have degrees conferred this spring鈥攎arking the ninth consecutive year that the 西瓜视频 graduating class has exceeded 3,000. More than one-quarter of graduates (807) will earn Baccalaureate degrees; 1,950 earn Associate in Arts degrees; and 495 earn Associate in Science or Associate in Applied Science degrees. The following vignettes of 西瓜视频 students illustrate both drive and perseverance that are hallmarks of 西瓜视频 Pioneers:
鈥�My mother is on a plaque in the entrance of 西瓜视频. She was one of the Charter Class Graduates, June 11, 1962. My grandmother was the Director of IMT (Individualized Manpower Training) and retired from the College. My children have graduated from 西瓜视频. I am glad to be a part of the legacy.鈥浓赌�Judith Tourjee, Fort Pierce
Judi Tourjee started at 西瓜视频 at the age of seventeen. She is elated to be finishing
her Bachelor鈥檚 Degree 30 years later and crosses the stage on May 4 to collect her
B.A.S. in Organizational Management. Judi鈥檚 journey back to 西瓜视频 began when she accompanied
her daughter to an advising appointment. At her daughter鈥檚 urging, the advisor found
Judi in the system and reviewed her coursework dating back to 1990. After discussion,
they found a degree aligned with Judi鈥檚 current career. She began her studies the
next available term. For her next chapter, Judi plans to continue working in her current
field and use her new degree to become more marketable for when opportunities arise.
She is also considering pursuing a Master's Degree.
鈥淣either of my parents were able to finish college due to other life circumstances and I want to honor their hard work and determination.鈥�鈥�Noa Teed, Jensen Beach
First generation college student, Noa Teed, receives her Associate in Arts Degree
from 西瓜视频 this May. She credits her family as the source of
her inspiration and motivation and says that they instilled the value and power of
education in her from a young age. With degree in hand, coupled with her fascination
of the space program and keen interest in software design, Noa鈥檚 next chapter takes
her to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where she will pursue her Bachelor鈥檚 Degree
and reach for the stars.
鈥�I had heard that the 西瓜视频 Nursing program was the best one around. And, after getting accepted into the program it really did live up to the hype. The instructors and the support you get throughout the program was great!鈥� 鈥�Hannah Connell, Vero Beach
Hannah Connell wanted to be a nurse for as long as she can remember. Initially believing that her dream was not within reach, she started out on the path to become an accountant. Eventually, she decided to 鈥済o for it鈥� and pursue her dream; she wanted set an example for her two-year-old daughter 鈥渢o never give up on your dreams and always pursue your passion.鈥� Hannah started with 西瓜视频 in the L.P.N. program in 2019, and upon completion, continued her education in the A.D.N. program as an inaugural member of 西瓜视频鈥檚 L.P.N. to R.N. bridge program. For her next chapter, Hannah intends to continue her education and seek a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Nursing, while securing employment working at patients鈥� bedsides in a hospital setting.
鈥�As a mother of five children, the availability of online classes made my life easier.鈥浓赌�Samira Slimane, Port St. Lucie
Samira Slimane graduates from 西瓜视频 this May with a B.S. in Middle Grades Mathematics Education. She started as an ESL student overcoming barriers to become fluent in English. With diploma in hand, she is looking for employment for the upcoming school year and searching for an institution to pursue her Master's Degree, online, in Mathematics. Samira says that her 西瓜视频 professors were a huge source of inspiration. During class, she would look at them with admiration and dream of her next chapter鈥攂ecoming a college professor. She is determined to achieve that goal and hopefully teach at 西瓜视频 one day.
鈥淚 took a year and a half off from work to take care of my ailing father with the help of home hospice. I decided to return to school in memory of him to finish my degree.鈥浓赌�Allen Bell, Vero Beach
Allen started his educational journey at USF Tampa in 1986 and earned 100 credits.
Thirty-one (31) years after leaving USF, he has earned a Bachelor鈥檚 of Applied Science
in Organizational Management from 西瓜视频. He says the energy of the young students,
online access to his classes and great support from the 西瓜视频 faculty and staff carried
him onward and kept him positive enough to continue. After graduation, Allen intends
to join the workforce, and explains that he is grateful that his education will provide
the foundation for financial stable during his later years. He hopes that during his
next chapter he has the opportunity to work with the hospice organization that provided
for him during his darkest time and has inspired him to help others in the same circumstances.
鈥�I am 54 years old, a mom, a grandmother, and I didn't do it alone. What I have learned during this challenging time was that accepting help wasn't a weakness but rather the beginning of a bright future.鈥浓赌�Jackie Geary, Stuart
Jackie Geary鈥檚 is route to earning an A.S. Degree 鈥� Physical Therapist Assistant is a true profile of perseverance. Along her journey, personal obstacles and hardships loomed large. These included losing a home, experiencing divorce and financial insecurity, and managing as a single mom working two jobs. These situations caught her off guard, but she claims an intense focus on her Physical Therapist Assistant studies became one of the most profound and rewarding moments of her life. She is grateful for best friends who helped with her living situation, 西瓜视频 professors for their encouragement and extra tutoring, her guidance counselor for monitoring her progress and recognizing her struggles, and for financial aid staff who helped her receive financial support. Jackie鈥檚 next chapter is to find employment and as a proud P.T.A. graduate, she encourages all 西瓜视频 student to ask for help when it is needed, stay committed, and not allow failure to be an option.
鈥�My motivation comes from within myself. I am a hard worker and I push myself to be successful and try to achieve my goals and dreams. Many college professors and ASC tutors helped me push through fears and always used encouraging words.鈥浓赌�Nahel Jallouk, Port St. Lucie
For Nahel Jallouk, failure was not an option. After a year and a half of mixed results
on the General Knowledge test, a state exam required for acceptance into 西瓜视频 baccalaureate
programs in education, Nahel鈥攁n English as a Second Language student鈥攆inally passed
all four parts needed to begin her educational journey to become a teacher. Prepared
and eligible to take the second state exam one year into her studies, she passed that
test on try number one. Next week, Nahel crosses the stage to collect her diploma,
certifying her Bachelor in Science in Elementary Education with Reading and ESOL Endorsements
credential. For her next chapter, Nahel expects to be employed in a public or private
school in St. Lucie County, and pursue a Master鈥檚 Degree.
鈥�The best thing about attending 西瓜视频 was being able to study alongside my sister. I remember telling myself when I saw Sindi graduate for the first time, 鈥極ne day, I鈥檓 going to be just like Sindi and have my own degree in hand.鈥欌�浓赌�Juliana Chavez, Indiantown
There鈥檚 a lot to celebrate in the Chavez household. On Monday, May 3, Juliana Chavez
and her older sister Sindi will cross the stage to accept their diplomas. Juliana
will receive an A.S. in Digital Media Technology and Sindi and A.S. in Electrical
Power Technology. They are the first in their family to earn college degrees. Juliana
is dually enrolled at 西瓜视频 and Clark Advanced Learning Center鈥攁 charter school operated
by 西瓜视频 and situated at the College鈥檚 Chastain Campus in Stuart鈥攁nd will celebrate
her high school graduation later in the month. Juliana expects to continue her studies
at 西瓜视频 for her next chapter and enroll in a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree program.
鈥�Before I graduated from South Fork High School, I was able to get ahead and complete the first year towards my Associates of Arts Degree through the dual enrollment program. After I graduated from high school, instead of transferring to a bigger institution, I decided to continue my studies at 西瓜视频 to complete my Associate Degree.鈥浓赌�Sindi Chavez, Indiantown
As a first generation college student, Sindi considered completing and graduating
from high school a milestone. She says that graduating with a college degree is 鈥渁n
absolute blessing.鈥� Sindi went on to earn an Associate in Arts Degree from 西瓜视频 one
year later. After graduation, she intended to transfer to university to earn a Bachelor's
Degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering. Upon hearing about the Electrical Power
Technology program at 西瓜视频, she instead decided to stay at 西瓜视频 to pursue her Associate
in Science Degree in that discipline. Her next chapter is to gain employment with
a local company like BHI Energy as an Electrical Designer and develop overhead electrical
distribution systems.
