SCF Honors Spring Class of 2020 With Virtual Ceremony

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) celebrated the achievements of the Spring Class of 2020 May 1 during a virtual ceremony broadcast on Sarasota Community Radio WSLR, 96.5 FM. The event was also livestreamed on the College’s Facebook page.

“This is the most unique commencement ceremony in the history of our institution and perhaps one of our most important,” SCF President Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld told graduates, acknowledging the COVID-19 crisis wiped out any hope of holding a traditional graduation. But canceling the rite altogether was not an option, she said. “That would have failed to recognize the perseverance and resilience of this graduating class.”

Of the 819 students eligible to participate, 539 earned Associate in Arts degrees, 169 earned Associate in Science degrees and 96 received bachelor’s degrees.

Several times during the broadcast, listeners were able to call in with their congratulations and give support to graduates on the air. Comments also were shared to the College’s Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/StateCollegeofFlorida.

The Outstanding Graduate Award was presented to Luke Sandlin, who earned his Associate in Arts degree while maintaining a 3.74 grade point average. He plans to study political science at the University of Florida in the fall. He was vice president and membership leader of SCF’s Student Government Association, the student president of the theatre honor society Delta Psi Omega and was a speaker at the SCF Foundation’s sixth annual scholarship fundraising event, Avenues to the Future.

Sandlin credits SCF with giving him the tools to focus on his goals. He says SCF has completely changed his life. “Every day I wake up for classes at SCF I’m interested, fascinated and curious – something I never had in high school. You can fully immerse yourself in whatever you choose to. A place where you can set your phone down, tune out distractions and learn. Why not make the most of it?”

The other Outstanding Graduate finalists were Nicholas S. Jurczyk and Josué Lugo Roldán.

The student-selected Outstanding Faculty Award was presented to Music instructor Don Bryn, SCF’s director of Keyboard Studies and Music Theory.

Recognized by SCF students for his exemplary academic instruction and student advocacy, Bryn is a pianist and composer by profession and has toured the globe, playing and conducting performances by Burt Bacharach, Lorna Luft, Jim Nabors and Charo, and performing with a variety of local arts organizations such as the Sarasota Artist Series Concerts, The Venice Symphony and The Pops Orchestra. “When I started teaching here at SCF I realized two things: I like teaching, and I really love the material I teach. I am fortunate in that regard,” he said. Bryn received his bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance and Music Technology and a master’s degree in Composition, both from Duquesne University.

In her remarks to graduates, Dr. Probstfeld praised the College’s commitment to excellence. “Today’s ceremony includes graduates who are family members of SCF trustees, faculty and staff, underscoring our entire College family’s deep commitment to, and confidence in, our quality education, exemplified by our high licensure passage rates, the outstanding grade point averages of our transfer students and our highly credentialed faculty.”

“SCF is also a proudly diverse College that creates an inclusive environment for students of different ages, races and nationalities from around the region, state, nation and world.”

During the ceremony, SCF nursing graduates were awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships to continue their studies to achieve their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Scholarships awarded and recipients were:

The Pat Kuebler Memorial Scholarship Award: Stace Ford
Dustin Lane Memorial Scholarship: Tessa Hysell
Manatee Memorial Hospital Excellence in Nursing Scholarship: Alfredo Murillo
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System Excellence in Nursing Scholarship: Kelly Le Fer 
The Volunteers of Venice Excellence in Nursing Scholarship: Alexandria Scappatura
Program participants included Dr. Probstfeld; Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Todd G. Fritch; Kelly Monod, senior head of SCF Collegiate Schools; Associate in Science in Nursing Program Manager Dr. Dodee Nulty; Dr. Sarah Cloud, SCF Nursing faculty member; and the Rev. Michael P. Todd, SCF’s campus ministry chaplain, who gave the opening invocation.

The national anthem was provided via video of a 2013 graduation performance by the SCF Chamber Choir. 

Matthew C. Connell, dean for the College’s Nursing and Health Professions programs, served as the mace bearer for the ceremony.

To learn more about SCF, visit SCF.edu.