/PRNewswire/ — ST. PETERSBURG, Florida, March 31, 2023 — April is Community College Month, a time to recognize the excellent work these institutions do for their local communities. St. Petersburg College has provided a way for people to improve their lives through education since 1927. Today, SPC offers workforce certifications, short-term training programs for in-demand careers, and more than 80 of its award-winning programs online to Pinellas County residents. SPC makes a significant contribution to the local economy as well.
Moreover, community colleges provide non-academic help. Students and staff at SPC put in 51,436 volunteer hours last year. Additionally, SPC’s robust support systems assist in guiding students to success. First, to complete, one of the college’s newest programs aims to help first-generation students with their transition to higher education and ensure that they have the tools necessary to effectively complete their degrees or certificate programs at SPC. According to Shannon Ulrich, coordinator of First to Completed, “we create a space for them to talk about their worries or needs or just have fun and form a network with their peers.” “We think that the group’s support will boost the likelihood that they feel motivated to attend college and finish their degree,”
SPC is also giving back to the community by offering a new scholarship. To enable graduates who need financial assistance to pay for a degree or credentials that would lead them to well-paying jobs and rewarding lives, the Promise Scholarship is made available to 2023 graduates from a limited number of area high schools. Our aim at SPC is to provide opportunities for economic mobility, according to SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams. “Our most underprivileged citizens will now have access to a college education, which benefits the entire neighborhood. We are ecstatic to offer our students the “promise” of financial independence through a college education that equips them for long-lasting, high-paying professions.” After whatever grants or scholarships a student receives, the Promise Scholarship pays for tuition and fees at SPC until they complete an approved certificate program or an associate degree.