More than 1,100 Graduate From SCF, Manatee-Sarasota

About 275 students participated in State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF’s) graduation ceremonies at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto. They were among about 1,100 students eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony after completing their degree requirements in the Summer and Fall semesters.

Of the graduates who participated in commencement, 159 earned Associate in Arts degrees, 41 earned Associate in Science degrees, and 73 earned bachelor’s degrees.

The graduation speaker was Meredith M. Headings, an alumna and former SCF Softball coach who is now working as an account executive and on-air personality with iHeart Media. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Carolina-Aiken and her Master of Arts in leadership from Duquesne University. Headings, who has called her years at SCF some of the best years of her life, was inducted into the SCF Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013 for her accomplishments as a student athlete. She left her coaching career at SCF to pursue her dream of working in radio. At iHeart Media she creates marketing campaigns and works with the entertainment side of the industry to promote her clients. She also is among the talent on Jones & Company on WSRZ 107.9 weekday mornings, the most listened to morning show on the Suncoast.

The Outstanding Graduate Award was presented to a student who has shown superior leadership, academic achievement and community service while attending SCF. This year’s finalists were Lesly Hernandez, Holton Irwin and Yolanda Woody. Funding for SCF's Outstanding Graduate Award is provided by the State College of Florida Foundation Inc.

Program participants will include SCF President Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld; Dr. Richard G. Barnhouse, vice president, strategic enrollment management; Gary T. Russell, vice president, academic affairs; Janet H. Samuels, assistant professor, mathematics; Jennifer A. Bieselin, associate professor, language and literature department; Corey A. Carter, student veteran, SCF Bradenton; and the Rev. Ralph W. Strohm, campus ministry.

Dr. Keri A. Hockett, bachelor of science in nursing faculty, served as the mace bearer and offer a short welcome during the ceremony.

The national anthem was sung by the SCF Chamber Choir directed by Melodie Dickerson, SCF music program director. The processional and recessional will be performed by the SCF Symphonic Band conducted by Dr. Robyn Bell, SCF director of instrumental studies.

Tickets are required and were made available to graduating students. Maps and directions are online at SCF.edu/maps.