St. Petersburg College Thanks Donors At Annual Event

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — St. Petersburg College honored its Foundation donors at the annual Donors and Scholars Appreciation Event on Tuesday, March 30. The event, which usually includes a seated luncheon, was held virtually this year, but still sent a message of thanks and appreciation to all those who generously contribute to the lives of students through their donations.

Veronica Cintron, Vice President of Communications at Tampa International Airport, emceed the online event, which was sponsored by RBC. More than 100 people tuned in.

Student Stories

St. Petersburg College graduate Monique Whitaker kicked off the student testimonies with her story of dedication and perseverance. Walker shared that, after having a son born with special needs, she used her income tax returns to begin organizing events for single parents with special needs children. She eventually formed her non-profit, Miracle for Michael, to fund these outings that the parents ordinarily wouldn’t have been able to afford. At SPC, she earned an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education, was able to take a Study Abroad trip to Costa Rica, then earned her bachelor’s in Educational Studies and Community Leadership.

“SPC has truly given me the ability to go from poverty to purpose,” Whitaker said. “The scholarships I received took away the stress of how to pay for my classes. I appreciate every single donor who has helped to take the financial burden off my shoulders and allow me to focus on my studies.”

Karissa Rath, who rode a bus route from Pasco County to Tarpon Springs to get to classes, thanked donors for helping her make her dream of an education a reality.

“You, my wonderful donors, made it possible to look past my hardships,” she said. “Thanks to you, I will be the first in my family to receive a degree. Thank you for choosing me and allowing me to show you that I am a worthwhile investment. I hope I can be in your shoes one day and give back, as you do for so many students.”

Taquila Prentice, the final student speaker, hopes to take her Biology degree from SPC and use it to pursue her dream of going to medical school. She recalled a semester when she couldn’t afford textbooks – but then she heard about the Foundation Scholarship.

“The Foundation Scholarship granted me peace of mind and allowed me to focus on my studies and earn my bachelor’s completely debt free,” she said. “Because of donors like you, I’ve been able to excel and reach my fullest potential. Thank you on behalf of myself, my family and every other family that has been blessed by you.”

Bettering Lives

SPC student Sierra Reynolds sang John Lennon’s Imagine, before Michael “Frenchy” Preston, owner of the local Frenchy’s chain of restaurants, took over to talk about his strong belief in SPC and supporting working students with his Frenchy’s Family Restaurants Business Scholarship Fund. Then, attendees broke out into small groups to share ways that education has made their lives better.

SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams was the final speaker. Williams expressed how donors provide for the vast needs of students, including scholarships, textbooks, technology, childcare, transportation, and even food and clothing – especially when so many lost jobs and faced hardships due to COVID-19.

“We needed your help, and you came through,” Williams said. “You are our friends, our supporters, and without you, the college would not be able to do as much as we do for deserving students. You keep them on the path to success. Not only for themselves, but to take their families from poverty to prosperity.”

Interested in learning more about making a donation to better someone’s life through education? Please visit our Foundation website.

This press release was produced by the St Petersburg College News. The views expressed are the author's own.