State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota awarded more than 940 degrees and certificates at its Spring 2025 commencement celebrations on Friday, May 2. Families, friends, SCF staff, faculty and volunteers, and others from the community attended an informal grad walk ceremony and two traditional graduation ceremonies at SCF Bradenton and a first-time grad walk ceremony at SCF Venice. More than 443 graduating students combined participated in the events.

The graduates earned 568 associate in arts degrees, 243 associate in science degrees, 111 bachelor’s degrees and 18 workforce certificates.

Both traditional ceremonies featured greetings, presentations of Mace and presentations of graduates by SCF Interim Provost, Patricia Rand, Ph.D., recognition and remarks and the conferment of degrees by SCF President Tommy Gregory, J.D., National Anthem performances by the SCF Chamber Choir, and invocations by SCF Campus Minister Frank Brunner.

Sharon A. Beachy and Connor James Tomelden, Spring 2025 Outstanding Graduate Award finalists, introduced President Gregory, Jennifer Bieselin, an SCF speech and communication professor and 2024-25 Student-Selected Faculty of the Year winner, gave an address in the afternoon. Victoria Isabella Wigeri van Edema, Spring 2025 Outstanding Graduate Award finalist, introduced President Gregory, and Elizabeth Juliana Wigeri van Edema, Spring 2025 Outstanding Graduate Award winner, gave an address in the evening.

The graduate names were called by Kristen Zaborski, professor of economics and business department chair; Robin Rogers, professor of English; Michele Tomaino, director of ASN curriculum and instruction; Jennifer Trinidad, assistant professor and clinical education coordinator; Daniel Fuerstman, professor of political science; Colleen Paige, instructor of speech; Kathleen Bowen, lecturer of natural science; and Nicolette Mason, assistant professor of speech.

View the SCF graduation video and photo highlights on the SCF Facebook page.

Read about the SCF Outstanding Graduate Award winner and finalists at SCF.edu.