State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota held two Honors Convocation ceremonies on April 25 recognizing SCF Venice and SCF Bradenton Spring 2025 graduates who have demonstrated exceptional drive and initiative during the academic year. The events featured poetry, department and academic team recognition, and presentations of 106 awards and scholarships.

Frances Auld, SCF English professor, served as master of ceremonies, and Heather Shehorn, SCF dean of academic success and early college programs, presided over the closing charge to honorees at SCF Venice. Jennifer Bieselin, SCF speech and communication professor and the 2024-2025 Student-Selected Faculty of the Year recipient, served as master of ceremonies, and Patricia Rand, SCF interim provost, presided over the closing charge to honorees at SCF Bradenton.

Tommy Gregory, J.D., SCF president, delivered the welcoming address and presented the SCF Image Awards to SCF Venice graduate Sidney Martin and SCF Bradenton graduate Susana Reyes Soto. These recipients have overcome significant challenges and exemplified personal perseverance, academic achievements and representation of the College’s values.  

Jaquelyn McNeil, SCF dean of students, presented the Wayne Gulbrandsen Academic Scholarship for Single Parents awards to SCF Venice graduates, Jessica Lagos and Kerin Schweigert, and SCF Bradenton graduates, Brittany DeMars, Jennifer Gilson, Jessica Meza and Tracey Nelson.

Other SCF Venice award winners included:

Writing, literature, and language: Lorel Allen, Outstanding Student in Creative Writing; Alexia Poulin, Outstanding Student in Creative Writing; Nick Eckard, Outstanding Student Essay in Literature; Alina Oberglock, Darlene Wedler-Johnson Award for an Outstanding Student in English; Alexia Poulin, Darlene Wedler-Johnson Award for an Outstanding Student in English; and Daniel O'Brien, Katherine Sherin-Zauner Excellence in Speech Award.

Math and science: Sierra De La Fuente, Outstanding Student in Earth Sciences; Abriel Franckowiak, Outstanding Student in Anatomy & Physiology II; Paola Herrera, Outstanding Student in Mathematics; Blair Jarvis, Outstanding Student in Biology; Elizabeth Jefferey, Outstanding Student in Physics; Natalia Kurynkina, Outstanding Student in Anatomy & Physiology I; and Jake Saraceno, Outstanding Student in General Chemistry.

Business, art, design and humanities: Kasey Citro, Outstanding Student in Accounting; Kaden Kolson, Outstanding Student in Business; Melissa Pfoertner, Outstanding Student in Economics; Abriel Franckowiak, Excellence in Digital Publishing; Myli-Ann Goodine, Excellence in Digital Publishing; Taylor Mauceri,  Graphic Design Academic Excellence Award; Sara Miller, Graphic Design Academic Excellence Award; Tyler Rittmeyer, Graphic Design Academic Excellence Award; and Alexis Put, Outstanding Student in Studio Arts.

Social and behavioral sciences: Lorel Allen, Outstanding Student in Psychology; Korban McLaren. Outstanding Student in Philosophy; Kai Deloach, Outstanding Student in American Government; Radmila Djurich, Outstanding Student in American History; Christopher Sherman, Outstanding Student in Social Work; Debra Brannon, Mock Trial Competition Team Member; Wyatt Dillhyon, Mock Trial Competition Team Member; Alexander Lewis, Mock Trial Competition Team Member; Haley McNamara, Outstanding Award for Advanced Technical Certificate in Paralegal/Legal Assisting; Sara Ward, Outstanding Paralegal/Legal Assisting A.S. Student and Outstanding Student in Legal Research & Writing.

Other SCF Bradenton awards included:

Math and science: Kendall Huerta, Outstanding Student in Biology; Jadon Wizba, Outstanding Graduate in Biotechnology; Sharon Beachy, Outstanding Student in General Chemistry; Jan Stary, Outstanding Student in Organic Chemistry; Ethan Swier, Outstanding Student in Physics; Britanny Marshall Davis, Outstanding Student in STEM Pathway Program; Estiward Casado Antigua, Mathematics Department Memorial Award; Ethan Swier, Mathematics Department Memorial Award; Susana Reyes Soto, Mathematics Department Initium Award; and Amber (Veronica) Stata, Mathematics Department Initium Award.

Business: Logan Colbert, Outstanding Student in Accounting and Viera Ebert, Outstanding Student in Economics.

Performing arts: Alara Ureksoy, Outstanding Student in Music Production; Brandon Wilson, Outstanding Student in Music Production; Marcus (Burke) Johnson, Outstanding Returning Music Student; Rael Lee, Outstanding Freshman Music Student; Yonathan Ruiz-Nunez, Outstanding Freshman Music Student; Abby Fayette, Outstanding Contributions in Acting; Alexandria Maulfair Director's Award; Derek Wexler, The Pixel Pioneer; and Kai Cantasano, The Boundless Brush.

Social and behavioral sciences: Ciecrett Parker, Outstanding Paralegal/Legal Assisting A.S. Student and Outstanding Legal Research and Writing Student; Samantha Thomson, Outstanding Award for Advanced Technical Certificate in Paralegal/Legal Assisting; Sofie Brown, Recognition of Excellence in History; Griffin Hanna, Recognition of Excellence in History; Mason Prince, Recognition of Excellence in History; John Turchon, Recognition of Excellence in History; Ty Behrends, 2025 12th Judicial District High School Mock Trial Competition - SCFCS Team and AMTA College Competition; Debra Brannon, 2025 12th Judicial District High School Mock Trial Competition - SCFCS Team and AMTA College Competition; Wyatt Dillhyon, 2025 12th Judicial District High School Mock Trial Competition - SCFCS Team and AMTA College Competition; Alexander Lewis 2025 12th Judicial District High School Mock Trial Competition - SCFCS Team and AMTA College Competition; Norah McVicker, 2025 12th Judicial District High School Mock Trial Competition -SCFCS Team and AMTA College Competition; Christian Pangallo, 2025 12th Judicial District High School Mock Trial Competition - SCFCS Team and AMTA College Competition; Rose Reece, 2025 12th Judicial District High School Mock Trial Competition - SCFCS Team and AMTA College Competition; and Aiden Wilson, 2025 12th Judicial District High School Mock Trial Competition - SCFCS Team and MTA College Competition.

Language and literature: Sade Maracle, Outstanding Student in Creative Writing: Poetry; Nikita Reid, Outstanding Student in Creative Writing: Prose; Linda Rouifed, Outstanding Student in Literary Scholarship; Layla Sisson, Spanish I Award; Madison Malanowicz, Spanish I Award; Gabriel Williams, Spanish II Award; Aly Desir, Spanish II Award; Ericka Freeman, Outstanding Student in Speech; Miya Yoder, Most Significant Advancement in Presentation Skills Award; Clio Drapak, Outstanding Student in French; Jolette Sanchez-Rico, Outstanding Student in French; Miranda Daley, Outstanding Student in Literary Criticism; Julia Ramirez, Outstanding Student in American Sign Language; Drake Ferronyalka, Outstanding Student in American Sign Language; Robert Galperson, Best Class Spirit - American Sign Language; and Tessa Conroy, Most Superior American Sign Language Student.

SCF congratulates all honorees on their remarkable persistence and accomplishments.

Learn more about SCF’s academic programs at SCF.edu/Academics/.