St. Petersburg College invites alumni, students, faculty/staff, family and community friends are invited to participate in a week full of activities from Sept. 7-12 to celebrate the college’s 95th anniversary.
PINELLAS COUNTY — St. Petersburg College will celebrate its 95th anniversary on Sept. 12, also known as SPC Day, to commemorate the first day of classes held at SPC in 1927. Since opening, as the first two-year college in Florida, SPC has awarded more than 190,000 degrees. The college adds nearly $1.2 billion annually in economic impact to Pinellas County.
On Sept. 12, the college will host a community celebration where St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch will present a proclamation at 10 a.m. at the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus, 6605 5th Ave. N.
SPC started out as St. Petersburg Junior College, then, in 1965, merged with Gibbs Jr. College, the area’s first accredited African-American community college. In 2001, when SPC became the first community college in the state to offer baccalaureate degrees, the name was changed to St. Petersburg College.
“Throughout all these iterations, SPC has been dedicated to academic excellence, economic mobility and community engagement,” said Dr. Tonjua Williams, President of St. Petersburg College. “As the community’s college, we’ve stood the test of time as a beacon of hope by providing access for all who desire to change their lives. We’re proud to celebrate this milestone and to continue to break barriers for students and families in our community and support our local workforce needs.”
This day is also a giving opportunity to raise funds to grow the SPC Titan Fund that helps to sustain scholarships, academic programs, innovative programming, student support services and every other aspect of the college. This 24-hour day of celebration and philanthropy offers the college community an opportunity to reflect on the college’s great history, celebrate the achievements of our alumni, students, faculty and staff, and renew our commitment to support the mission of SPC of changing lives through accessible, high-quality teaching and learning experiences.
“Over 150,000 St. Petersburg College alumni, students, faculty and staff live, work and play right here in our community and SPC Day celebrates the college’s integral role in our economy and the betterment of our citizens,” said Jesse Turtle, SPC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the SPC Foundation. “SPC Day giving harnesses the collective power of many to make a difference in the lives of our students and provides opportunities to education that leads to breaking the cycle of poverty and provides a path to prosperity. A gift in any amount makes a huge impact!”
Alumni, students, faculty/staff, family and community friends are invited to participate in a week full of activities from Sept. 7-12, including:
- SPC Night at the Trop Baseball Game, Sept. 7 at 6:40 p.m.
- Alumni Blue & White Mixer and Class Photoshoot, Sept 9 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
- Gibbs Junior College Alumni Association – Golfing for Scholars Annual Golf Tournament, Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. – noon
- SPC Day Celebration, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
For a full list of events, visit spcollege.edu/spcday. For more information, contact Theresa McFarland at McFarland.Theresa@SPCollege.edu or 727-341-3302.
