COMMENCEMENT

MILESTONE OF A MOMENT

FSU PC COMMENCEMENT RESUMES AFTER 2020 COVID-19 CANCELLATIONS

by: Erin Chaffin, ’13

After a year of cancellations, FSU Panama City held its first in-person graduation since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday, April 25. “Commencement is both the celebration of a student’s achievement and the beginning of next steps in their lives,” said Rebecca Kelly, director of advancement. “A lot of hard work goes into earning a degree, and commencement recognizes and honors this effort.”

Held at Tommy Oliver Stadium, all graduates were socially distanced and wearing face masks in accordance to CDC guidelines.

“It’s a milestone moment for many of our students,” said Associate Dean of Student and Strategic Initiatives, Dr. Irvin Clark. “We could not do it last spring this time and so what a perfect opportunity to bring last year’s class back with this year’s class and have a grand ceremony.”

The ceremony combined students that graduated from fall 2019 to summer 2021, giving students who missed their graduation last year the opportunity to cross the stage.

“It’s bittersweet but I have a lot of support out here and there’s a lot of people who have overcome similar things so I feel like this class is going to be one that makes one of the biggest differences in years to come,” said FSU PC graduate Johnathon Alleman.

“It took a year to get him in a gown, but we couldn’t be more proud!” Gena Burgans exclaimed about her son Alex having the oppporunity to walk across the stage a year after his graduation. “Thanks Randy Hanna and FSU PC for recognizing these 2020 graduates in last night’s ceremony.”

BELATED CEROMONY: A year after his graduation, Alex Burgans finally gets to don his ceremonial cap and gown in recognition of his achievements, much to the excitement of his parents, Gena and Greg Burgans.

“Strengthening educational opportunities is a primary focus of the Foundation. We are very proud to support FSU’s PC Promise to provide students, that would not otherwise have the financial resources, to advance their education.”

— April Wilkes, Executive Director of The St. Joe Community Foundation