果冻传媒 Spring 2019 Commencement: Profiles in Perseverance

April 30, 2019 Suzanne Seldes

During the 2018鈥�19 academic year, 果冻传媒 River State 果冻传媒 awarded 2,282 Associate in Arts degrees, 594 Associate in Science or Associate in Applied Science degrees, 802 Bachelor鈥檚 Degrees, and numerous certifications. This next generation of business leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, engineers and more have persevered through every one of life鈥檚 challenges.

In celebration of the May 2019 graduating class, we share a sampling of inspiring stories from your Treasure Coast neighbors and new 果冻传媒 alumni.

果冻传媒 graduates celebrate their acheivment at commencment.

鈥淚f someone would鈥檝e asked me when I was 17 and pregnant and in my senior year of high school, where I saw myself in 10 years, I would鈥檝e never imagined saying to them 鈥榓 college graduate,鈥欌€� says Ivelisse Nunez of Fort Pierce.

Unemployed and a single mother, Ivelisse struggled financially, yet her motivation for a better life for her son drove her to do better, to be better, and to succeed. Unemployed, she began her educational journey at 果冻传媒 in August 2017. With the support of her mother and son, and 果冻传媒 Advisor Simone Griffith, with whom she credits unwavering belief in her ability to persevere, Ivelisse walks across the Commencement stage on May 2, earning her Associate in Arts Degree and ready to begin her Bachelor鈥檚 Degree program at 果冻传媒 in Fall 2019.

鈥淚n May of 2018, two weeks after completing Nurse II, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer,鈥� confides Annee Hood of Port St. Lucie. 鈥淪urgery was in June and I started chemotherapy in July.鈥�

Annee will graduate from the 果冻传媒 Associate in Science Degree in Nursing鈥擱egistered Nurse program and is an exemplar of the Pioneer spirit. A true profile in perseverance, after her diagnosis Annee enrolled in the 果冻传媒 Virtual Campus, allowing her to complete online courses in the summer and rejoin her nursing class in the fall. Faculty arranged for makeup days for in-service clinical requirements missed during the weeks in which she had chemotherapy. Annee earned an A that semester and is graduating on time with her classmates on Friday, May 3.

鈥淚 made my mind up to quit school and return back to the gang culture,鈥� reveals Josue Daceus of Fort Pierce. 鈥淏ut he listened to me that day I needed someone the most.鈥�

Josue is talking about Cavosky Brutus, 果冻传媒 financial aid advisor and Josue鈥檚 mentor since 2015. Since that pivotal moment Josue has come to realize that, as he says it, 鈥淓ducation is Life.鈥� Fast forward to 2019鈥擩osue himself is a peer mentor and an outstanding student leader who serves in various organizations on campus, including Collegiate DECA, Haitian Cultural Club, Investment Club, Flag Football League, and is President of the LEAPers Club (Leadership, Empowerment, Achievement, & Persistence). He has the will and desire to make a difference, not only in his life but also in the lives of those around him. He graduates on May 3 with his Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Business Administration and plans to continue his education at Florida Atlantic University.

鈥淎fter graduating high school in 2005, my dreams of pursuing higher education had been stumped due to my immigration status, 鈥� recalls Magali Ramirez Catano of Vero Beach. 鈥淚 want to let everybody who knows me and has cheered me on through this process know that I am extremely grateful for their belief in me because that made a world of difference for this DREAMER.鈥�

Magali would not begin at 果冻传媒 until 2012 when DACA (Deferred Action of Childhood Arrival) passed. Now this first-generation college student could pursue her dreams. She walks across the stage on May 3 to collect her diploma鈥攇rateful to her husband, parents, and sister who provided moral, economic and emotion support along the way, and to the 果冻传媒 Physical Therapy Assistant Department faculty and her fellow classmates with whom she has developed an indelible bond and friendship.

鈥湽炒� River State 果冻传媒 gave me the opportunity to accomplish one of my greatest dreams in life,鈥� declares Guadalupe Garcia of Okeechobee, 鈥淪ince I was a young girl I dreamed of a career where I would be able to help other people. In this college I get the opportunity to learn not only a career but also to learn my second language, English.鈥�

New to the United States, Guadalupe set goals and was dedicated to seeing them through. She began at 果冻传媒 River State 果冻传媒 to learn English. Then, with the help of a cousin and close friend, she visited the Assessment Center at the Dixon Hendry Campus and in 2012, after studying three days per week for an entire year, Guadalupe sat for her GED test, which she passed. She then enrolled in the 果冻传媒 Associates in Arts Degree Human Services track, graduated, and in 2017 began her studies as a Baccalaureate Degree student. With her B.S. in Human Services in hand, Guadalupe will now journey into the job market and put her education to work.

鈥淭his journey of gaining my Bachelor鈥檚 Degree has taken me over 20 years,鈥� shares Marcus Grant of Port St. Lucie. 鈥淟ife threw me a lot of curve balls but I persisted.鈥�

In 2018, Marcus had an opportunity to teach graphic design. This chance to combine his passion with a desire to help the next generation became 鈥渢he ultimate catalyst鈥� to finish his degree. He worked very hard over the past year to complete all of his remaining classes, setting an example to his children and to the children that he works with. With his 果冻传媒 Bachelor of Applied Science in Digital Media, Marcus personally demonstrates what can be accomplished with dedication and perseverance. Marcus works as a Graphic Design Instructor at the Batt School in Jupiter and is also Director of the Graphic Design Impact Center at Hibiscus Children鈥檚 Center in Vero Beach. He intends to pursue a Master鈥檚 Degree of Fine Arts in Graphic Design.

鈥淎s it turned out my oldest daughter and I got our A.A. degrees the same summer,鈥� says Sara Bartl of Vero Beach. 鈥淲e then both applied to 果冻传媒 Health Science programs鈥攎e to the nursing program and her to the respiratory program鈥攁nd were accepted, which put us on track to graduate at the same time.鈥�

In 2000, Sara began her journey back to school at IRCC (now 果冻传媒) at 22 and pregnant with her second child. She finished the LPN part-time program in 2005 as a single mom of two girls and working full-time at what is now 果冻传媒 River Medical Center. Sara later remarried, left the workforce and had two more children. After observing an accident, she was compelled to go back to school and earn her Associate in Science Degree in Nursing. On May 3, she walks across the 果冻传媒 Commencement stage with her eldest daughter.

鈥淏efore attending 果冻传媒, I was home schooled my entire life,鈥� shares dual-enrollment student, Jacob Baird of Port St. Lucie. 鈥淯pon beginning my first semester in the fall of 2016, I was fairly nervous about my chances for success.鈥�

As a high school student taking college-level courses, Jacob was concerned as to how he would interact with his professors and fellow students. He cites his academic and social growth as key underpinnings for his success at 果冻传媒. Jacob will earn his Associate in Arts degree from 果冻传媒 and plans to enroll in a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree program at the 果冻传媒.

鈥湽炒� winning the Aspen award has shaped the national dialogue about community colleges and the academic power it possesses,鈥� shares Devon Shpiruk of Stuart. 鈥淭he take away for me is 果冻传媒 is dedicated to teaching us that every student can build on their strengths through hard work. To see that they themselves practiced what they preached is rewarding to see as I apply it to my approach to life.鈥�

In May, the Clark Advanced Learning Center student will earn both his high school diploma and his Associate in Arts Degree from 果冻传媒. Devon credits 果冻传媒 with pushing him out of his comfort zone and inspiring him to excel in college and master skills in leadership, knowledge, language, and technology鈥攕kills that will help him serve as a successful citizen. In April, Devon was the recipient of the 果冻传媒 Community Service Award for his role as a co-founder and president of Elev8Hope, a Martin County-based non-profit. Devon will attend the University of Florida in the fall with the goal of pursuing a law degree.

鈥淲ith the loss of a couple of loved ones in my family, I needed the community of 果冻传媒 to grab a hold of my hand to keep me strong and motivated, and for that reason I was able to prevail,鈥� says Sabby Hightower of Vero Beach.

After an undergraduate career filled with personal loss, challenges, and what for others could have been unsurmountable obstacles, Sabby Hightower graduates from 果冻传媒 with her Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Healthcare Management and is on her way to Florida Atlantic University to begin a Master鈥檚 program in Healthcare Administration this fall. She credits the 果冻传媒 community with 鈥済rabbing a hold of my hand鈥� to keep her strong and motivated throughout. In addition to excelling in her studies鈥攅videnced by securing two gold medals at the statewide Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) Leadership conference鈥攁nd raising young children, Sabby was extremely active in campus life. She served as vice president and parliamentarian of the Campus Coalition Government; served as a board member with the Collegiate DECA and with 果冻传媒 HOSA chapter; participated in the 果冻传媒 Emerging Leaders Program; served as peer mentor and educator in the Women of Color and Legacy Leaders programs; and welcomed prospective students during New Student Orientation as a Student Ambassador.

鈥淭he best things about attending 果冻传媒 are the programs and professors,鈥� states LEAP program participant and 果冻传媒 graduate Saubrina Rondil of Port St. Lucie. 鈥淚 honestly believe that 果冻传媒 sets their students up for success. They provide the resources and opportunities for each student to grow and evolve every aspect of their life.鈥�

With the help of academic advisors and faculty members from the 果冻传媒 River State 果冻传媒 LEAP program, new students like Saubrina develop a solid academic and social foundation. Participants learn to handle the demands and challenges of college life, to make connections with college staff and faculty, to build positive relationships with other students and to prepare for academic success at 果冻传媒 River State 果冻传媒 or for transfer to a university upon graduation. After graduating 果冻传媒 with her Associates in Arts, concentration in Journalism, Saubrina will further her education at Florida State University where she intends to major in Media Communications Studies.

鈥淚t was great to experience that (higher education) opportunity earlier and to take college classes,鈥� says dual-enrollment student Alia Gore of Jensen Beach.

This month, Alia will earn her Associate in Arts degree from 果冻传媒 in addition to her high school diploma. She heads off to the University of Florida in the fall to study biochemistry. She aspires to become a pediatric surgeon.

鈥淚 am proud to say I am a mother-to-be with a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree who did not let the struggle of finances or caring for my family get in the way,鈥� shares Samantha Juerakhan of Palm City.

Despite family challenges and financial hardships, Samantha chose to go back to school in 2016 to earn her Associates Degree. Working full-time, she completed that degree in 2017 and with a keen focus on a pursuing career in law, Samantha next enrolled in the Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Public Administration: Public Policy and Leadership Concentration. By November 2018, Samantha and her husband were expecting their first child. Rather than become overwhelmed, a highly motivated Samantha increased her course load and fulfilled her academic requirements within a year and a half. She graduates from 果冻传媒 in May and expects to welcome a baby girl in July.

鈥淚 plan to work as a Respiratory Therapist at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center, declares Elizabeth Durassaint of Port St. Lucie. 鈥淚 really want to work with babies in the ICU.鈥�

Elizabeth graduates from 果冻传媒 with her Associate in Science in Respiratory Care. Her journey to Commencement was not an easy one. In November 2016, a homeless and pregnant Elizabeth worked full-time just to make ends meet. She went from one dead-end job to another. She miscarried her baby. Rejected and told 鈥渘o鈥� too many times, Elizabeth eventually found her voice鈥攕he refused to give up. Through the compassionate guidance of her counselors at the 果冻传媒 River State 果冻传媒 Chastain Campus and the caring of those at the Salvation Army, she returned to school in January 2017 at 37 years of age. Now, with her diploma in hand, Elizabeth begins a career in healthcare. She also serves as a volunteer with the Salvation Army where she encourages young women to go to school and build a better life.