PirateQ 
Pensacola State College faculty, staff, graduates, their families and friends began to gather at the Pensacola Bay Center around 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, to celebrate one of the most important milestones of these graduates’ lives.
Grand Marshal Beverly Donahue officially began the ceremony at 5 p.m. Actively involved in supporting PSC scholarship initiatives and various programs at the college, the full-time instructor in the Natural Sciences Department is a registered dietitian recently recognized by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for serving in leadership roles at the state and local levels. President Ed Meadows commended her for the difference she makes in the lives of those at PSC and for her involvement in clinical, corporate and educational settings.
Faculty marshals Dr. Michael Payne, Business Department head, and Dr. Kenneth Phillips, Performing Arts Department head, then led the processional of PSC faculty, staff and 336 graduation candidates onto the floor for one of the biggest moments of many graduates’ lives thus far.
Dr. Kirk Bradley, dean of Baccalaureate Studies and Academic Support, served as emcee for the evening, introducing Board of Trustees Chair Gordon “Flash” Sprague and retiring board member Patrick Dawson, along with administrators Dr. Ed Meadows, president; Dr. Erin Spicer, vice president of Academic and Student Affairs; Anita Kovacs, vice president of Business Affairs; Dr. Brenda Kelly, associate vice president of Academic Affairs; and Dr. Dusti Sluder, dean of Health Sciences.
President Meadows addressed the candidates, asking them to stand, find their families and loved ones in the crowd, and applaud them in thanks for their support. He then asked faculty and staff to stand and turn to face their students so they could all applaud each other in recognition of their collaboration over the years.
Next, Dr. Meadows publicly recognized Patrick Dawson for his years of service to the college as “one of the most valuable Board of Trustees members.” Mr. Dawson has served as chair and vice chair of the board and is a retired Army sergeant major. The president acknowledged Dawson’s service to the country and asked all veterans and active military personnel in attendance to stand and be recognized.
The president then introduced commencement speaker Lumon May, a lifelong Pensacola native and alumnus of Pensacola State and the University of West Florida. May’s parents taught him that he could change the world if he could change his neighborhood.
May is a state-certified general contractor and home inspector, founder of the Southern Youth Sports Association, and owner of May’s Construction and May-Bear Contractors. He has served area youth sports and academics, was elected in 2012 to the Escambia Board of Commissioners, and passionately engaged in initiatives to help improve the community.
Addressing the candidates, Mr. May recognized their achievements and acknowledged the hard work and sacrifices that brought them to this day. He shared the story of his father, who earned his GED at Washington Junior College — which later became Pensacola Junior College and is now Pensacola State College — at age 45, his associate degree at 46, and his bachelor’s degree at Florida A&M University. Despite growing up in poverty and facing the challenges of early military service, his father persevered.
Listing the possible challenges some candidates may have faced, May said, “I submit to you: challenges and obstacles are just something you see when you take your eyes off the goal. The goal is certainly what you are getting today: a college degree.”
He emphasized the importance of investing in human potential and paying it forward. “I can pay it forward because someone invested in me,” he said.
The guest speaker left the Class of 2024 with powerful thoughts: “I’m reminded of a song that says, ‘If I can help somebody as I travel along,’ as many of your professors have helped you, as many of your parents have helped you. ‘If I can help somebody with a word or a song,’ many times when you were down in despair, and someone said, ‘Yes, you can,’ it’s a great place to start. ‘If I can show someone that they are doing wrong,’ if I can tutor someone, if I can spread the message of love, ‘then all of my service shall not be in vain.’”
May concluded, “If you remember nothing else from today, then remember this: a hundred years from now … the only thing that will be remembered is if you were important in the life of another. I petition you to take this degree and opportunity and become important in the lives of others.”
After this inspirational message, Dr. Spicer acknowledged candidates inducted into various national honor societies and those wearing honors stoles, cords and medallions signifying academic excellence. Graduates earning summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude honors were also recognized for their superior performance. Spicer then presented the group to Meadows.
The moment the candidates had been waiting for finally arrived as they crossed the stage to receive their degrees or certificates. Students beamed as they shook hands with college officials and accepted their awards. Some waved proudly to their loved ones, while others fought back tears of pride and relief as they returned to their seats.
Dr. Spicer asked all candidates to stand and presented the fall Class of 2024 to President Meadows as having completed all the requirements for their awards. With a smile, Meadows said, “I am pleased to confer upon you the appropriate degree, certificate or diploma with all rights, privileges and responsibilities thereunto pertaining,” and instructed the class to move their tassels to the left.
At that moment, Pensacola State College students became alumni, ready to pay it forward and make a real difference in the lives of others.