Tom Dowling
(863) 297-1051

                 PCC’s 86^th Commencement Facts 

                                                   (Posted:  05/01/02)

Date:         Friday, May 3, 6:30 p.m.

Place:       Health Center Gym, Winter Haven

Number of Grads: Approximately 300 students will be eligible to march. About 70 percent of our graduates will receive Associate in Arts (AA) degrees, which are parallel and transferable to state universities. The remaining 30 percent of the students will receive Associate in Science (AS) degrees, which lead directly to employment.

Nursing Pinning: Approximately 40 nursing students will participate in a special pinning ceremony on May 3, 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre. 

PTA Pinning: Physical Therapist Assistant grads will participate in a special pinning ceremony on May 3, 3:30 p.m. in WRH-100

Number of Degrees: Over 21,000 diplomas have been awarded by PCC in its 38 years.  

Graduation Speaker: State Attorney Jerry Hill, is a PCC graduate and the college's first Distinguished Alumnus. He has been State Attorney for the 10th Judicial Circuit since 1984. The 10th Judicial Circuit covers Hardee, Highland and Polk counties. 

A native of Polk County, Hill is a Winter Haven High School graduate and received an Associate of Arts degree from PCC in 1968, graduating with honors. He went on to Florida State University and in 1969 earned his Bachelor of Science degree. In 1972, he received his Juris Doctorate degree from Stetson Law School. 

Hill started his law career as a full-time Assistant Public Defender. In 1973, he joined the law firm of Billings, Fredrick, Wooten and Honeywell in Orlando and specialized in personal injury work. He returned to Polk County and established his own practice in 1974. In 1981, he took office as the Public Defender for the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Florida. Three years later, Hill was elected State Attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit and was re-elected without opposition in 1988, 1992 and 1996. 

At PCC, Hill was President of the Student Government and served on several college committees. He graduated with honors. In 1983, he was chosen as the first person selected to received PCC's Distinguished Alumnus award. The award recognizes alumni who have achieved professional success and made an outstanding contribution to the community. Since then 38 individuals have received this award presented during the college's December and May graduations. 

Distinguished Alumnus: Anthony James, President and CEO of Savannah Electric Company and a 1970 graduate of Polk Community College will be the 39th recipient of this award, which recognizes alumni who have achieved professional success and made an outstanding contribution to the community. James graduated in 1968 from Winter Haven High School. After receiving his AA degree from PCC he attended the University of South Florida and earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1973.

More than a quarter million people in a five-county, 2,000 square-mile region receive electric service from Savannah Electric. Prior to being named president and CEO, James was vice president of power generation and senior production officer for Savannah Electric.

James has mentored PCC students interested in technology careers, and offered them field trips to visit his company in Georgia. 

Alumni Association Recognition Award: David Mark, Librarian Assistant, has been chosen to receive this award, which annually honors the outstanding performance of a member of PCC’s faculty and staff. David Mark has been a PCC employee for 7 years. He is a PCC graduate and was a student worker in the library before working in the Lakeland library fulltime. “I’m blessed to be working here,” Mark said. “I can’t find the words to express how this award has touched me.” Students nominating him say he is very knowledgeable and goes out of his way to help students. “He is tremendously fair and helpful to everyone,” said one student.

4.0 Grade Point Average Graduates: Three students graduated with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. They received the Allen T. Cole Distinguished Academic Achievement Award and a $150.00 check. The 4.0 graduates are: Cassandra Ernst of Lakeland, John Mullen of Bartow and Carol Post of Auburndale.