Pasco-Hernando State College Volume XIV, Issue I Spring 2020 | Page 5

P PHSC GRADS C E L E B R AT E S U C C E S S HSC’s winter commencement held in December, was the culmination of perseverance and dedication for this year’s summer and fall graduates. The College’s newest alumni include many ambitious and accomplished individuals, and some who have encountered adversity in pursuit of a higher education. Approximately 345 degrees and certificates were conferred at the ceremonies with an estimated 1,328 graduates eligible to participate. Here are a few of PHSC’s remarkable graduates. Meclina Priestley, 44, of Wesley Chapel, earned her Associate in Science in drafting and design technology with honors. Priestley, a single mom of three daughters, is a successful artist and an Art Fellow at the James Weldon Johnson Foundation. Priestley has been doing shows and events for that foundation in New York and the Berkshires. She is also the Artist in Residence at the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel. Priestley combines her love of art with the skills she learned in the drafting and design program at PHSC. “My goal is to work alongside architects and developers to integrate the thought of design and art, making it a part of the architecture,” said Priestley. She is a member is Phi Theta Kappa and the SkillsUSA club where she was a medalist at the state competition. despite their diagnosis—it’s not the end.” She aspires to give back, working as a nurse either in pediatric oncology or in breast oncology. Steeven Andrade, 20, of Wesley Chapel, was born in Ecuador and moved to the United States three years ago. Coming to a new country with very few possessions and not speaking the language did not stop Andrade from pursuing his dream of a higher education. “I remember my first day of class, I didn’t know anyone or what to expect,” said Andrade. “It was my first time in college, in another country, in another language, far away from where I felt comfortable.” Andrade made friends, became familiar with the college and professors, and by the fall of 2018, he was the Student Government Association vice president at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. He earned his Associate in Arts degree, with honors. He plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in management with a minor in global business at the University of South Florida in spring while working at Publix. To read more graduation stories, visit: phsc.edu/about/news From left: Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D., PHSC president; Richard Corcoran, Florida education commissioner; and Rao Musunuru, M.D., member, PHSC District Board of Trustees. Meclina Priestley offered the student remarks at the winter commencement morning ceremony. Patricia Jauregui, 30, of Dade City, has overcome many obstacles, from kidney failure and transplant as a teen, to developing breast cancer when she was 22 years old. She enrolled at the college in fall of 2010 and the following year learned her kidney transplant had failed and she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. A true fighter, Jauregui never gave up. She resumed her studies as soon as her doctors would allow. “I still required dialysis three days a week because I was not eligible for a transplant at the time,” said Jauregui. “I would go to dialysis in the morning, come home to sleep for a couple hours, go work part time at a daycare center, and afterwards go to school part time.” Her health issues and the compassion she received from her nurses shaped her career path. Jauregui is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and Psi Beta who earned her Associate in Science degree in nursing with honors. “No matter what I was going through, I always tried to maintain a smile. I thought about the many people I would one day help and that motivated me. I want to inspire and give my patients hope that From left: Rao Musunuru, M.D., member, PHSC District Board of Trustees; Sheriff Chris Nocco, and Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D., PHSC president. COLLEGE TRUSTEE EXPRESSES GENEROSITY AT COMMENCEMENT The commencement ceremony included presentations of two $10,000 donations to the PHSC Foundation provided by Rao Musunuru, M.D., member, PHSC District Board of Trustees, and nationally renowned cardiologist. The two donations create endowed scholarships in honor of Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco and Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran. The PHSC Foundation funds nearly 1,000 scholarships annually to students. The generous support from donors like Dr. Musunuru help make this possible. SPRING 2020 3