Over 950 proud graduates of the Class of 2024 were celebrated during Spartanburg Community College’s sixtieth annual graduation ceremony Thursday, May 2 on the College’s Giles Campus in Spartanburg.
The top programs represented by the Class of 2024 are the Associate of Arts Degree, Associate of Applied Science in Mechatronics, Associate of Science in Pre-Health, Associate of Applied Science in Management, and Associate of Applied Science in Nursing.
“The success of our proud graduates showcases our passion to provide every possible resource to empower our students to realize the full potential of all the talents they may possess. Go Chasers!” stated Dr. Michael Mikota, President of SCC.
The College has recently made considerable investments in re-engaging adult learners who at some point were forced to put their educational journey on pause — an experience highlighted by the ceremony’s student speaker, Lisa Pappas.
At the age of 38, Lisa decided to embark on a journey to become a nurse following the death of her daughter in a car accident and enrolled part-time in pre-requisite courses for SCC’s Nursing program while running a small business. Four years later, she lost her son, Cameron, to suicide, forcing Lisa to drop out of school.
In an inspiring turn, Lisa returned to SCC after hearing about the College’s free tuition program and graduated in the Spring of 2023 with an associate degree of arts. Thanks to a seamless transfer process, she is continuing on her path to be a grief counselor through a bachelor’s degree in psychology at USC-Upstate.
Finally, the College also celebrated the winners of the 2024 Faculty of the Year award. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding faculty members and is presented in two categories: the Peer Award and the Student Award, won by Heather Hall and Rebecca Ledbetter, respectively.
Heather Hall, an instructor of Spanish at SCC since 2019, received an overwhelming number of nominations from students for the award. Heather has a deep passion for students who attend community college, stating the determination they display in juggling class responsibilities with the additional demands of jobs, families, and numerous other commitments inspires her daily.
Rebecca Ledbetter is a graduate of SCC’s original Practical Nursing program and played a pivotal role in building the new program that launched in Cherokee County last fall. Since 2019, she has served as an instructor in the College’s Nursing program and is thrilled to help shape the future of nursing in her community.
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