Nursing students honored as SCF holds first-ever virtual graduation during pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic changed their lives, but nothing could diminish their hard work and perseverance.

State College of Florida honored more than 800 graduates during a virtual ceremony on Friday afternoon, broadcasting the event on Facebook Live and WSLR 96.5 Community Radio.

“This is the most unique commencement ceremony in the history of our institution, and perhaps one of the most important,” said SCF President Carol Probstfeld.

A portion of the ceremony honored graduates from SCF’s nursing program. Many were health care workers who battled the virus in Manatee and Sarasota counties while also working to finish their degrees.

Sarah Cloud, a faculty member in the nursing program, said her community and public health class was redesigned to focus on COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Students often shared their experiences from the front lines of the pandemic, and Cloud read an account from one of her students on Friday afternoon.

“I have learned and observed a lot during this pandemic,” Cloud read. “I’ve held the hands of patients as they passed, and I have rolled patients out the front door to their loved ones, whom they had not hugged in weeks.”

“I have endured painful marks on my face from wearing an N95 mask for 13-plus hours, and scrubbed myself with hot water to hopefully protect my family from this virus,” she continued. “I had seen and felt fear and anxiety like I’ve never felt before.”

Despite moments of exhaustion, the nursing students felt deep gratitude for the community support and the hard work of their peers, Cloud said.

The students received more of an education — and a test of their perseverance — than anyone thought possible.

“Day after day, they pulled on their scrubs, left their families and suited up, only to encounter changing policies, scarce resources and a growing number of cases and deaths,” Cloud said.

Cloud and other speakers joined the ceremony via Zoom, a video conferencing service, while viewers said they watched from Florida, Alaska and New York, along with Italy and Colombia.

Friday’s broadcast started with the National Anthem, followed by an invocation from Rev. Michael Todd. He pushed through audio issues and delivered his message to a patient audience.

As expected, there were a handful of technical difficulties during the two-hour ceremony, but viewers embraced the chance to celebrate.

There were phone calls from proud parents, grandparents, teachers and significant others.

“I want you to go out in the world, have fun, continue to learn and keep reaching for your goals,” one caller said. “Class of 2020, congratulations and well done.”

The broadcast also included a list of graduates’ names. Among them was Luke Sandlin, who received this year’s Outstanding Graduate Award.

Sandlin was vice president of the Student Government Association, and he worked as the student president of Delta Psi Omega, a theater honor society. He planned to attend the University of Florida and become a manager for political campaigns.

“Each time I acted on an opportunity, I started to change from the person who I thought I was to the person that I am,” Sandlin said. “We all have doors, and we all owe it to ourselves to see what’s on the other side.”

More than 600 people watched the stream on Facebook at its peak, and more than 1,000 people left a comment by its end.

SCF graduates also have the chance to attend a ceremony in December, but it was important to honor their achievements on Friday, the original date for their in-person ceremony, said Probstfeld, the college president.

Despite the constant threat of COVID-19, the transition to online classes and, for some, the loss of hard-earned jobs, they pushed forward to graduation.

“You deserve to be honored for committing yourself to finishing your degree at a time when everything in your life suddenly became uncertain,” Probstfeld said.