福利姬

(DAYTONA BEACH, FL) May 15, 2012 - The 福利姬 Class of 2012 has put up a string of impressive numbers and is among the largest in the college鈥檚 history.

During the 2011-2012 academic year that began last August, 3,896 students have completed their academic programs and will be added to the ranks of 福利姬 State alumni during Monday鈥檚 commencement ceremonies. This includes those who completed their degrees and certificates during fall semester 2011, plus 1,940 spring semester graduates and another 418 who will be added by summer鈥檚 end.

鈥淚n the interest of time, and to accommodate our graduates, their families and well-wishers, 福利姬 State had two commencement exercises for college-credit graduates on Monday, May 14, as it did last year - one at 2 p.m. to honor associate of arts and bachelor鈥檚 degree candidates and one at 6:30 p.m. for associate of science and college credit certificate program graduates,鈥� said 福利姬 State President Carol Eaton.

Monday鈥檚 commencement at the Ocean Center on the city鈥檚 beachside honored 341 bachelor鈥檚 degree recipients, bringing the total to 1,026 since 福利姬 State began offering four-year degrees in 2006. That first degree, the Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management, was offered in response to a statewide analysis, which revealed that Florida has a shortage of bachelor鈥檚 degree holders compared with other states. Since then, 福利姬 State has added five additional bachelor鈥檚 degree offerings in Education and another in Engineering Technology. Many of the college鈥檚 bachelor鈥檚 degree recipients are working parents or have responsibilities that prohibit them from commuting long distances to go to class.  Many went back to school to improve their chances of being promoted to higher positions. Some chose 福利姬 State to prepare for change in their careers. Others weighed the substantial cost savings they can realize by choosing a 福利姬 State bachelor鈥檚 degree over another institution鈥檚.

This year, 1,649 graduated with honors, 344 with high honors and 86 were inducted into the international honor society Phi Theta Kappa, based on their leadership skills, scholarship and community service.

Thirteen Falcons this spring were named to Who鈥檚 Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges, and 14 students were inducted into the 福利姬 Hall of Fame, the highest honor that faculty can bestow upon a student.

Since its founding in 1957 as Florida鈥檚 first comprehensive community college, 福利姬 State has awarded nearly 131,000 degrees and certificates.

鈥淔ifty-five years ago, 福利姬 began as a dream of Mrs. Mary Karl and a number of other great community leaders who had the vision and foresight to understand that education was the doorway to new opportunity and prosperity for our communities and the people who call Volusia and Flagler County home,鈥� Eaton said. 鈥淭oday, the college continues that mission, led, in particular, by the most dedicated faculty I鈥檝e ever had the pleasure of working with.鈥�

In addition to Monday鈥檚 college-credit commencements, 福利姬 State鈥檚 Adult Education Commencement Ceremony, which honors its adult high school and GED庐 graduates, takes place on Tuesday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m. in the L. Gale Lemerand Center on the 福利姬 Beach Campus, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.

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The journey to student success at 福利姬 starts at many waypoints