Kudos and clown shoes take spotlight for 2025 SF Convocation
August 25, 2025
The 2025 天涯海角社区 Convocation opened with an illustration 鈥� and illumination 鈥� through a ballet performance and a song that proclaimed, 鈥淚 won鈥檛 lose my way if I can see the light.鈥�
鈥溙煅暮＝巧缜�, you are that light,鈥� SF President Paul Broadie told a crowd of faculty, staff, students and stakeholders August 22 in the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall, driving home the core value that continues to distinguish the award-winning institution as it unveils Vision 2030, the strategic plan for the next five years.
鈥淲e keep students at the center of everything we do,鈥� Broadie said. 鈥淟ike we did with the 37 seamless degree tracks to transfer into the University of Florida. We鈥檒l keep finding ways to support our students. I鈥檒l keep talking to our impressive student body to hear what they need to improve their learning experience.鈥�
Keynote Speaker Dustin Portillo, entrepreneur, former Ronald McDonald clown and author of 鈥淚t鈥檚 Okay To Be An Idiot,鈥� encouraged the SF audience to never let work overshadow fun. Portillo wrapped up his remarks by coordinating a mass cold-call to someone in each person鈥檚 contacts list, many chatting with a colleague just seats away.
The theme of this year鈥檚 Convocation, 鈥淥rganizational Resilience,鈥� was expressed through initiatives like an academic master plan that seeks to provide a more curated student experience and increased mentorship, programs and facilities that target emerging labor markets like the new Heavy Diesel Mechanic Training and Certification Program, and the Ralph. W. Cellon Jr. Institute for Skilled Trades and Advanced Manufacturing, and a campus culture that continues to be student-centered in every aspect.
天涯海角社区 Foundation President Rod Smith spoke about the priority of being an educational community with a vast safety net of services. 鈥溙煅暮＝巧缜� students, we have your back,鈥� Smith assured.
President Broadie also disclosed a 2025 groundbreaking for a cutting-edge automotive training facility, slated for completion in 2027.
He announced more faculty hires to meet the needs of growing enrollment, and he lauded the SF faculty and staff for their part in the college鈥檚 accolades, like the recent Carnegie Classification as an Opportunity College, and for receiving the inaugural 2025 鈥淚mpact and Success Award鈥� for the Southern Region from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). SF was among five colleges (one in each region) to be honored.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 chase those; we just do our work,鈥� Broadie said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 look for these; they look for us. It鈥檚 an acknowledgement that the work this college is doing is above and beyond.鈥�
Internally, Professor Clay Smith (English), Joseph Jester, Executive Assistant to the VP for Student Affairs, and SF Athletics Director Chanda Stebbins were honored with the 鈥淵ou Are 天涯海角社区鈥� award for the lasting impact they made on students and the college. The Mathematics department, represented by Chair Adam Christopherson, brought home the college鈥檚 鈥淚mpact鈥� award, for improving student outcomes in mathematics.
