ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg College marks its 96th anniversary Sept. 12 with SPC Day at the Clearwater campus.

SPC Day commemorates the first day of classes at St. Petersburg College in 1927. 

Events run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Alumna and retired astronaut, Nicole Stott will speak at 10:00 a.m.

A Titan fundraising initiative will go toward scholarships, advancing technology and meeting students’ needs.

College leaders are proud to offer students the opportunity and a a chance to make dreams come true. 

Dean of Social Sciences and Human Services, Dr. Joseph Smiley has been at SPC for 43 years.

"You have that impact on them in such a way that lives are transformed,” said Smiley.

Dean of the College of Policy, Ethics and Legal Studies and The College of Public Safety Administration, Dr. Susan Demers has been at SPC for 42 years.

They know their job extends beyond campus.

"These are a series of personal relationships between students who share seats next to each other in the classroom and the instructor and each one of their students, that’s what I love about the place that you see all these new relationships blooming every year,” said Demers.

While bonding with students has remained the same over more than forty decades, there has been a lot of change.

“Technology really has been the significant change that has occurred over the years but prior to saying that, I think the powerful point about the junior college is what does not change and what does not change is the idea of access,” said Smiley.

While Smiley and Demers look back at SPC’s past, they are excited about the future of their students.

"Live a happy good life that contributes to the rest of the world but at the same time you feel fulfilled,” said Demers.

"I can say without reservation that students will leave this place and say that that dream has been achieved,” said Smiley.

Fun facts from SPC: 

• SPC first offered classes on Sept. 12, 1927, and was Florida’s first two-year college
• It was originally called St. Petersburg Junior College
• SPC’s mascot is Titus the Titan
• SPC has awarded more than 197,000 degrees since its founding
• The St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus is SPC’s oldest campus
• Gibbs Junior College is the all Black college that merged with SPC in 1965
• SPC offers more than 200+ degree, certificate and transfer programs
• St. Petersburg Junior College’s first graduation class was 48 students and half of the students received teaching certificates
• SPC was the first state college in Florida to offer bachelor’s degrees
• Bob Carroll, the creator and writer of “I Love Lucy” graduated from St. Petersburg College
• Nicole Stott, retired NASA astronaut, is an alumna from St. Petersburg College
• There are now more than 36,000 students at SPC
• There are now 11 SPC learning sites located throughout Pinellas County

The Clearwater Campus address is 2465 Drew Street, Clearwater.