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Financial Aid

Nikia Smith

For Scholarship and Student Financial Assistance Officer Nikia Smith, St. Petersburg College has always felt like home.

In May 2026, Nikia celebrates 21 years of working at SPC, but his connection to the College started long before he became an employee. Growing up, he often came to work with his mom at the Clearwater Campus, where she worked as an academic advisor.

“I grew up in SPC already,” Nikia said. “I’d been coming to work with my mom since I was maybe four or five years old.”

After graduating high school in 2002, Nikia immediately started classes at SPC just a few days later. He later earned his associate in arts degree in 2005, and before he even walked across the graduation stage, he received a call inviting him to interview for a position at the College.

Since then, Nikia has worked in several roles across SPC, eventually finding his passion in student support and Financial Assistance Services. Now as a financial assistance officer, he helps students overcome financial obstacles so they can continue their education.

“I had those same questions,” Nikia said. “So, it was easier for me to work with students because I understood where they were coming from.”

Throughout his journey, Nikia balanced work, school and family life while continuing to grow professionally. He later returned to SPC to complete his bachelor’s degree in management and leadership in 2020 and earned certifications in project management.

For Nikia, the most rewarding part of working at SPC is helping students succeed.

“If you can change an individual, individuals change households, households change communities, and communities change the world,” he said.

After more than two decades at the College, Nikia continues to make an impact on students every day through encouragement, guidance and his passion for helping others.