SPC’s Clearwater Campus Marks 60 Years of Learning with the 60 for 60 Student Scholarship Program

To celebrate the Clearwater Campus's 60th anniversary, SPC is launching the 60 for 60 Student Scholarship Program — a meaningful initiative dedicated to supporting 60 exceptional students with specially designated scholarships.

Rooted in the spirit of the Clearwater Campus, this initiative honors the values that have defined it — academic excellence, leadership, innovation and service to the community.

“For 60 years, the Clearwater Campus has opened doors to opportunity and empowered students to reach their full potential,” said SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams. “This celebration is not just about looking back, it’s about building on that legacy to ensure that even more students have the resources, encouragement, and pathways they need to succeed.”

Established in 1965, the Clearwater Campus is SPC’s second-oldest location, created to serve the expanding higher education needs of northern Pinellas County communities.

Now home to 14,000 students a year, the 40-acre Clearwater Campus at 2465 Drew Street offers associate and bachelor's degree programs, workforce certifications and transfer pathways.

“The Clearwater Campus has been a cornerstone of opportunity for six decades and its history is rich with stories of perseverance, achievement, and community impact,” said Dr. Tashika Griffith, Provost of the Clearwater Campus. “The ‘60 for 60’ campaign carries that tradition forward by giving more students the chance to transform their lives through education. It is a celebration of the past and an investment in the future — supporting students who will lead the next generation.”

For long-time faculty member Jonathan Barnes, each semester brings a new opportunity to make a lasting difference.

“I get to meet new students every 16 weeks and teach them what I really love: craftsmanship and artistry,” said Barnes, who has taught printmaking and ceramics on the campus for 19 years. “While students face many issues like transportation, housing and access to food, we have so many resources to help them. We’re such a tight-knit group on this campus, it feels more like extended family.”

That thought is echoed by student Lexi O'Leary, who is pursuing her bachelor's degree in management and organizational leadership and calls the Clearwater Campus home.

“This campus is very close-knit, and everyone makes you feel so welcome,” said O'Leary, who works as a student assistant in the campus’s Career Services office. “Anytime I’ve needed anything, I always find someone on campus to help me.”

The official celebration of the campus’s anniversary will be held Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with activities and a formal cake-cutting ceremony.

Prior to that, as part of the campus’s upcoming Constitution Day event on Sept. 17, a student, staff, or faculty member will be selected to place an item that they feel best represents the Clearwater Campus into our time capsule, Griffith said. This item, chosen by the individual, will be preserved and reopened during the campus' 75th anniversary.

“Currently, the time capsule contains some fascinating items, including photo albums of various buildings, faculty members, and copies of the campus' original groundbreaking blueprints and photos,” Griffith added. “These items provide a wonderful glimpse into our campus' history, and we are eager to add more meaningful artifacts that capture the essence of our community.”

To make a donation to the 60 for 60 Student Scholarship Program, please visit the Give Campus page or the SPC Foundation’s website.