Nearly 300 students will walk across the stage this week to receive their diploma for an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from Lake-Sumter State College.
With a return to in-person ceremonies, Lake-Sumter State College will host two ceremonies for the 64th Commencement exercises. Each event is limited to 50 percent capacity with additional health and safety restrictions in place.
Both ceremonies will be livestreamed from www.lssc.edu/livestream.
South Lake Ceremony
Tuesday, December 7 at 4:00pm
Clermont Arts & Recreation Center, 3700 U.S. Highway 27, Clermont, FL 34711
North Lake & Sumter Ceremony
Friday, December 10 at 10:00am
Everett A. Kelly Convocation Center, 9501 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg, FL 34788
“This has been a year of complex challenges, immense flexibility, and deep sacrifice for all of us,” says Dr. Stan Sidor, president of Lake-Sumter State College. “We are looking forward to celebrating with our students and their families at Commencement this fall; nothing compares to the experience of walking across the stage to receive your diploma with friends and family watching proudly.”
Each ceremony will feature two student commencement speakers:
- Katherine Figueroa (Clermont ceremony), of Groveland, is a graduate of Miami Jackson Senior High School, and is graduating from Lake-Sumter State College with an Associate in Arts degree. Katherine’s career goal is to become a registered dental hygienist and run a practice with her husband, who is a soon-to-be dentist.
- James Simons (Leesburg ceremony), from Tampa, is a graduate of Sickles High School and is graduating with an Associate in Arts degree. James’s educational goals are to earn a master’s degree in English and a doctorate in Psychology. James is a U.S. military veteran, one of the founders, and the first president of the Student Veterans of American at LSSC.
- Khalifa St. Fort (Clermont ceremony), from Miami Gardens, is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School and is graduating from Lake-Sumter State College with an Associate in Arts degree. After graduation she plans to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and her career goal is to become a nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Khalifa is a professional track and field athlete who has competed at numerous international championships since 2015 including the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
- Daphne Wooten (Leesburg ceremony), of Leesburg, is graduating from Lake-Sumter State College with an Associate of Arts degree. She plans to continue her education at the University of Central Florida to earn a bachelor’s degree in film production. She’s been performing since she was 12, but it wasn’t until high school that she realized her career goal of producing her own films. She looks forward to creating projects that will inspire and uplift people.
This week, LSSC will also induct the 4th class of Order of the Lakehawk award recipients. The Order of the Lakehawk is the most prestigious and significant honor that a student may receive at Lake-Sumter State College. The honor recognizes outstanding academic achievement, dedicated college involvement, and significant community service. Only five students per Commencement may be inducted into the Order of the Lakehawk.
Three students were selected this semester:
- Jann Rodriquez graduated with his Associate of Arts degree in Summer 2021 and is now enrolled in the Criminology & Law bachelors program at the University of Florida.
- Surojni “Sally” Sewsanka, who is graduating with her Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management. Sally’s career goal is to become a college professor.
- Amy Urban is graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and works as a hospice nurse in our local community. She plans to continue to caring for ill patients in our community, particularly veterans, the elderly, and those who are terminally ill.
These newest LSSC alumni join over 115,000 students who graduated and entered Florida’s workforce from the Florida College System this year.