All posts by Frank Jurkovic

So happy I chose SPC!

Intensive English Program, International Students, Success Stories
Elena Rami, International Student, Nursing Major

By Elena Rami

Being an international student at SPC has been by far the best experience I have ever had. Everything started when I decided that I wanted to study in the U.S. at the age of 14. Many will think that this is a very young age to think about college, but I have been taught to think about the future and who I want to be, and as a teenager I wanted to explore and live the so-known “American dream.”

I wanted to get to know the diversity of this country and learn more about the world. When I turned 18, I started to search for a college or university that would offer low tuition, the degrees that I was looking forward to exploring, in the area where I wanted to live, with the commodities of not having to drive for hours and flexible classes and times. SPC was the college that included all my requirements. Located with many campuses near my house, lower tuition in comparison with other universities around the area, great professors, flexible hours, and a variety of classes either face-to-face or online. This was my jackpot!

SPC Seminole Campus Lounge

I took the opportunity, and I applied. The application process was very straightforward, and I had a great support from school because as an international student you do not know how everything works and you have so many questions which were always patiently answered.

Once I got accepted by SPC, I applied for my student visa which I received and after 6 months I finally came to Florida, the sunshine state which I love for everything that has to offer especially for an international student that does not like the cold like me. It has been almost 4 years since I moved to Florida and I cannot forget the first day of college.

SPC Seminole Campus

I went to Seminole campus, which has a very peaceful atmosphere and is a very well-organized campus. Everyone was so nice and friendly. All the advisors that were smiling at me at every campus I have been to, and have helped me in my educational journey in the U.S. They have led me and showed me how to succeed. I cannot forget how many questions I had when I was applying to SPC, but every time I asked repeatedly the same questions, everyone was so patient and gave me all the information I needed.

The professors are very educated, and they are here for you. They try to make things easy and help you to learn how to study and succeed, which I think is the most important thing when it comes to everyone’s education. Even if you feel that you are not very good in English, they will help you become better and raise your self-esteem.

Currently, I am in the nursing program at SPC which is a very challenging program, but is what I always wanted to do, help people and be there for them to educate them how to live a healthier life. I love going and practicing on clinicals in different hospitals, which help me get the experience and work closely with licensed nurses, doctors, radiologists, etc. It is a great experience to gain knowledge and practice it which was especially during hard during the pandemic, but SPC has managed to run everything very smoothly for us without stopping us from gaining experience.

SPC is not just about education, but it is also about fun. There are a lot of student activities that take place in campuses and online. Starting from sports, to theme activities, activities for international students, celebrations, etc. There are a lot of clubs to participate, a lot of people to meet and many scholarship opportunities. All these activities help you make friends from all over the world, learn about traditions, food, social and economic aspects, worldwide problems, etc.

I am very grateful and happy to be an international student at SPC. I hope many more students around the world get to experience that I and other students like me are experiencing now. Investing in your future will always pay off with a successful future.

SPC Alum makes International Difference

Featured, Intensive English Program, International Students, News, Success Stories

To celebrate Community College month, Sane Haidara, an international student who graduated from St. Petersburg College in the summer of 2016, joined SPC for an online webinar with Professor Jeffery Kronschnabl, his past instructor, Dr. Susan Demers, Public Policy and Legal Studies Dean, and Frank Jurkovic, International Programs Director to share his experience at SPC and how much it changed his life.

Click here to watch the recording from Sane’s webinar.

Haidara, who lives in his hometown of Timbuktu in Mali, Africa, discussed how he turned his SPC bachelor’s capstone project in to a reality. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Administration and a master’s degree from the University of South Florida before returning to Mali to launch his project, which was the subject of his Capstone Project at SPC. He shared more about his about his non-profit, Association pour le Développement Communautaire au Sahel (ADCS), which focuses on four major projects in an effort to improve quality of life, and create an environment of trust, solidarity and mutual respect for his community:

  • Education (breakfast program and supplies)
  • Health (supporting community health centers)
  • Solar Powered Water Distribution
  • Elephant Conservation
Haidara, surrounded by children

Haidara was joined by the school principal and teacher, along with 189 of some of the young students who are helped by the non-profit each week. The children practiced the alphabet (in French), sang songs and provided a heartfelt welcome to all the students who were participating in the webinar. Student attendance has increased tremendously since ADCS began offering the breakfast to the children. Sane said for $1,500, ACDS can provide 200 students breakfast for six months.

Haidara, whose degree was made possibly by numerous scholarships from the SPC Foundation office, thanked SPC for providing him the means, skills and training he needed to be successful in what he is doing today. He added that after SPC, he was able to successfully graduate from USF with a master’s degree because of the groundwork SPC provided to him.

Greece celebrates 200 years of Independence

Featured, Global Citizen Program, Go Glocal, Greece, Greece Virtual Study Abroad, International Students, International Students Events, SPC Tour Around the World 2021-2022, Study Abroad
SPC Tarpon Springs Campus illuminated.

This Thursday, Greece will commemorate 200 years of freedom after 400 years of Turkish and Ottoman Empire rule since the Greek Revolution of 1821.

“On March 25, our Greek American community in Tarpon Springs and Greeks all over the world will be celebrating Greek Independence Day and the 200th Anniversary of when Greece regained its freedom and independence and democracy was restored to its birthplace,” said Chris Alahouzos, City of Tarpon Springs Mayor.

The SPC Tarpon Springs Campus will be lighting up the Michael and Evelyn Bilirakis building in blue and white on Thursday night to commemorate the day.

“This is a special day for the Greek community in Tarpon Springs, and we want to show our support,” said Rodrigo Davis, SPC Tarpon Springs Campus Provost.

Last year, SPC created a partnership with the University of Aegean in Rhodes, Greece, which has led to the creation of a Greece virtual abroad program planned for this Fall, which will be led by Professor David Liebert. Students will focus on a cross-cultural study of Greece and the City of Tarpon Springs. This course will involve spending a lot of the time in the City of Tarpon Springs and using platforms like Zoom to connect virtually with institutions and speakers in Greece. Students will also have the opportunity to experience virtual reality walking tours of different sites of Greece through our VR headsets, as well as having a cultural meal and excursion.

To learn more about the Greek Independence Day and its history, visit a link below:

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs Message: In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the start of the Greek Revolution, the Diplomatic and Historical Archive Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents documents from its archival collection describing the course of the recognition of the new Greek state by the existing states during the Struggle and in the first years after, the establishment of diplomatic and consular relations with them and the establishment of a consular network.

SPC Softball Team Scrimmages Mexico’s Olympic Squad

Featured, International Students, News, Success Stories,

The Lady Titan softball team had the opportunity to play the Mexican National team on Saturday March 6th. Mexico is currently training for the Tokyo Olympics ( now scheduled for Summer 2021) and is in town to play the USA National Team. The Mexican team is made up of some of softball’s best stars- Amanda Sanchez (LSU/Mizzou), Dallas Escobedo (Arizona State), Syndey Romero (Oklahoma), Danielle O’Toole (Arizona) and P Taylor McQuillin (Arizona) to name a few. 

“As a Junior College team we were very lucky to be asked to scrimmage such a high-quality team”, said Coach Myers. “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the program and the players and we all had a lot of fun,” Myers remarks. We will of course be rooting for the USA team come August when they compete in the Olympics but the Mexican team will also have our support!

Learn more about SPC Athletics!

International Education Week begins Nov. 16 , 2020

International Students Events, News

The Center for International Programs invites faculty, staff, and students to will be celebrating International Education Week November 16–20. A joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

All the events will be held online, including virtual museum tours, health and social care discussions with Northern Ireland, origami class, international cooking class, to name a few. Check out our webpage for a full list of events.

For more information, please contact the Center for International Programs at 727-341-4735.

Sane Haidara, SPC Alum in Timbuktu chats with SPC student club

Intensive English Program, International Students, International Students Events, News, SPC International Education Week, Success Stories, Travel

Written by: Vy Pham and Elena Rami

Sane at his city sign in Timbuktu

The Multicultural International Club (MIC) based at the SPC Clearwater campus enables international and American students from different backgrounds to make new friends and share their cultures. It is a great way to make connections and learn about different countries and cultures, including traditions, food, education, values, beliefs, etc. The meetings are held virtually on the third Thursday of every month.

Every meeting has a special guest.  The October meeting’s special guest was Sane Haidara, a former international student at SPC, who was also the president of MIC when he was a student (2014). Sane Haidara comes from Timbuktu, Mali, located in West Africa. He studied in the U.S. where he earned a bachelor’s degree in public policy and Administration at St. Petersburg College and continued to complete a master’s degree in Public Administration at University of South Florida.

Sane having fun at a Clearwater Campus event in 2014

Sane participated in many clubs, including, but not limited to: Multicultural Club, Modeled United Nations, Phi Theta Kappa, International City/County Management Association (ICMA) (at both SPC and USF).  In addition to club participation he received many awards and scholarships:

  • Dr. Theodore J. Mazzu Scholar of the Year Award – St. Petersburg College 2016
  • Most Engaged International Student Award – St. Petersburg College 2016
  • 2016 Graduation Student Speaker – St Petersburg College 2016
  • 2016 Self-Reliance Scholarship Inc. Award – 2015-2016.
  • Outstanding Delegation Award at the National Model United Nations – New York City 2016
  • Jamil Jreisat Scholarship Award, USF School of Public Affairs, MPA Program 2018

Sane was constantly recommending all students to get more involved and get as much experience that they can because the opportunities that SPC gives to students are unique and help students to engage more in their community and home country as well.

During his presentation, Sane expressed his passion for helping communities that suffer socially, educationally, and economically. His bachelor capstone project at SPC was to develop a pilot program that would provide breakfast, lunch, and a take home meal to Timbuktu schoolchildren in order to evaluate the impact of proper nutrition for attendance, academic achievement, and retention in the education system. He was proud to introduce us to this project which now became a reality.

Sane and his colleagues outside the nonprofit (ADCS) they started

Sane has brought knowledge from his years studying abroad in the U.S. to improve the lives of people in his homeland. He and his colleagues established a local non-profit organization in Timbuktu, Mali called Association pour le Développement Communautaire au Sahel (ADCS). With four major projects, the organization is committed to improving quality of life, creating an environment of trust, solidarity, and mutual respect for his community:

  • Education (breakfast program and supplies)
  • Health (supporting community health centers)
  • Solar Powered Water Distribution
  • Elephant Conservation

Knowing the importance of children’s learning and nutrition, Sane and his colleagues created a schooling program in Timbuktu that provides three meals a day (unfunded program). This is a program that not only reduces hunger among primary school students but also promotes and provides educational opportunities for all, including girls. In addition to education, health and wellness are also important areas to be improved. ADCS works with the community health center (CSCOM) and provides resources to meet local needs.

One of the solar panels installed

Their organization improves water problems in the Sahel communities by installing solar powered water distribution systems. This allows the Sahel community to have a clean water source for daily activities, farming and to prevent desertification. ADCS also focuses on the protection and conservation of the Gourma elephant, an endangered African elephant species adapted to the desert climate.

Sane hanging out with the some of the children they help

Learning that many children don’t have breakfast before attending class, Timbuktu non-profit organization (ADCS) made a donation of powdered-milk with sugar to provide a nutritious breakfast to 1st grade students in an elementary school. With this breakfast project, 189 children, girls and boys, will be provided with a breakfast for a period of six months.

Sane Haidara is a praiseworthy role model who never hesitated to learn and uses that knowledge to develop and improve the lives of his hometown community.

  • To support Sane’s organization, visit: Donate ADCSahel
  • Check out this video to get to know more about Sane’s organization.

SPC Connects with Northern Ireland

northern ireland
Ireland, Northern Ireland Virtual Study Abroad, Northern Ireland Virtual Study Abroad Program, SPC International Education Week, Travel

Over the last year, St. Petersburg College’s Center for International Programs has had the opportunity to rekindle a relationship with Northern Ireland and work on a variety of projects together with institutions located there. SPC’s Center for International Programs, Student Life, College of Health Sciences and the Social and Behavioral Sciences department teamed up with North West Regional College (NWRC) to bring you Global Perspectives on Health and Social Care: Collaborative Discussions with Northern Ireland and the U.S.. 

Running November 17 through 18, this series of four Zoom discussions will be moderated by Will Baldwin, SPC College of Health Sciences Professor, and Caroline McKeever, NWRC Health and Social Care Curriculum Hub Manager. The virtual meetings will include speakers from Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States, who will discuss changes in health and social care and what those careers look like. This is a great experience for students to connect and learn from health and social care professionals based in different parts of the world, thousands of miles away.

Download the flyer or visit the event page for more information and registration.

Later on in December, SPC and NWRC health sciences students will present their end-of-the-year capstone projects virtually. Students from both colleges will learn how each one of our country’s health care systems differ.

The Center has been working with colleges and universities across the globe to bring international educational opportunities to SPC faculty, staff, students as well as the community. With the various virtual platforms available at SPC, the Center has been able to capitalize on more opportunities for international engagements. We are excited to connect with these institutions across the world to bring enriching opportunities to SPC. 

Keep your eyes open for more international events coming this fall, such as our virtual walking tours, open mic and International Education Week.