October 15, 2020 – “I was a mass communication major so I didn’t really have an education background, other than my parents were both teachers and I wanted to coach basketball. Fresh out of college, I did the 4-12 shift at TV20 doing the nightly news. My days were free, and I started substitute teaching. … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Leroy Williams
October 5, 2020 – “I studied food engineering and worked in the food industry. I got married, then I was a stay at home mom. In the meantime, I volunteered in a pre-K classroom. I started tutoring. Then I said well, maybe I could be a teacher? That’s when I started looking into the EPI … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Carolina Currea
Sept. 14, 2020 –– I’m a product of the foster system here in Gainesville. My parents were not well enough to take care of me. So, I was raised in this wonderful family. I credit a lot of my character, my fire and passion for wanting to serve people – I get that from my … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Kane Ahern
August 10, 2020 – “I went to New York, I did six weeks as a registered nurse stationed on a tele-cardiac COVID floor where all of our patients were COVID-positive. I felt like I needed to make a bigger impact and help where it was needed because that’s what we do as health care providers. … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Leeanne Odum
“An online, or virtual hybrid course, should not be a correspondence course. Those were from years ago where you sign up, get a packet of material, do the work, and if you had a question you could contact that instructor. But mainly you were left to your own devices and you didn’t have an interaction. … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Mari Jayne Frederick
July 27, 2020 – Sisters Isabel and Carlota Bonnet both came to the United States after high school, keeping alive the family tradition of going to college in Florida. They both found and fell in love with Santa Fe College. “I feel there’s a stigma against community colleges that I didn’t know existed because I’m … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Isabel and Carlota Bonnet
“My dream has always been to become an electrician. Every friend I have had said Santa Fe College is the way to go,” said incoming SF student Tylar Barbato. In SF’s apprenticeship programs, students work with contractors in the industry so they can “earn while they learn.” In addition to receiving a paycheck, the employer … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Tylar Barbato
June 24, 2020 – “Being an artist is one of the hardest careers on the planet, but the most rewarding,” said SF student Mariah Preeden. “I can’t think of another career that lets one express themself, and/or their feelings like being an artist can.” “Of course all mediums of art can do this, but there’s … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Mariah Preeden
March 10, 2020 – “In high school, I was shy and nervous, and I was kind of nervous when I started at Project SAINT (at Santa Fe College). But I got comfortable and made friends. I take classes with them. I even got to work as an usher at the Fine Arts Hall,” says Sienna … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Sienna Smillov
“No one in my family has graduated college, or even attended college, but me. It was just like, why can’t I do it? I like how tight knit Santa Fe College is. It just reminds me of home. I’m from a small town where everybody knows everybody and at Santa Fe College, I feel like … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Troysha Floyd
Hello, my name is Chantel. I am a recent alumna from Santa Fe College. I came here from Miami four and a half years ago. I had just left the fashion industry and I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do next in my life. It had been a long time since I had … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Chantel Hover
I started putting stuff like this together for homeless students; toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, washcloths, toilet paper, deodorant, cologne, bath stuff, combs, wipes, powders, food. It’s love in a box. The only thing I don’t have is the shower. Sometimes African Americans have a hard time opening up to people. They’re private. I’ve helped quite a … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Lois Jones
July 29, 2019 – “I’m from Mobile, Alabama, and came here specifically for the Zoo Animal Technology program. I graduated in 2014 from a small college with an art degree and after a while in the field figured out it wasn’t exactly my path. I wanted to be outside and doing something to make the … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Sasha Shirazi
I love computer and video games. I just love a lot of technology. At first, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I already have a little experience with graphic design so I signed up for the Digital Media Technology Program so I could learn something new. Santa Fe College helped me decide what … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Branndan Wilson
I was born and raised in Ocala and before going into the service. I didn’t take academics seriously at all. I was a knucklehead, didn’t get the best of grades and was getting into trouble. Then, obviously, the military changed everything. Now I’m here at Santa Fe College. When I came here I started working … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Colby Ross
I heard some friends in Venezuela talking about SF and I was really interested. As a U.S. citizen, diversity is very important to me. It’s what I love and what I’m passionate to talk about. We’re all humans. I know that sounds cliché but some people need to know that in this country. We’re a … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Jaime Truzman
As a child, my mom graduated from nursing school here at Santa Fe while I went to the Little School. The Little School was actually the last place where I received a diploma and walked. [See pic in comments.] At the end of my 8th grade year, we found out my mom had breast cancer. … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Jared Folds
I moved here my junior year of high school because my father passed away and my mom was absent around the same time. I just didn’t have anywhere to go. So I moved here with my boyfriend because he had somewhere to stay here. I like to work with the Earth. I feel connected to … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Kat Serino
One of my favorite parts of working in Student Life is helping with graduation. Every department on campus contributes in some way, and we spend the entire week transforming the gym into a warm and intimate ceremony space. We have a lot of fun behind the scenes, but we take our responsibilities seriously because we … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Sarah Blanc
Coming here rejuvenated me. I’ve grown a lot as a player, and outside of the court, too. Santa Fe College has helped, especially the coaching staff and how they’ve pushed me. Going into my sophomore year I had a much bigger role on the team and it helped me grow as a leader. I feel … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Admir Besovic
Eleanor: The phenomenon of the Spring Arts Festival for me was that a whole new world opened up. We’ve created a mutually beneficial environment for creators of art and lovers of art. There a lot of people who would never go to a gallery that will come to the festival. What it’s done over the … Continue reading Saints of Santa Fe College – Eleanor Blair and Steve Howell