Chancellor Pumariega encourages PBSC graduates to “stay curious”
Palm Beach State College celebrated its more than 2,600 fall graduates during two commencement ceremonies today.
Madeline Pumariega, chancellor of the Florida College System, was the keynote speaker. She told graduates that she started her higher education at then Miami Dade Community College, where she played basketball.
“Today, I’m at Palm Beach State College as the chancellor of the same system that gave me an opportunity,’’ she said, later noting that 53 percent of Florida’s university juniors and seniors came from the 28 community and state colleges in the Florida College System.
“I am one of you,’’ she said at the afternoon ceremony for the Associate in Arts transfer graduates. “Think about one day you can be standing before the class of 2025 giving them a commencement address. You started off already on the right foot by choosing Palm Beach State for your Associate in Arts degree.”
She challenged the students to stay curious. “That’s how you quench your thirst for knowledge.”
The two ceremonies were held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. The first ceremony was for graduates of the Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree programs along with the certificate programs.
This was the first ceremony for PBSC President Ava L. Parker, who took the helm in July.
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