PRESS RELEASE: MAY 1, 2026
SJR State celebrates spring graduates
Faith Thomas
Alexis Wallace
The spring commencement at St. Johns River State College marked a series of milestones, celebrating graduates who were the first in their families to attend college, pioneers of new degree programs, and individuals achieving personal growth.
“I learned that I’m capable of far more than I once believed… I personally know that I have grown a lot since my first night in this program (Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education), said Faith Thomas. “By staying focused and working through challenges instead of avoiding them, I was able to adapt, grow, and keep making progress. That experience showed me that resilience is something you can build, one obstacle at a time.”
Thomas is among the 600+ who graduated Friday from SJR State. She is the first to graduate from college in her family and is eager – and now qualified - to finally lead her own classroom.
“I have had a passion for education since I was young and loved school growing up. I have known I wanted to be a teacher since high school,” Thomas said. While completing her bachelor’s degree, Thomas juggled working as a paraprofessional and the weightlifting coach at Crescent City Jr. Sr. High School. She credits her academic success to her instructors and internships; the hands-on preparation she received; and the second family that developed during the program.
“My classmates, our professors and I turned into one big family,” she said. “We all supported each other for the past two years. Our professors served as great mentors and models who inspired us every day… They truly want you to succeed.”
Another first on Friday were the inaugural graduating classes from the College’s latest programs – Paralegal Studies; Criminal Justice, Applied Intelligence Studies; and Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
According to Alexis Wallace, the Associate in Science degree in Sonography felt like the right path that allowed her to be directly involved in patient care and diagnosis.
Helga Gonzalez Delgado
Taylor Dean
“The program really pushed me to grow, both in the classroom and during clinicals. In the beginning, everything felt new and overwhelming, but over time, things started to click,” Wallace said. “Being able to identify something abnormal and understand what I was seeing was a really rewarding moment for me.”
Graduating from the Associate in Science degree in Paralegal Studies program was Helga Gonzalez Delgado. Originally from Columbia, Delgado said the program was a great introduction to the U.S. legal system.
“I’m very grateful that the college supported students like me who speak English as a second language,” Delgado said. “The support staff in the writing center and math tutoring lab are true professionals. They played a big part in my success.”
As a bilingualist, Delgado was able to assist the Spanish-speaking clients during her internship at a local attorney’s office, translating during in-person depositions and phone consultations.
Delgado will continue her education at the University of Dayton School of Law’s Master of Laws (LLM) program.
Also among the graduates were 200+ Dual Enrollment and Early College Program students, including Taylor Dean from Clay High School. While balancing both high school and college coursework, Dean also completed four years of varsity swimming and girls weightlifting, completed over 200 hours of community service while helping with the family business. Her favorite part of the program? “Dual Enrollment allows you to complete general education courses early,” Dean said. “This gives you more time in college to focus on the specific field you want to study while also saving time and money.”
Inspired by family members to pursue a career in healthcare, Dean envisions a future as an anesthetist.
A portion of each ceremony was dedicated to the Paul “Dee” Causey President’s Award. Each year, the award honors the memory of an SJR State alumnus whom SJR State President Joe Pickens described as not only his mentor, but a fearless athlete, dedicated family man and successful businessman. “Dee Causey loved the underdog, and he loved nothing more than helping the underdog succeed,” Pickens said.
Pickens presented the award to Brittany Wells and Diana Kahok
Nominated by sociology professor Julie Blanco-Davila, Kahok, 40, moved to the United States to achieve the American dream. The mother of four “brings a rare combination of resilience, humility, and purpose to everything she does,” Davila said. “She is not only pursuing her dreams—she is uplifting others along the way.” Kahok will continue her education at SJR State to earn the Bachelor’s Degree in Social and Human Services. Her goal is to become a therapist.
Morgan Heffner
Nominated by four different SJR State employees, Brittany Wells has navigated much of her life with limited family support. What stability she thought she had while attending SJR State suddenly became unsafe, leaving her without a home or transportation. Wells refused to give up and for the first time in her life, rode a bicycle to campus as a means of transportation.
“Watching her push through something so unfamiliar and challenging, simply to continue her education, has been incredibly powerful,” said Ombuds Chelsea West. Wells hopes to build a career in the administrative side of healthcare.
During the ceremony, the Valedictorian Award was presented to Clay County student Morgan Heffner. The award is given based on grade point average and difficulty of courses.
Photos from the two ceremonies can be found on the SJR State flickr page.
Spring commencement at St. Johns River State College.