By Kyle Coppola
Lake-Sumter State College Celebrates Largest Graduating Class In History
LEESBURG, Fla. — Lake-Sumter State College marked a historic milestone during its 71st Commencement Ceremonies on May 8 and 9, awarding degrees and certificates to more than 700 graduates — a nearly 30% increase from the previous spring.
The ceremonies, held in Leesburg and Clermont, celebrated the academic achievements of the college’s diverse graduating class.
“LSSC’s commencement ceremonies are a celebration of success and perseverance,” said Dr. Laura Byrd, interim president of Lake-Sumter State College. “Graduation is a momentous occasion for our students and their families. It represents the achievement of their goal to grow personally and professionally. We are proud to play a role in our students’ journeys and are excited for the positive impact they will continue to have in our community.”
By the Numbers:
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Over 700 degrees and certificates conferred, a 30% increase from Spring 2024
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More than 475 students participated in one of four ceremonies
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Average GPA: 3.3
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53 students graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA
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67% of graduates worked at least one job while enrolled
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52% are first-generation college students
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27% began as dual enrollment students
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Graduate ages ranged from 16 to 71
Keynote Speakers Inspire
Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell addressed graduates at the Clermont ceremonies, sharing a message focused on leadership and resilience.
(ake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell addressed graduates at the Clermont ceremonies, sharing a message focused on leadership and resilience.)
“Graduates, if you only remember one thing from my address today, I hope you remember this: It is okay to fail. In my opinion, it’s not just okay, it is essential,” Grinnell said. “What will define you is not the failure itself; it is how you recover.”
Curtis Wynn, CEO of SECO Energy, encouraged graduates at the Leesburg ceremonies to embrace opportunity and perseverance.
“Graduates, I know many of you are wondering what comes next. Want a little bit of advice? Be bold. Be persistent. Take that first step,” Wynn said. “Your background does not define your future. Your perseverance does.”
Student Speakers Share Their Journeys
Each ceremony also featured a student speaker, selected through a competitive process to represent the student body.
(71-year-old Diane Maca and her 18-year-old granddaughter Payton Kuhn graduated together.)
Donna Davis spoke at the Leesburg ceremony, reflecting on her academic and artistic growth. She majored in environmental studies and was active in the Student Art Society.
“Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself — you’ll discover strengths you didn’t know you had,” Davis said.
At the Clermont ceremony, dual enrollment student Madison Ransom shared her story. Ransom is graduating from high school and earning her associate degree simultaneously. She plans to attend the University of Central Florida and pursue a career in the arts.
“Having a supportive community will inspire you to achieve more than you imagined,” Ransom said.
Lake-Sumter State College continues to celebrate the success of its students as they move forward to pursue their goals and make an impact in their communities.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
