(TAMPA, Fla., 4/24/23) – The 54th Annual Commencement Exercises of Hillsborough Community College (HCC) will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023, in the Expo Hall of the Florida State Fairgrounds. This year’s commencement speaker is Dr. Patrick Hwu, chief executive officer and president of Moffitt Cancer Center. The student speaker is Bernadette Estrada-Brown, a student veteran who has earned an associate in arts degree with honors. The graduation processional will begin at 10 a.m.
Nearly 5,000 students are eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony, which includes those who have completed coursework over the 2022-2023 academic year. Graduates include those receiving the associate in arts, associate in science and college credit certificates. The youngest graduate is 15-year-old Baylee Rae Aguilar, who has earned an associate in arts degree. The oldest graduates are 74-year-old Beverly S. Collins, who has earned a college credit certificate, and 71-year-old Richardene A. Caso, who has earned an associate in arts degree.
Among this year’s graduates are 221 Collegiate Academy students, 37 specifically from Spoto High School’s first graduating class, who have completed 60 college credits at HCC in addition to their required high school class schedules. This is the seventh graduating class of Collegiate Academy students.
Hillsborough Community College serves more than 42,000 students annually at its five campuses located throughout Tampa Bay. For more information, visit hccfl.edu.
HCC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Hillsborough Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 3033-4097, by calling 404.679.4500 or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). Visit
hccfl.edu/accreditation for more information.