The start of fall is always a great time to be at Tallahassee Community College. The campus is busy with students again! Some of you are returning and, hopefully, ready to get back in the swing of things. Some of you are taking your first steps onto a college campus and starting a new chapter in your life. Either way, we are excited you chose TCC as part of your journey and can’t wait to see how far you’ll go.

As many of you already know, TCC is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. You will notice banners around campus as well as a special archive exhibit in the Fine and Performing Arts Center. These, along with all the events we have planned for the remainder of the year, help serve as a reminder of the rich history of our institution and keep us focused on our future. This College has graduated more than 70,000 students in the past 50 years and touched hundreds of thousands of lives. Many of these individuals have either stayed and enriched our community or come back to work right here at the College. No doubt you will meet some of them during your time here – you probably already know a TCC alum or two – which is why I always say that we are more than a community college; we are a community institution.

Join us in celebrating our 50th Anniversary this fall. Visit 50.tcc.fl.edu for a full events calendar, alumni features and more.

If I could offer one piece of advice this semester, it would be this – take charge of your college experience. This means being proactive about your education. It means engaging in all TCC has to offer. It means attending class, signing up for intramurals, participating in a student organization, going on a study abroad trip, trying out for theatre or whatever else you’d like. College is a time to learn more about yourself and the world around you. So seize every opportunity to explore what interests you. And don’t forget to drop me a line via email or my Facebook page and let me know how it’s going for you. I always love hearing from students.

With that, I wish each of you a heartfelt welcome to TCC and to a new academic year.

Best of luck!