50th Anniversary Spotlight

50th Anniversary Spotlight
Osceola Campus students were pumped up about the 50th-themed Spirit Day, which included bungee jumping, a zip line and the chance to spin on a human-powered gyroscope.

For milestone birthdays, most people like to extend the celebration and enjoy their big day for a week or amonth. But at Valencia College, we’ve celebrated our 50th anniversary for an entire year!

And what a year it has been.

We’ve reflected on our early days, as the college’s founders struggled to create a college that was open to everyone from any race or religion. We’ve celebrated by lifting our voices in song. We’ve planted trees on every campus to ensure that our campuses remain beautiful and healthy for years to come.

Here are some more highlights from the past year.

2 Rula Khalaf, Valencia’s Distinguished Graduate for 2016-17, gives the commencement address on May 7, 2017—50 years from the college’s inception.

Rula Khalaf, Valencia’s Distinguished Graduate for 2016-17, gives the commencement address on May 7, 2017—50 years from the college’s inception.

Longtime Valencia benefactor Barbara Roper raises a glass to Valencia’s 50th birthday at the Foundation’s annual Taste for Learning fundraiser.

Longtime Valencia benefactor Barbara Roper raises a glass to Valencia’s 50th birthday at the Foundation’s annual Taste for Learning fundraiser.

Winter Park Campus honors the college’s 50th birthday with horticultural flair.

Winter Park Campus honors the college’s 50th birthday with horticultural flair.

The West Campus grounds crew chips in to help plant trees during the “50 Years, 50 Trees” kickoff event on Earth Day 2017.

West Campus Grounds Crew finish planting a native tree after the “50 Years, 50 Trees” ceremony with City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, April 19, 2017.

Students and alumni joined Valencia president Sandy Shugart onstage at the 50th Anniversary Concert in April for the grand finale, a medley of “All You Need is Love” by the Beatles and “Gimme Some Lovin’” by the Spencer Davis Group.

Students and alumni joined Valencia president Sandy Shugart onstage at the 50th Anniversary Concert in April for the grand finale, a medley of “All You Need is Love” by the Beatles and “Gimme Some Lovin’” by the Spencer Davis Group.

Minniejean Brown-Trickey, one of the Little Rock Nine who integrated Little Rock’s public schools, speaks to a crowd at West Campus.

Minnijean Brown-Trickey, one of the Little Rock Nine who integrated Little Rock’s public schools in 1957, speaks to a crowd at West Campus on Feb. 16, 2017.

The Lake Nona Campus team held a joint birthday celebration, honoring the campus’s 5th birthday and the college’s 50th.

The Lake Nona Campus team held a joint birthday celebration, honoring the campus’s 5th birthday and the college’s 50th.