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.
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.
Winter Park Campus honors the college’s 50th birthday with horticultural flair.
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.
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 Student Development team at Osceola Campus in front of inflatable obstacle course on Spirit Day, Fall 2017.
Osceola student dons the Wonder Woman tiara and takes the gyroscope for a spin at Osceola Campus Fall 2017 Spirit Day.
Osceola, Lake Nona and Poinciana president Kathleen Plinske and District Board of Trustees member Maria Grulich pose behind the famous Valencia 50th anniversary cake at the 2017 commencement.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer shows off his Valencia 50th Annivesary threads at the 50 Years, 50 Trees planting ceremony on West Campus, April 19, 2017. Also pictured: Grounds Director David Gennaro and Director of Education for Sustainability Resham Shirsat.
Incoming Faculty Senate President Al Groccia welcomes a new Valencia grad to the stage at 2017 Commencement.
Commemorative 50th Anniversary message on one of 50 trees planted across Valencia’s six campuses and two training centers for the year of 2017.
Valencia College Foundation’s Taste for Learning event donated all proceeds to scholarships for first-generation Valencia students.
