News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Southside Virginia Community College 2025 Commencement
Southside Virginia Community College held its 55th commencement ceremony for its graduates on Saturday, May 10th at the Joan Perry Brock Center, located on the campus of Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia.
Dr. Quentin R. Johnson, SVCC President, shook the hand of each graduate as they walked across the stage; 565 total graduates were in attendance and approximately 2,300 guests.
SVCC welcomed Mr. James Colon, SVCC Foundation Board Member and Owner and Dealer Principal at Marysville Toyota in Marysville, Washington, as this year’s commencement speaker. Colon addressed the graduates giving them “Keys to Success”. “Everyone is looking to buy something of value. Focus on how you can serve rather than be served,” Colon told the graduates. “Add service and value to your portfolio.” Colon encouraged graduates to be lifelong learners and to always be willing to learn something new. Colon continued, “you may run into curves, construction, and barriers so you must be prepared to figure out how to make it happen”. He concluded, “Every decision, every challenge, success, and even failures are a step forward. Embrace this journey knowing it is filled with opportunities for growth, learning and discovery”.
May Levonian, SVCC’s Student Government Association President, addressed her peers “I am proud of every single one of you. This is an amazing achievement. Everything you have achieved is justified and valid from small beginnings to big futures. Levonian concluded,”hold on to that Panther Pride.”
Mr. Robert C. “Bobby” Wrenn was awarded an honorary degree in recognition of his lifelong commitment to education, public service, and community leadership. As a distinguished SVCC alumnus and tireless advocate for student success, his decades of service, including securing transformative scholarship funding and championing community engagement, continue to shape and inspire the mission of Southside Virginia Community College.
To view the SVCC Commencement photo album, please visit https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCe688
