Free SPC sessions help students with financial aid applications
St. Petersburg College will host three free events this month to help parents and students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA. The form is required for students who need financial aid for college. The FAFSA Nights will be held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Countryside High in Clearwater; from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 17 at Gibbs High in St. Petersburg; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 28 during College Goal Saturday at SPC's EpiCenter, 13805 58th St. N, Clearwater. The events are open to Pinellas County high school seniors and current college students. Visit spcollege.edu/fafsanights for a checklist of documents to bring. For more information, call Gwen Reed at (727) 341-7924 or Shirell Essix at (727) 302-6802.
USFSP job fair to connect students, Tampa Bay employers
Some of the region's largest employers — Raymond James, Jabil and Tech Data among them — will participate in the annual Job and Internship Fair on Feb. 18 at University of South Florida St. Petersburg. Nearly 70 employers participated in last year's event. "This is a great chance for students, whether they're job-searching or not, to network and explore career or internship opportunities," said Lesa Shouse, who directs the USFSP Career Center. "Meanwhile, employers tell us the fair provides quality, motivated and prepared students who are ready to work." She said one employer has hired more than 25 USFSP students over the past few years. The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the student center. To register, employers may visit usfsp.edu/career/events/employerjobfair or call the Career Center at (727) 873-4129.
SPC graduate receives state recognition for her efforts
Recent St. Petersburg College graduate Salwa Shamsi has been named a Chancellor's Student of the Month for January. The recognition is given by the Florida College System to students who demonstrate leadership, academic success and/or commitment to community service. Shamsi graduated in December with an associate in arts microbiology transfer degree from SPC. She was involved in student clubs such as the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the Undergraduate Science Research Society. She also helped present research on the antibiotic-resistant bacteria MRSA to the SPC's Honors Conference. She overcame English language difficulties and enrolled in SPC's English for Speakers of Other Languages program to help others with similar language challenges.