The shutdown of ITT Tech in early September left thousands of employees without a job, and tens of thousands of students with an uncertain future.
But some of those students were able to graduate on Friday thanks to some help from Seminole State College.
- SSC offered campus performing arts hall for ITT graduation
- SSC one of several Florida schools trying to help former ITT students
When ITT Tech shut down, Victoria Schmidt’s hope for her future quickly turned into fear.
“I know I was very scared and I didn’t know what we were going to do,” said Schmidt.
Luckily, Schmidt had just completed coursework for her nursing degree. But the school's shutdown meant there would be no graduation ceremony.
Then Seminole State College stepped up and offered to host a ceremony for the students.
“If it wasn’t for them we’d be all on our own, a little graduation ceremony of our own, probably at somebody’s house,” said Schmidt.
Seminole State offered up its performing arts hall on the Sanford-Lake Mary campus. On Friday, more than two dozen ITT nursing students got to celebrate their accomplishments surrounded by family and friends.
“A lot of hard work went into this,” said Schmidt. “I know we all teared up.”
The celebration was bittersweet. Some of Schmidt’s classmates are still figuring out their futures.
RELATED: Florida Tech reaching out to former ITT Tech students
“And I know I have some friends that are still out there that are really scared," said Schmidt, "because they only have one class to go and they’re having a hard time finding other schools to get into."
For a few moments on Friday, however, the graduates got to celebrate the success of their studies, and the beginning of a career in nursing.
“This is an amazing event for all of us,” said Schmidt.
Seminole State College is one of several Florida schools also offering help to ITT students who still need to finish courses to earn their degrees.