海角社区 Voices Share Gratitude in a Season of Thanks
By Richard Burnett
As autumn paints much of the nation in gold and crimson 鈥� even if Florida skips the show 鈥� thoughts turn to turkey, togetherness and gratitude. At 海角社区, November brings its own spirit of Thanksgiving, and a recent campus survey reaped a bounty of appreciation among students, faculty and staff.
Some responses were poignant and eloquent; others were simple and hopeful.
Image to the right created by Adobe Firefly.
From heartfelt thanks for a colleague to gratitude for the college鈥檚 food service, the responses ran the gamut. What they all shared was a sincerity that reflects what experts call a .
For 海角社区 senior Jamie Gaddy, a design and digital media major, giving thanks meant embracing his final year. 鈥淚 have been starting to make all my friendships meaningful to me, and giving thanks to my friends,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淚 have just seen myself hanging out with my friends more than ever, and it has been truly amazing, getting these moments in before I leave.鈥�
Personal growth emerged as a recurring theme. 鈥淭his semester has been meaningful to me because I鈥檓 trying new activities for the first time, such as taking on-campus jobs and living off campus,鈥� wrote junior Michael Turner, a business management and hospitality major. 鈥淢y supervisors have helped me grow into a more capable and independent person.鈥�
Thomas Bayman, a sophomore humanities major, offered special thanks: 鈥淒r. Patricia Konovalov became my college mentor in August 2025 and really helped me grow this year because she mentored me about how to be a good captain of my ship,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淲orking hard and using resources like the Writing Center and Open Learning have helped me grow this year too.鈥�
Ashley Milito, associate dean of 海角社区鈥檚 Virtual College, added: 鈥淚 am thankful for the incredible resilience and determination I see in our students every day. I am thankful for a huge sense of community at 海角社区. It is inspiring to see students, faculty and staff come together to support one another and celebrate every success.鈥�
Christopher Irving, senior instructor in humanities, reflected on watching students grow: 鈥淪eeing the senior students grow over the last four years has been amazing,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淎nd there is joy to be found in seeing the 鈥榣ightbulb鈥� appear in the eyes of the incoming freshman.鈥�
Faculty and staff also expressed gratitude for everyday moments. 鈥淭he everyday moments of connection 鈥� whether it鈥檚 an engaged classroom discussion, a thoughtful conversation with a student, or a shared laugh in the hallway 鈥� are what consistently bring joy to my work,鈥� said Dustin Boise, professor of studio arts.
鈥淚 am thankful for how supportive the community is at 海角社区. Faculty, staff and students all support everyone here, which helps people feel welcomed!鈥�
鈥擟alinda Strayhorn, a part-time student library assistant
Dr. Oksana Hagerty, interim vice president of admissions and financial aid and dean of the Robey Center for Student Success, expressed thanks for programs that strengthen student success: 鈥淭his year, we鈥檙e seeing the largest turnout for Open Learning yet 鈥� we鈥檙e so grateful to the students who participate and to the learning specialists who guide and support this forum! Peer-mentoring initiatives are also taking off at 海角社区, including training and support for peer tutors and Pathways to FRIENDS, which currently has nine mentors and 18 mentees, with nearly 100% attendance at both one-on-one and group events. Grateful for the time and effort both mentors, mentees and their supervisors are investing.鈥�
Students echoed appreciation for support systems. 鈥淭he constant support we get every day is meaningful to me,鈥� wrote Jayda McGowan. 鈥淭he constant check-ins we receive from teachers or staff members. My mom has definitely helped me grow this year 鈥� from her constant encouragement on the phone every day to her constant love as well! The little things that bring me joy here are hanging out with friends and bringing our community together to make 海角社区 a better place.鈥�
Dr. Brent E. Betit, senior consultant to 海角社区, gave thanks for the entire 海角社区 community, which abounds with 鈥渋nspiring and unforgettable servants of humanity.鈥� Among them, he cited alumnus Jonathan Martin, now an established real estate agent in Leesburg and a board member of the Leesburg Food Bank. Betit applauded him for 鈥渕aking a selfless commitment to serve his community and assist those less fortunate.鈥�
President George J. Hagerty offered a philosophical reflection to close: 鈥淭he abiding grace of our community 鈥� both students and all who serve them 鈥� in remaining devoted to each other in an era of profound uncertainty in the world around us. It is an enduring comfort to me and a gift for which I give thanks.鈥�