Daytona State College Sees Over 4,000 Students Graduate

More than 4,000 students walked the stage at Daytona State College’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday. The Ocean Center was host to the Class of 2026 as they embarked into the next phases of their lives and careers. Speakers at Tuesday’s graduation ceremony included President Dr. Thomas LoBasso, District Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Randall Howard, and Vice Chair Robert Lloyd. By the Numbers The exact number of graduates was listed at 4,026 in an announcement from Daytona State College. The school described the Class of 2026 as one of the largest in the history of the school. The greatest number of graduates earned their Associate of Arts degrees, with a total of 1,845. Next most was Associate of Science at 735. 329 graduates earned their Bachelor of Science degrees, 220 earned a Bachelor of Applied Science. 172 of those who walked the stage graduated from the School of Adult Education. 325 were dual-enrolled students who worked for college credits while attending high school. 895 participants in Tuesday’s ceremony were certificate recipients. 1,085 students graduated with honors, DSC said in their announcement. 901 earned high honors, and 47 completed the Quanta-Honors College program. 126 bachelor’s degree graduates earned the cum laude distinction by achieving a GPA of 3.5 to 3.74. 24 were magna cum laude with GPAs ranging from 3.75 to 3.89, and another 24 earned summa cum laude with GPAs at 3.9 or higher. Generational Achievement Among Tuesday’s graduates was Carlina Roberts, who became the third generation of her family to graduate from DSC. The first was her grandmother Paula Morton, who graduated in 2001 at the age of 54. Roberts’ father, Volusia County Tax Collector Will Roberts, is the second. Carlina made it three generations by earning her Associate of Arts degree. DSC President Dr. Tom LoBasso was among those who delivered remarks on Tuesday. “The great baseball player Jackie Robinson – who made history right here in Daytona Beach – once said, ‘Life is not a spectator sport.’ Each of you has proven that,” he said to the graduates. “You made the decision to continue your education. You faced challenges. You pushed through obstacles. And today, you are stronger for it. Wherever your journey takes you, know this: we are here for you.” Seven of the Class of 2026 graduates are members of the Daytona State College Hall of Fame. 258 were inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, recognizing their academic achievements in associate degree, certificate, and adult education programs. Another 43 students were inducted into Alpha Nu Delta for their Associate Degree Nursing program achievements, plus 18 into Sigma Beta Delta for their excellence in Business Management and Administration. Four more students were inducted into Lambda Epsilon Chi for their accomplishments in DSC’s paralegal program.