Lake-Sumter State College will host two commencement ceremonies this week to celebrate the achievements of over 325 graduating students.
The 70th Commencement Ceremonies will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the Everett A. Kelly Convocation Center in Leesburg and on Friday, Dec. 13 at the Arts & Recreation Center in Clermont. Both ceremonies start at 5:00 pm.
“LSSC’s commencement ceremonies are a celebration of success and perseverance,” says Dr. Laura Byrd, Interim President of Lake-Sumter State College. “Graduation is a momentous occasion for our students and their families. It represents the achievement of their goal to grow personally and professionally. We are proud to play a role in our student’s journeys and are excited for the positive impact they will continue to have in our community.”
Both ceremonies will be livestreamed on the web at www.lssc.edu/livestream and the College’s YouTube channel.
Student Speakers
Miranda Starling has been chosen to be the Leesburg Ceremony student speaker, and will graduate this week with a Associate in Arts degree. A Leesburg native and graduate of Tavares High School, Miranda plans to continue her education at the University of Central Florida.
Jeffneed Nerestant is the Clermont Ceremony student speaker and will graduate this week with the Bachelor of Applied Science in Leadership. A Minneola resident and graduate of Lake Minneola High School, Jeffneed is known on campus for her enthusiasm in supporting her fellow students; she works on campus in the Learning Center helping students with their coursework and connecting them to additional resources.
Commencement Speaker
The Honorable Jason J. Nimeth will serve as the Commencement Speaker for both ceremonies. Judge Nimeth began his academic career here at Lake-Sumter State College (then Community College) as a dual enrollment student, earning his associate degree before continuing to the University of Florida for his bachelor’s degree. His passion for education initially led him to teach 8th grade in Lake County, an experience that shaped his understanding of mentorship and service.
Judge Nimeth then chose to pursue his legal education at Barry University’s Dwayne Andreas School of Law. He began as an assistant state attorney in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, where he worked to uphold justice and serve the public. His dedication and integrity earned him appointments from Governor Ron DeSantis to the Lake County Court in 2019 and later to the 5th Judicial Circuit in 2022.
Judge Nimeth will offer inspiration and advice to graduates, shaped by his own experience growing up in Lake County and his roles as an educator, attorney, and judge.
Graduates by the Numbers
- 341 graduates for Fall 2024, bringing the Class of 2024 total to 1,028 – an LSSC record
- 3.3 GPA is the average for this graduating class
- 67% of graduating students worked at least one job while enrolled
- 52% of graduating students are first-generation (neither parent obtained a bachelor’s degree)
- 28% of graduating students identify as Hispanic
- 27% of graduating students started their academic journey as a dual enrollment student