Outstanding Graduate Award - Winter 2020

Outstanding Graduate Award Winner

Cayla Breanna Pearson

Cayla Breanna Pearson graduates with her Associate in Arts in liberal arts and sciences with a 4.0 GPA and plans to earn her bachelor’s degree from New College of Florida before pursuing a career in law. Her ultimate goal as a lawyer is to represent and help others who need an empathetic and passionate person in their corner. She made the Dean’s List her first semester and President’s List each subsequent semester. Pearson maintained her perfect GPA while working two jobs and volunteering her time to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, the Sarasota County Jail, Bridge to Life and the Leaders Rights Organization, where she is currently the volunteer coordinator. She is also a dedicated member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Sigma Kappa Delta English Honors Society and The Paralegal Society. She says SCF has made a difference in her life and instilled confidence in herself and her academic abilities. “With the guidance and advice from people I’ve met at SCF, I have learned that I am capable of much more than I once believed I was.”

Outstanding Graduate Award Finalists

Mackenson Reveus

Mackenson Reveus graduates with his Associate in Arts in liberal arts and sciences with a 3.85 GPA. Reveus completed his studies at SCF while simultaneously working a full-time job on the overnight shift. He achieved Dean’s List or President’s List every semester and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Upon graduation, he plans to gain work experience in the accounting field before transferring to Florida Gulf Coast University in Spring 2021 for his bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in finance. He eventually wants to become a certified public accountant. In addition to his short-term career goals, he hopes to not only run his own accounting firm but also create a nonprofit organization in the North Port area to assist low-income and senior citizens with planning and filing their taxes and overall financial literacy. He says that SCF’s Career Resource Center has helped him develop his networking value through the “Handshake” tool, which has connected him with business professionals and led to internships in his field. He volunteers with Haiti Excellence Youth (HEY) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), educates Haitian immigrants about applying for student financial aid, is an usher and drives a van for his church and acts as a Creole/English interpreter for immigrant parents. Reveus is also a dedicated husband and father with two children. His advice to students is to define academic goals, remain determined to achieve their career aspirations and master time management skills. “College life is subject to blend with many other activities, so good time management skills are crucial for a successful collegiate life.”

Kim Taylor-Galway

Kim Taylor-Galway, an international student with an established career as a news, weather and entertainment producer and correspondent in Canada, graduates with her Associate in Science in digital cinema with an impressive 4.0 GPA and plans to pursue a future as a documentarian and filmmaker. Taylor-Galway maintained remarkable grades while freelancing, volunteering and holding numerous leadership roles. She was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (serving as the communications officer for the Bradenton chapter from 2018-2019), relief personnel for the Art, Design, Humanities department secretary and president of the SCF Film Club in 2018 and 2019. She worked as a photographer and videographer for the Sarasota Film Society’s Academy Awards party in 2020 and her work has won several festival awards. She also worked with college leadership to help develop a concept for enhanced strategic support of international students enrolled at SCF. Taylor-Galway says SCF gave her the chance to shine academically. She won third prize at Pitch Strong, a film industry event sponsored by SCF and the Sarasota Film Festival, and has been producing her capstone project documentary film, “Victory Journey,” honoring WWII Allied Veterans, with fellow film students. Production will be continued in Europe in Spring 2021. Taylor-Galway believes documentaries are an infinitely powerful, fascinating form of storytelling. “Whether or not my work is ever award-worthy is of less interest to me than the power it may hold to captivate an audience, inspire self-reflection or spark a newfound interest in a subject matter that once seemed of little consequence.”