Tarah JeanTallahassee Democrat
Tallahassee Community College graduate Aliyah Salce was one of 1,375 students in TCC’s last graduating class before the official Tallahassee State College naming this summer.
But the moment was extra special for Salce, a 20-year-old Dominican Republic native.
She was the last person to cross the stage.
“I didn't even realize I was the very last person until I sat down after walking and my friend texted me saying, ‘You made history. You were the last TCC graduate ever,’ ” said Salce, who earned her associate’s degree on May 2 during the college’s commencement at the Tucker Civic Center.
“Graduating college as a first-generation student meant a lot to me on its own, but to be in the last graduating class of such an iconic school — and then on top of that, to be the last graduate ever — is really cool,” she added. “TCC was always gonna be a huge part of me, but now it's an even bigger part.”
The TCC graduation ceremony came just a few weeks after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state legislation that will allow TCC to be renamed TSC in the college’s efforts of having the new name match its increased national recognition. While the state legislation was signed into law in April, the name change will become effective July 1.
Related news: Now it’s official: TCC to become Tallahassee State College after DeSantis OKs name change
'One of the best decisions I ever made in my life'
Salce was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to Miami, Florida, when she was 16 years old. She then moved to Tallahassee to attend TCC with plans of transferring to Florida State University.
“It was a big change for me to move here,” Salce said. “I had already moved from a different country, and a year and a half later, I moved seven hours away from my family. It was really scary, but the change was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.”
Salce will be attending FSU in the fall to major in political science with a minor in international affairs and hopes to become a lawyer.
During her time at TCC, she joined the Forensics Team — one of the strongest community college speech and debate teams in the country that allows students to compete and attend tournaments across the nation.
The team recently participated in the Phi Rho Pi Southeast Region Tournament in Reno, Nevada, in April and secured the Overall Team Sweeps and Debate Sweeps titles while also coming in second place in the Individual Events Sweeps category.
Salce says being a part of the team — where she was a varsity member — was one of her best experiences while at TCC, and that graduating from the two-year college was a “bittersweet” moment.
“I'm going to miss TCC,” Salce said. “I really fell in love with my time there, the people I met and my professors.”
Salce was the last person to cross the stage at commencement since graduating members of the Forensics Team were the last group of students to receive their degrees, according to a TCC spokesperson.
Ahead of Salce were her graduating teammates Trevor Bell, Janelle Dixon and Grace Duvet.
TCC transforming into 'something greater'
Duvet — who will also be attending FSU in the fall to major in political science with a minor in communications — says she was glad to experience TCC before it officially becomes TSC.
“I kind of feel like I got a taste of TCC before it transforms into something greater,” said 20-year-old Duvet, who was named a student honoree in TCC’s 24th annual Cherry Hall Alexander African American History Calendar.
“In the same way that people usually have a before and after photo, I feel like I got to experience part of the before stages of this college,” Duvet added.
TCC Forensics Team Head Coach John Schultz says the graduating team members are the “absolute epitome of excellence.”
“For us to have the opportunity to celebrate their final moments as Eagles with President Murdaugh was beyond amazing,” Schultz said. “I know each of them treasured it as a storybook ending to their wonderful journey at our college. I couldn’t be more proud of their endless dedication and hard work.”
Contact Tarah Jean attjean@tallahassee.comor follow her on X:@tarahjean_.
