Hillsborough Community College has been a staple in Plant City for decades. Next month the college celebrates 50 years of changing lives throughout the county and all of the campuses are hosting special events to honor the anniversary.
Plant City’s campus is throwing its party on Nov. 15 starting at 5 p.m. in the Trinkle Center. The entire community is invited to join in the celebration, which will pay homage to the town that helped it flourish.
“We will be showcasing the history of Plant City and its connection to the college,” Molly Coufal, senior staff assistant, said. “Our theme is ‘Thanks to You’ since it’s close to Thanksgiving and we’re thanking the community for all their support for the college. It’s because of Plant City that we actually got the college here.”
When guests enter the Trinkle Center they will see displays set up by decade showing the school’s unique history. The Plant City Photo Archives & History Center contributed by digging up unique photos from yesteryear. There will be an appetizer reception at 5 p.m. and at 6 p.m. it will transition into a formal presentation with videos and proclamations from Mayor Rick Lott and leaders at the college.
The party will then have a moment of reflection as old photos are shown. Guests will end the evening with cupcakes and hopefully a fun history lesson.
HCC first burst onto the local scene at Plant City High School, now Tomlin Middle School, where night classes were held. It relocated in 1971 to what had once been a Publix Supermarket on Collins Street and in 1972 there were 10 portables placed on the now permanent location.
One of the things that sets HCC Plant City apart from the other campuses is its flourishing landscape. The gazebos, plants and wildlife found throughout the campus make it a “tranquil environment” for the students, according to Coufal.
The support from the community, however, has always been the foundation that gives the college its nurturing character. Coufal said there are many professors that have been with the school for decades and even some that came through the school as students and now are working to encourage the love of education.
“The people, the students and the faculty, the staff and the amazing community members, they’re just all absolutely phenomenal people,” Coufal said. “It’s like a big family out here. Even our staff events, we always involve the students. We like things to really be connected here.”
She said HCC Plant City has unique and deep-rooted partnerships with the community that allows the college to offer a more welcoming environment for its students. Whenever there is a need, she said Plant City has always stepped up and poured out support for the campus.
Colleges across the country are creating food pantries to attempt to tackle the food insecurity faced by students. At this campus, there is a task force that partners with Mary Heysek and the United Food Bank of Plant City.
Rather than have students attempt to root through a dwindling food pantry, anyone hungry can alert the school and they’ll be given an emergency food box. They are also handed a voucher so they can drive approximately two miles down the road to the food bank and receive help there as well. It’s been a godsend and Coufal said the partnership has allowed them to make sure all of their students don’t have to worry about going to bed hungry.
“Everywhere I’ve gone in Plant City, it’s just been an outpouring of support from everybody,” Coufal said. “I hope that when people come to the event they see how much we value the partnership with the community, how much we still rely on and love the unique partnership this community has allowed us to create over the years.”