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GRADUATE SPOTLIGHTS

Discover inspiring graduate success stories from Indian River State College that highlight perseverance, innovation, and the pursuit of meaningful careers. From space exploration to healthcare and nursing, these spotlights showcase how River students are overcoming challenges, achieving their goals, and ready to make an impact in their communities.

News Topic: Student Spotlight

Graduate Spotlight: Annmarie McDearmont

Annmarie McDearmont first visited Indian River State College (The River) as a child, drawn in by the planetarium. Years later, she came back as a student — and The River turned a childhood spark into a full-blown science career. This spring, she graduates with a bachelor’s degree in biology, two internships, and a research presentation on her record.
A Science Love Story, Starting Young
Annmarie loved science from the time she was a little kid. She once dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. Over time, though, her focus shifted from working with live animals to working in the lab — and The River’s broad biology curriculum gave her the room to make that discovery on her own terms. “Being here helped me explore different avenues so I could figure out that I wanted to be in the lab,” she says. The planetarium visit planted the seed. The biology program grew it.
A Smooth Path Through the Curriculum
Annmarie arrived at The River with some high school college credits already in hand. Her guidance counselors helped her navigate the scheduling gaps those credits created and set her up for a clean path forward. Once she entered her bachelor’s program, advisor Merle Litvack stepped in and made sure every semester lined up correctly. “She helped me organize my classes and kept me on course for graduation,” Annmarie says. The progression felt natural: general biology first, then molecular biology, organic chemistry, and the deeper science that defines the degree.
Faculty Who Showed Up
When the coursework got tough, Annmarie didn’t face it alone. Faculty across The River — including professors outside the sciences — made themselves available for office hours and personal tutoring sessions in the library labs. “That was definitely very beneficial for when I was having trouble in some classes,” she says. Even the transition from high school to college structure, which she describes as her biggest early challenge, became manageable through study groups, peer connections, and professors who responded every time she asked for help.
The STEM Pioneer Program: A Launchpad for Real Experience
One of the most significant parts of Annmarie’s time at The River came through the STEM Pioneer Program. The program didn’t just build community — it opened doors to internship opportunities that most undergraduates never access. “Seeing familiar faces in all your classes and with your professors makes it very easy to form connections and study groups,” she says of the tight-knit STEM Pioneer community. But the internships changed her trajectory most.
Internship One: Engineering Mosquitoes in Vero Beach
During the first half of her bachelor’s program, Annmarie landed a volunteer-based internship through Merle and the STEM Pioneer Program at a lab in Vero Beach. There, she worked with live mosquitoes and injected mosquito eggs to create genetically engineered insects designed to control vector-borne diseases. “I got to work in an actual lab,” she says. The experience went straight onto her résumé and CV — and gave her a preview of what a real research environment feels like.
Internship Two: Pharmaceutical Research at FAU’s Center for Translational Sciences
For her senior capstone, Annmarie secured an internship at Florida International University’s Center for Translational Sciences — again through Merle. She works in a pharmaceutical lab three days a week, testing drugs and drug delivery systems alongside her principal investigator (PI) and postdoctoral mentor, Dr. Shafi. “The people I’ve met there, the environment — it’s been genuinely incredible,” she says.

Her PI involves her in every step of the research, from designing experiments to preparing presentations. Dr. Shafi works with her daily, answers her questions, and reviews her work. “It really helps you understand what it’s like to work in an actual lab,” Annmarie says.
Presenting Research as an Undergraduate
Before she walks across the commencement stage, Annmarie will have presented her capstone research at two venues: The River’s own Undergraduate Spring Science Symposium and the Center for Translational Sciences. Both presentations add to a CV that already stands out for a graduating bachelor’s student. “That’s another thing I can put on my CV,” she says with characteristic practicality.
The Classroom and the Lab: Two Sides of the Same Education
Throughout her internships, Annmarie kept noticing the same thing: what she learned at The River showed up directly in her lab work. “There were many times I would be doing something at the internship and remember learning about it in class that week,” she says. The connection ran both ways — lab experiences made classroom concepts click faster, and classroom learning made her a more capable intern. That feedback loop, she believes, defines what a strong science education looks like.
What’s Next: The Lab, and Maybe Graduate School
After graduation, Annmarie plans to enter the workforce in lab sciences — pharmaceutical research and biomedical sciences both interest her. Graduate school remains on the table, and her internship record gives her a strong foundation for either path. “There is a lot you can do with a biology degree,” she says. “That’s part of the reason I love it so much.” Walking across the stage will feel a little strange after 18 consecutive years in school — but mostly, she says, it will feel very, very good.
Grateful for the People Who Made It Possible
Annmarie thanks her parents for keeping her grounded through the stressful stretches, her closest friends Cassie and Riley for being her sounding board throughout the journey, and Merle Levac above all — the advisor and STEM Pioneer Program coordinator who connected her to every internship and kept her schedule on track from day one of her bachelor’s program. “She has just been so, so valuable to my experience here,” Annmarie says.
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May 14, 2026
Graduate Spotlight: Titeus Welch’s Extraordinary Road to Nursing

Titeus Welch started nursing school with decades of life already behind her, a young son watching her every move, and two parents who believed in her completely. She lost both of them — one each semester — during her first year. Still, she kept going. On May 6, she graduates from Indian River State College with her associate degree in nursing, and she already plans to start her bachelor’s program in August.
A Mission, Not Just a Career
Titeus didn’t choose nursing for a paycheck. She chose it because helping people heal — guiding them through a health crisis at their most vulnerable — felt like a calling. “The idea of helping individuals heal and helping them navigate a healthcare crisis was really important to me,” she says. “It’s actually a mission in life.” She had started a university degree in her twenties but never finished. That unfinished business stayed with her for years. Eventually, she decided to do something about it.
Returning to School After Decades Away
Titeus enrolled at The River in the fall of 2022, more than two decades after her first attempt at college. The doubts came immediately. “I had a lot of trepidations,” she admits. “I had been out of school for a couple of decades.” She also worried about sitting in class with students young enough to be her children. Those fears dissolved quickly. “I fit in perfectly,” she says. “The students were extremely welcoming. There wasn’t an age gap like I thought there would be.” The community at The River pulled her in, and she stayed. “I started to doggy paddle initially,” she says with a smile, “and then I started to swim.”
The Hardest Year: Losing Both Parents
In her first semester, Titeus’s father passed away. During her second semester, her mother followed. She lost the two people who had been her greatest supporters in the span of two semesters. “I was like, how am I going to keep going?” she says. “My two main supporters are no longer here.” She had to dig deeper than she ever had before. What kept her moving was purpose — the knowledge that this was exactly the right moment, even if the circumstances were devastating. “I knew this was the time,” she says. “I just knew.”
Studying for Her Son
Grief aside, Titeus also carried a different kind of motivation: her young son. She wanted him to see, up close, that it’s never too late to chase something meaningful. “I needed to show him that he could do it no matter what age he was,” she says. The late nights studying, her son asking her to come to bed — all of it made sense in the end. “It was well worth it. Trust me.”
Faculty Who Prepared Her to Heal, Not Harm
Titeus speaks about The River’s nursing faculty with deep respect. In clinical settings, she watched how hospital staff reacted when The River’s students arrived on the floor. “They were elated to have us,” she says, “because they knew their day was going to go so much smoother.” One statement from a faculty member lodged itself permanently in her mind: that nurses have the power to heal — and also the ability to harm. The faculty took that responsibility seriously, ensuring every student left the program genuinely competent. “We look forward to healing the community once we graduate,” Titeus says.
Scholarships That Kept Life from Falling Apart
The Indian River State College Foundation awarded Titeus scholarships across three separate semesters. For a student navigating nursing school while managing grief, a young child, and all the demands of adult life, that support proved critical. “Life is still happening while you’re in nursing school,” she says. “The Foundation really helped me balance the financial side and make sure nothing fell through the cracks.” She is deeply, genuinely grateful.
President of the Student Nurses Association
Between coursework, clinicals, and everything else, Titeus also led. She served as president of The River’s chapter of the National Student Nurses Association, organizing community initiatives, campus activities, and participation in the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual walk. Her reasoning goes beyond resume-building. “Nursing and leadership go hand in hand,” she says. “You’re going to need to advocate for your patients — and if you’re already in that leadership role as a student nurse, you’re already prepared.”
Bonds Built Across Four Semesters
The friendships Titeus formed in the program are another thing she carries out with her diploma. “People come from different walks of life, and then you come to the same college for the same purpose,” she says. “You create bonds that are lifelong.” Those friends answered the phone on the hard days, talked her down from the edge of quitting, and reminded her why she started. They grew through the same four semesters together, and they graduate together too.
May 6: Taking It All In
When Titeus walks across the stage on May 6, she plans to slow down and feel every second of it. “I know the journey that led to me getting onto that stage,” she says. “It has been a long, long journey — but so absolutely rewarding.” After graduation, she starts her bachelor’s program at The River in August, with nurse practitioner school on the horizon beyond that. The woman who once worried about fitting in has become a leader, a caregiver, and an example — for her son, her classmates, and anyone who thinks it might be too late to begin.
YOUR FUTURE’S IN MOTION.
ARE YOU?
College doesn’t have to be confusing or out of reach.The River gives you the clarity, support, and energy to move—on your terms.
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May 11, 2026
Graduate Spotlight: Keith Feliciano Earns His HVAC Degree

Keith Feliciano chose his career path with one clear goal in mind: job security. This spring, he graduates from Indian River State College (The River) with an associate degree in HVAC (air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating) — and the skills to back it up anywhere in the country.
A Career Choice Built on Confidence
Keith didn’t stumble into HVAC — he chose it deliberately. “Knowing that I can always have a job and a career lined up for me whenever I finish school” drove his decision. Skilled trades stay in demand regardless of the economy, and Keith recognized that early. A good-paying career that travels with you anywhere in the country? That’s exactly what HVAC offers, and exactly what he went after.
High-Tech Training for a Modern Trade
The program at The River covered refrigeration, air conditioning, and the sophisticated diagnostic tools that today’s HVAC technicians rely on. Keith trained with digital manifolds, wireless probes, and wireless temperature gauges — equipment that reflects how technically advanced the trade has become. Modern HVAC work demands precision, and The River’s curriculum prepared him for exactly that.
Instructors Who Didn’t Give Up
Keith credits his instructors — especially Rudy Chung — as a major reason he succeeded. The coursework grew more challenging in the fourth class, where the material became more technical and in-depth. Rather than move on, his instructors went back and revisited concepts students had struggled with. “They made sure we competently understood what we were doing,” Keith says. Beyond academics, the instructors also respected the reality of their students’ lives. “They understood that we have another life outside of school,” he says. “They respected our work-life balance.” That approach kept students like Keith on track all the way to graduation.
Ready to Work
After graduation, Keith heads straight into the field. His focus is simple: find a career, keep building his skills, and grow. The HVAC industry rewards technicians who commit to continuous learning, and Keith enters it with a solid foundation and clear eyes. “You’ll always have a job, and you can go anywhere throughout the country,” he says. For anyone weighing a career in the trades, he makes it sound exactly as straightforward as it is.
A Surreal Moment, Shared with Family
When Keith walks across the commencement stage, family members will be there to greet him — along with a few classmates who made the journey with him. “It’s going to feel a little surreal that I completed the program,” he says. He also extends thanks to his parents for making sure everything went smoothly and to his instructor Mr. Chung for the guidance along the way.
His Advice: Just Go for It
Keith’s message to anyone sitting on the fence about an HVAC career is direct: there’s always a place for you in this field. “You’ll always have a good-paying job,” he says. The trades need skilled workers, communities need reliable technicians, and The River’s HVAC program gives students everything they need to answer that call.
YOUR FUTURE’S IN MOTION.
ARE YOU?
College doesn’t have to be confusing or out of reach.The River gives you the clarity, support, and energy to move—on your terms.
Start Today
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May 5, 2026
Graduate Spotlight: Avery Pittman’s Path to Nursing

Avery Pittman came to nursing through a simple but powerful combination: a love of people and a love of science. This May she graduates from Indian River State College with her associate degree in nursing — and a career path already mapped out toward the ICU and beyond.
The Decision That Started It All
Avery didn’t stumble into nursing. She researched her options deliberately and found that nursing checked both of her boxes at once. “I just love people, and I love science,” she says. “Nursing was both of those for me.” She completed her prerequisites and then moved straight into The River’s nursing program. Challenging? Absolutely. Worth it? Without question.
Clinical: Where the Real Learning Happened
Ask Avery about her favorite memories at The River and she goes straight to clinical rotations. “I got to connect with so many different patients and hear their stories,” she says. Those moments — sitting with patients during difficult hours, learning to listen as much as to treat — confirmed everything she had hoped nursing would be. Clinical also brought something else she didn’t expect: lasting friendships. “This program is very tough, so you really stick together and create a bond that can never be broken,” she says. “These are friendships I’ll cherish forever.”
A Clinical Instructor Who Opened the ICU Door
One faculty member stands out above the rest. Dr. White served as Avery’s clinical instructor during her final semester and, crucially, believed in her enough to place her in the ICU. That decision changed Avery’s trajectory. “She really supported me and challenged me throughout all of my clinical experience,” Avery says. “Getting into the ICU really grew my love for nursing.” The placement wasn’t just an assignment — it was a vote of confidence that pointed Avery toward exactly where she wants to go.
Faculty Who Pushed Her to Be Better
The support didn’t stop with Dr. White. Avery credits The River’s nursing faculty broadly for preparing her to walk into the profession with confidence. “They have truly prepared me and challenged me to be a nurse,” she says. “I feel so prepared to go into the profession.” In a field where preparation directly affects patient outcomes, that kind of readiness matters.
Giving Back Through the National Student Nurses Association
Avery also stepped into a leadership role outside the classroom. As historian for The River’s chapter of the National Student Nurses Association, she documented the chapter’s community volunteer work — events where nursing students engaged with children, older adults, and families across the region. “We really get to make a difference in their lives,” she says. For Avery, it was practice for the work ahead.
Scholarships Kept Her Focused
Grants and scholarships also played a role in Avery’s success. The financial support let her put her studies first without the added pressure of worrying about costs. “They meant everything to me,” she says. “It really helped me focus on my studies and make that my priority.”
What Comes Next: PCU, Then the ICU, Then Beyond
Avery’s plan after graduation is clear and ambitious. She starts her career as a Progressive Care Unit (PCU) nurse, then works her way into the ICU — the environment Dr. White first put her in and where her passion deepened. Longer term, she sets her sights on becoming a nurse practitioner. “I am so excited to get to be that person who can be there for someone during the hardest times,” she says. “I’m really looking forward to the future.”
Advice for Anyone Considering Nursing
To anyone thinking about a nursing career, Avery has one piece of advice: see it through. “It’s so rewarding to get to be that person who supports someone at their lowest,” she says. The program is hard — she doesn’t pretend otherwise — but the reward on the other side is exactly what she signed up for.
Walking Across the Stage
When Avery crosses the commencement stage this May, her family, friends, and the support system that carried her through every difficult stretch of the program will be there cheering her on. She thanks them all, along with her instructors, for pushing her and preparing her every step of the way. The girl who loved people and loved science found exactly the right place to bring those two things together — and The River helped her get there.
YOUR FUTURE’S IN MOTION.
ARE YOU?
College doesn’t have to be confusing or out of reach.The River gives you the clarity, support, and energy to move—on your terms.
Start Today
Visit Campus
May 5, 2026