Spencer Thompson

This is one profile in a series featuring the first Gator graduates who were admitted to UF through the PaCE program.

PaCE Program helps student continue Gator family tradition

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The son of two UF graduates, Spencer Thompson was expected to become a Gator since he was just a baby wrapped in an orange and blue blanket. Flip through old photo albums and almost every photo showcases a young Thompson and his parents proudly sporting Gator apparel.

Years later, Thompson, an Orlando native, read the first few lines of a letter from the UF Office of Admissions. “We are unable to offer you admission to our campus program as a first-year student,” the letter stated. Thinking it was a rejection letter, Thompson immediately stopped reading.

“We all thought I didn’t get into UF, and we were all really sad because for 18 years, this was where I wanted to be,” he said. “Florida was always the goal; I was pretty heartbroken by it.”

But, Thompson’s father reviewed the rest of the letter and realized that Thompson had actually been offered admission into UF’s first-ever group of PaCE students. Although skeptical at first, Thompson ultimately decided to commit to PaCE with encouragement from his father, who reassured him that he’d still be able to move to Gainesville and have the same college experience that a traditional student would.

Now Thompson, a journalism senior, will graduate after just three years because of credits he brought in from high school and community college courses.

Looking back on his experience, he attributes his motivation and drive to being in the PaCE program. Without a set class structure, Thompson learned to manage his time wisely and to exercise self-discipline, habits which he said benefited him throughout college.

Thompson also learned to put himself out there. He made a point to do his work in Library West to get out of his apartment and experience on-campus life. When he wasn’t doing classwork, Thompson also covered sports for The Independent Florida Alligator and played bass guitar on the worship team at Anthem Community Church. These extracurricular activities gave him the opportunity to meet other students, some of whom are his best friends today.

Interested in business law and commercial litigation, Thompson will attend law school in the fall. He is currently deciding between law schools at the University of Florida, Temple University and Emory University.

“I’m really proud,” Thompson said about being part of the first group of PaCE graduates. “You can see through PaCE, not only how great the education you’re receiving is, but also how awesome the university is, from the advisers to the professors to everyone who’s involved with making PaCE come together… It sets you up for success so well.”

Read the stories of other PaCE graduates here.

Story and photos by Alexandria Ng