Twenty-four residents were honored on April 1 at The Ranch at St. Cloud as they graduated from the City of St. Cloud’s 2025 Citizens Academy, a hands-on program offering a behind-the-scenes look at how city government operates.
Class members meet weekly to learn about various city departments and functions.
“Our goal is to create more informed citizens and spawn more interest in joining city boards and committees, or perhaps even running for elected office,” said Communications Director Maryemma Bachelder, who coordinates the class. “This class was the first to have all 24 class members who started the program successfully complete it. This group was highly engaged, and several of them already have applied for and been appointed to city boards and committees.”
Graduates are: Alan Sherbourne, Amy Daley, Amy Van Riper, Angela Maldonado, Dr. Ann Rodriguez, Ariel Sanabria, Ashley Durham, Charissa Morris, Cheri Bradford, Debbielee Griffin, Guillermina Salce, Hazel Espinosa, Helen Dottie Adams, Jonathan Torres, Joseph Rivera, Jostbellia Marte, Kenny Hall, Marcedes Hofmann, Marina Mosina-Rahaman, Natalia Vargas, Raul T. Romay-Reverol, Robert Greene, Tammy Simonson, and Tugce Figeac.
Citizens Academy is held annually and runs for 12 weeks. The applications period for the 2026 class will open in late 2025. For more information about Citizens Academy, visit https://www.stcloudfl.gov/
