Pirate Pride May 2025 — Blake Russell

Blake Russell, an electrical engineer at Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and proud alumnus of Pensacola State College, has played in the PSC Foundation’s Big Break golf tournament for the past two years. Reflecting on his educational journey, Blake credits PSC for preparing him not only with technical knowledge but also with invaluable interpersonal skills that continue to serve him in his professional life.

As a high school student, Blake took advantage of PSC’s dual enrollment program—an opportunity he considers pivotal during a critical time of personal and academic growth. “My time at PSC exposed me to a larger world beyond high school and enabled me to somewhat ease into the college chapter of my life,” Blake shared. “So many friendly faces, professors and students alike, were willing to help me along the way. Having an experience like that really jumpstarted my ability to meet new people and learn what it means to collaborate. I still hold onto those abilities and apply them to my everyday life.”

Now, in Blake’s career at FPL, he chooses to take advantage of community-driven initiatives and opportunities whenever they may arise. Last spring, he participated in the PSC Foundation’s Annual Big Break Golf Tournament for the first time, securing honors as the first-place team alongside his friends and coworkers; Dalton Hastings, Will Blankenship, and Stephen Harris. “The Pensacola State College Foundation does a great job coordinating everything that happens during the day and ensuring that it’s an enjoyable experience for everyone. My team and I all agreed it was a great time, and when you hear about the impact that these donations make, it really makes supporting Pensacola State College an easy choice.”

This spring, Blake took his support a step further by nominating PSC for FPL’s “Community Connectors” program, which empowers employees to recommend organizations they are passionate about for charitable contributions. He and his teammates returned to compete in the 19th Annual Big Break Golf Tournament, this time earning third place honors.

“While we got knocked down a couple of notches to third place this year, we look forward to continuing our support for PSC and attempting a comeback at the 20th Annual Big Break Golf Classic,” Blake exclaimed.

In his role at FPL, Blake feels fortunate to be able to serve the Northwest Florida community both professionally and philanthropically. “As an electrical engineer, I spend my days working on projects that ensure our power grid is solid and that everyone in the area receives their electricity when and where they need it,” he explained. “Honestly, one of the best things about working for FPL is how much they care about giving back to the community—it’s where I live too, so it means a lot. Being able to volunteer and actually see the good we do, whether it’s protecting the environment or supporting local organizations, makes the job truly worthwhile. It’s cool to work for a place that’s about more than just keeping the lights on.”

 Blake’s dedication to community service, combined with his continued support of PSC, exemplifies how alumni can have a lasting impact—on campus, in their careers, and across the communities they serve.