AVON PARK, Fla. – May 3, 2017 – SFSC celebrates spring Commencement in two ceremonies on Thursday, May 4–at 4:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.–in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts, Highlands Campus, Avon Park.
The 4:45 p.m. ceremony features students who are earning their Bachelor of Science degrees in Supervision and Management (BAS-SM), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Associate in Science (AS) degrees, occupational and college credit certificates, and State of Florida High School diplomas. Steven Cullipher, who earns his BAS-SM degree, will be student Commencement speaker at this ceremony.
During the 7:45 p.m. ceremony, students earning their Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEE) and Associate in Arts (AA) degrees will march across the stage for their diplomas. The student Commencement speaker will be Emily Swenson, who earns her Associate in Arts degree.
Some 466 students will have met the SFSC graduation requirements for the spring Commencement. Of these, 212 receive their AA, 68 receive their AS, 132 receive occupational or college credit certificates, and 21 receive their State of Florida High School diplomas. The BAS-SM program will graduate 14 students, the BSN program graduates 13 students, and the BSEE program graduates six students. Participating in the two Commencement ceremonies will be 320 students.
Receptions will be held in the Catherine P. Cornelius Students Services and Classroom Complex (Building B) immediately following each of the Commencement ceremonies.
Live online streaming, accessed by clicking a website banner at stimulatory.china-ads.net, will allow friends and relatives to see everything from the processional to the last graduate crossing the stage. The stream begins on May 4 at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. ET.
Mace bearer and chief marshal for this year’s ceremony is Thomas Bush, and marshals are Elizabeth Andrews, Davida Austin, Brian Bohlman, Junior Gray, Robert Hampton, Melanie Jackson, Lorri Jaques, Dr. Theresa James, Cynthia Kinser, Dr. Kristina Lewis, Michelle Macbeth, Adam Martin, Claire Miller, Ricardo Pantoja, and Lena Phelps.
The Commencement rehearsal takes place Thursday, May 4, at 10 a.m., in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts.
AVON PARK, Fla. – March 7, 2025 – The Malcolm Family endowed scholarship has made it easier for DeSoto County residents to participate in trades programs at South Florida State College (SFSC). Some of the trades programs at SFSC are Welding; Automotive Service Technology; Automotive Collision Technology Technician; Phlebotomy; Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R); Electrical Lineworker; and Construction Trades.
Criteria for a Malcolm Family Scholarship are that the applicant must be a resident of DeSoto County, Fla. and preference will be given to applicants who are 25 years old or younger. They must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at SFSC on a minimum of a half-time basis and have completed their first year of a trades program course at SFSC. Preference is given to applicants who have completed their first year of study through the dual enrollment program at SFSC, have demonstrated financial need, and participate in the Boys and Girls Club of Arcadia. This is a full-tuition and fees scholarship that may be renewable for a second year.
“Through this endowed scholarship, SFSC students will have a financial resource for many years into the future,” said Marcia Conliffe, Financial Aid director. “SFSC is grateful for donors, such as the Malcolm family. Their gifts allow our students to focus on their studies and, in time, make our communities economically stronger.”
An endowed scholarship enables donors to create a legacy, carrying funds toward student scholarships into perpetuity. Scholarships for students are awarded from the interest that the endowment earns. As the corpus grows, the SFSC Foundation can award scholarships to students for years to come.
To apply for scholarships made available through the SFSC Foundation, visit AwardSpring at: southflorida.awardspring.com. For more information about the SFSC Foundation or to make a donation, call 澳门太阳城集团-453-3133 or email foundation@china-ads.net.
Brian Green (left), Nucor training coordinator; Garrett Lee, SFSC coordinator, Engineering Program; student Carson Cloud; student Dyston Benner; student Mary Portwood; student Brian Hill Jr.; Michelle Leidel, SFSC dean, Division of Applied Sciences and Technologies; Abby Zambelli, Nucor human resources coordinator
AVON PARK, Fla. – Feb. 20, 2025 – In celebration of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, South Florida State College (SFSC) and Nucor Steel Florida are pleased to present four students who were awarded scholarships toward the Nucor Florida Mechanical Technical Academy.
Dyston Benner and Carson Cloud, seniors at Avon Park High School, were awarded scholarships to the Academy and will start classes at SFSC and on-the-job training at Nucor in August 2025. Brian Hill Jr. of Dundee and Mary Portwood of Bradenton, the first students recruited for scholarships to the Academy, began their classes and on-the-job training in August 2024.
In 2023, representatives from Nucor Steel Florida began to recruit students from high schools in Highlands, Hardee, and Polk counties to become candidates for its two-year Mechanical Technical Academy. Successful candidates are enrolled in SFSC’s Mechatronics program and work toward an Associate in Science in Engineering Technology with an Advanced Manufacturing specialization.
While attending classes, the students engage in on-the-job training at Nucor Steel Florida’s mill in Frostproof, Fla., working with the operations and maintenance team. They work alongside experienced Nucor staff in the care and repair of mill equipment. Nucor pays all college expenses, as long as the student maintains a 3.0 GPA. Students are also paid an hourly wage for class time at SFSC and during on-the-job training at Nucor. If the student satisfactorily completes the requirements of the two-year Academy, the student is offered a position at Nucor Steel Florida.
“We started this program because, nationwide, there is a shortage of people in the skill trades needed to run and maintain our plant,” said Tommy Massey, maintenance manager, Nucor Steel Florida. “Second to that, as we look at the job pool out there, high school graduates are an underutilized resource. That’s why we decided to target them. Besides meeting the needs of the company, Nucor and its team members are big into supporting the communities around us. This Academy is a way to support our communities and provide opportunities for young people graduating from high school looking for an education and to get into the job market.”
Nucor Steel Florida’s recruiting period for the Mechanical Technical Academy is September through December for the following year. In January, candidates for the Academy are interviewed and selected. To be considered for Nucor’s Academy, high school seniors are welcome to contact Massey at: tommy.massey@nucor.com.
“This partnership between SFSC and Nucor Steel Florida is a game-changer for our students, providing them with a direct pathway to a rewarding, high-tech career in advanced manufacturing,” said Michelle Leidel, SFSC dean of the Division of Applied Sciences and Technologies. “Nucor is an outstanding company that not only leads the industry but truly invests in the success of its employees and the communities it serves. We’re thrilled to see our students gain hands-on experience, earn their degrees, and step into promising careers with a company that values innovation, excellence, and workforce development.”
Nucor Steel Florida has been partnering with SFSC since the plant first came to Florida in 2015. “They helped us in our initial hiring phases, they allowed us to use their facilities, and we’ve developed relationships with their administration and leadership,” Massey said. “Also, they have the Mechatronics program that facilitates the right blend of educational needs and technical aspects that the successful candidates need. So, they’ve been a great partner. It’s an absolute plus that they’re located in the Sebring/Avon Park area.”
Nucor is America’s largest producer of steel and steel products, and recycler of steel. The company has over 25,000 employees in more than 300 locations. Nucor Steel Florida in Frostproof produces rebar (or reinforcing bar), a ribbed, steel bar used to reinforce and add strength to concrete under tension.
SFSC, through its Mechatronics program, offers students a two-year Associate in Science in Engineering Technology, six college credit certificates, and seven industry certifications. Hands-on training takes place in SFSC’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park, using industry-standard Siemens, Kuka, and Festo technology. Mechatronics technicians assist design, development, and engineering staff and work closely with others to install, maintain, operate, and repair unmanned, automated robotic and electromechanical equipment.
Jalia Charlery (left) with her mentor, Sarah Miller
AVON PARK, Fla. — Feb. 19, 2025 — Jalia Charlery, a senior attending Sebring High School, was surprised at the high school when teachers, the principal, family, and her Take Stock in Children mentor broke the news that she had been named a finalist for the Take Stock in Children Leaders for Life fellowship. She was one of 12 finalists vying for six Leaders for Life fellowships.
The fellowship, which recognizes student leaders, comes with a $40,000 scholarship that covers non-tuition expenses such as housing, books, and transportation. As a Leaders for Life finalist, Charlery received a MacBook Pro laptop computer.
The Leaders for Life Scholarship is an initiative of the Asofsky Family Foundation, which supports programs aimed at helping the state’s youth. The Foundation awards the scholarship in partnership with Take Stock in Children. The South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation is the lead agency for Take Stock within the College’s service district of DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties.
“I cannot think of a student more deserving of this opportunity,” said Ben Carter, the local Take Stock in Children student services coordinator. “Upon reading the two essays Jalia submitted toward the fellowship, we could see that they were at a collegiate level. And her personality and presentation skills are excellent. We at Take Stock are so proud and excited to have Jalia representing us in the community and at this stage in the Leaders for Life process.”
Charlery is eligible for the Leaders for Life Fellowship because of her participation in Take Stock in Children. Take Stock in Children is a statewide program that provides at-risk children with a mentor and a college scholarship. In return, Take Stock scholars sign contracts in which they promise to remain drug-free, to avoid behavior that would get them into trouble with law enforcement, to attend school regularly, and to earn satisfactory grades. The students’ parents also sign the contracts and agree to provide home environments conducive to education. The local Take Stock program was established in 1996 and has awarded Florida Prepaid college scholarships to more than 667 local students.
Charlery graduates from Sebring High School in May 2025. While in high school, she has been a dually enrolled student at SFSC. She is a member of the National Honors Society, Sebring High School’s Girls Varsity Tennis team, and the Superintendent Student Council. She is secretary of the Sebring Chamber of Commerce Junior Ambassadors, president of the Sebring High School Student Government Association, and participates in the Sebring High School Varsity Choir.
Charlery’s Take Stock mentor for the last five years has been Sarah Miller, who was her 8th grade science and AVID teacher at Sebring Middle School, as well as her National Junior Honor Society sponsor. According to Charlery, Miller “never fails to support me in my many endeavors, whether that is giving me advice for my many rigorous classes or showing up as a fan on the sideline. She has truly taught me the meaning of overcoming obstacles that many would be considered ‘life-defining.’”
Since the inception of the Leaders for Life program, the local Take Stock program has had 13 finalists.
Rimoldi Ibañez during her study abroad in Sydney, Australia
AVON PARK, Fla. – Feb. 7, 2025 – At an early age, Camila Rimoldi Ibañez became interested in the natural and biological sciences. The 2021 graduate of South Florida State College (SFSC) went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Biological and Physical Sciences with a concentration in Marine Biology and minored in Environmental Studies in May 2024 from Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) Honors College.
Born in Argentina, Rimoldi Ibañez and her family moved to Sebring when she was 8 years old. While a sophomore at Sebring High School, she was in the Honors Program and participated in dual enrollment classes through SFSC. She soon became involved in undergraduate research at the College.
Her earliest foray into undergraduate research at SFSC was through an Honors Program Humanities class. She and fellow student, Kyria Wickham, published a paper based on their research on the victims of a hurricane that broke through the Lake Okeechobee dike in 1926, devastating the town of Moore Haven, Fla. She and Wickham assisted in bringing the story to light and honoring its victims, who had been buried in a little know mass grave in Sebring.
Later, Rimoldi Ibañez presented her work on the genes expressed in corals that could be related to sound emission or perception at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference, the Florida Collegiate Honors Council, and the Florida Academy of Science. She presented her findings on how coral communicate within their biological community during the Experimental Biology (EB) 2021 meeting. The EB is an annual meeting attended by thousands of scientists from around the world. In 2021, as a high school senior dually enrolled at SFSC, Rimoldi Ibañez won the Skoch Scholarship as an outstanding high school senior competing in the State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida.
Rimoldi Ibañez discussing the work of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center with the public.
When she was a student at SFSC, Rimoldi Ibañez’s dream was to become a researcher in marine biology. However, her interest has shifted to becoming a program director or manager for marine protected areas (MPAs).
“MPAs are areas that are regulated and protected to help conserve the biodiversity in different parts of the ocean,” she said. “That role has been appealing to me as an undergrad. It’s an intersection of science and policy and working within and with communities.”
Although she loves the research, she says that she would still be able to look at and analyze data. “I would be in a role where I can apply that data to a bigger picture to protect more of the ocean and make sure that those protected areas are of high quality,” she said.
Rimoldi Ibañez believes that her passion for the ocean and its flora and fauna was the result of not living close to the water while living in both Argentina and Sebring. “I think that made me treasure it more,” she said. “Just having a positive feeling about the ocean – seeing the sea turtle nests and the seagulls added to my passion. Then, you see the negative things happening to the ocean – the trash, the oil – and want to do something about it. When you look at the ocean, you only see a fraction of what’s going on. We need to protect the ocean and its habitats on a large scale. It’s important for all of us to take care of it.”
As a student working toward her bachelor’s degree, Rimoldi Ibañez was required to participate in study abroad or an internship. She spent a six-month study abroad at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia. She took on an educational internship at Loggerhead Marinelife Center, an outreach internship with the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, and a marine conservation externship with National Geographic and The Nature Conservancy.
At Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Rimoldi Ibañez, initially, spent a few months as an education intern, assisting with public education programs, giving tours, and discussing the work of the hospital. Loggerhead is a sea turtle rehabilitation hospital in Juno Beach, Fla., near her FAU campus. Later, Rimoldi Ibañez was hired as a marine science educator for nine months. She worked on educational programs and led field trips on and off campus. “We would have large groups of students — kindergarten through high school — that I would lead on field trips, looking at sand pollution, walking them through the steps of sea turtle intake. Off-campus, we would visit lower-income communities and teach children about the ocean and sea turtles. Sometimes, the children would come to the Center and we could introduce them to the sea turtles. Those were wonderful moments.”
Rimoldi Ibañez scuba diving as part of her research
Rimoldi Ibañez was also required to submit a bachelor’s thesis project. “I continued the project I was working on at SFSC,” she said. “I went more in-depth. It was about coral making sound. It was correlating the movement of coral and looking at visual data and correlating that with audio data I was finding. I also found what genes might be responsible for the coral making those sounds.”
Although she hasn’t decided yet where she’ll be attending graduate school, she’s looking at programs that would give her more training in policy, advocacy, and research. Some of the universities she’s applying to are: the University of Miami, Northeastern University, State University of New York at Stony Brook, the University of South Florida, and two programs in Europe.
As if Ibañez Rimoldi isn’t busy enough, she’s volunteered to participate in SFSC’s PAWsitive Alumni Program. Through this mentorship program, she’ll connect with a current SFSC student who is interested in attending the same post-secondary institution and/or looking to earn a degree in a similar discipline. The student will garner valuable guidance in furthering their education and achieving their life goals. For more information on the PAWsitive Alumni Program, email alumni@china-ads.net with the subject line: PAWsitive Alumni Program.
Feb. 7, 2025 – On Friday, Feb. 21, South Florida State College (SFSC) will host its annual Professional Development Day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for its staff and faculty to advance their skills and knowledge. This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Lindsay Wayt, senior director of analytics at the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), will discuss, “Building a Data-Informed College Together.”
“It is becoming increasingly more important, especially in the age of advancing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), that everyone in higher education can find a use for data in their daily work. We are really looking forward to Dr. Wayt’s presentation,” said Dr. Michele Heston, vice president for student services and academic affairs at SFSC.
In her presentation, Dr. Wayt will explain how data can be used to bring diverse groups of professionals together within higher education. She will also address how individuals can build their data skills to make their day-to-day work more effective and enjoyable.
Dr. Wayt works on initiatives and programming that support NACUBO’s efforts to help colleges and universities integrate analytics into institutional achievement goals, which include collaborating with NACUBO members and key stakeholders from other organizations to propel the use of data-informed decision-making in higher education. She has experience conducting higher education research and studying topics such as using data and analytics in higher education, tuition discounting, and higher education leadership. Dr. Wayt completed her doctoral work focusing on educational leadership and higher education.
Following Dr. Wayt’s keynote, she will lead a session that dives deeper into the use of analytics. Other event sessions include AI in Action, Data-Driven Success, Teaching with AI, and FERPA. Again this year, employees will create posters to present current research or practice at a poster session with a cookie social. Attendees will finish their day with departmental meetings and training.
Jan. 27, 2025 – The South Florida State College (SFSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT) conducted their annual review of President Fred Hawkins and established goals for 2025 at their regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.
The DBOT goals for 2025 include:
- Continue to provide affordable tuition through scholarships and grants
- Analyze the College’s physical and academic footprint to confirm all facilities and programs are being utilized and offered efficiently and economically
- Maximize revenues and minimize expenditures to ensure positive gains while navigating through a competitive grant cycle and vying for funding with other institutions
- Partner with community businesses and industries to meet their employment needs
- Advance and support student success and retention through graduation
- Implement strategies to modernize the current infrastructure
“We are extremely excited to share that President Hawkins has received outstanding feedback on his annual evaluation from the SFSC District Board of Trustees,” said Terry Atchley, chair of the SFSC DBOT and Hardee County manager. “This highlights the president’s commitment to service and setting goals that uplift and inspire the College and our community. The dedication and goals set by both the president and the board will continue to guide our great institution into the future for the betterment of our students and our region.”
The DBOT meets monthly on the Highlands Campus of SFSC in Avon Park, Fla. For more information and meeting details, visit china-ads.net/board-of-trustees.
Jan. 23, 2025 – The South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation hosted its eighth annual Million Dollar Hole-in-One Golf Shootout sponsored by Bill Jarrett Ford on Saturday, Jan. 18. This year, all finalists were unable to place, but the event raised $16,029 in support of SFSC Athletics.
Golfers participated in the three-day Golf Shootout and new Putt Challenge, which began on Thursday, Jan. 16 at Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club in Sebring. A record number of golfers turned out to vie for the $1 million prize with 116, and 24 golfers tried to putt their way to $10,000.
The golfers who rounded out the group of 12 shootout qualifiers were: Kyle Braxton, Dave Johnson, Jeff Polen, Steve Sortore, Tosh Banning, Scott Hitt, Jeff Taylor, Julian Gonzalez, Randy Bonney, Carlos Maldonado, Andy Polk, and Peter Elliott. The Putt Challenge finalist was Terri Thayer.
“Anytime we can see an event exceed a previous year is a great accomplishment,” said Jamie Bateman, vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs at SFSC. “This, of course, couldn’t be possible without our sponsors and golfers who come out each year to support our athletes, and who bring their friends. SFSC is blessed with the amazing support we receive from our community.”
Proceeds from the golf shootout benefit SFSC Panther Athletic with teams in women’s volleyball, women’s cross country, men’s baseball, and women’s softball. SFSC’s student-athletes assisted throughout the Golf Shootout.
For more information on the event or how to become a sponsor for next year’s Golf Shootout, contact the SFSC Foundation at 澳门太阳城集团-453-3313.
Dental Ed students
AVON PARK, Fla. — Jan. 24, 2025 — During the January meeting of South Florida State College’s (SFSC) District Board of Trustees, 22 students studying for careers in the health sciences at SFSC received approximately $28,100 in scholarships.
The Florida College System Foundation (FCSF) and Florida Blue awarded Nursing and Allied Health scholarships to SFSC students in Nursing, Dental Education, and Radiography programs. The students may use the scholarships for tuition, textbooks, lab fees, and childcare.
Students receiving the scholarships are studying within three health science disciplines:
- Nursing: Dusti Conners, Savannah Ewing, Jamilet Gondinez, Nubia Hernandez, Ana Ibanez, Flor Leon, Jenise Lopez, Karen Monterrosa, Keyshauna Parhams, TaiYonna Phillips, Magnolia Santiago, Monike Thomas, Griselda Vasquez, Juanita Vilafana-Rocha, and Aiani Walker.
- Dental Education: Abronikka Brown, Kerstin Jones, and Nora Ortiz
- Radiography: Destiny Badillo, Juan Molina-Molina, Alyssa Perez, and Gemi Saunders
Nursing students
The scholarships are the result of a partnership between the FSCF and Florida Blue. The Florida Blue Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship was created to sustain a source of funding for student scholarships at Florida colleges to meet the growing need for skilled nurses and allied health professionals who serve the state’s diverse population. The SFSC Foundation, Inc. provided a 50% match of the original award from the FCSF and Florida Blue, as the funds must be matched dollar for dollar by private donors at the local level.
“The students who received the Florida Blue scholarships will soon begin careers in nursing, dental care, and radiography – all fields that are critical in keeping our community safe and healthy,” said Jamie Bateman, SFSC vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs. “Students participating in intensive healthcare programs are often unable to work outside of their studies. Because of its commitment to education and statewide healthcare needs, Florida Blue has provided scholarships to aid these students in completing their programs and alleviating financial stress. We extend our sincerest appreciation for Florida Blue’s continued support to SFSC’s students.”
Radiography students
The FCSF, based in Tallahassee, is a nonprofit organization that solicits gifts and donations from corporations and individuals for distribution to Florida’s 28 community and state colleges. SFSC has received scholarships for health sciences students since 2006. Florida Blue, previously known as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, provides individual and group health insurance to millions of Floridians.
| Name: | Drew Dawson |
| Number: | 29 |
| Position: | Right-Handed Pitcher |
| Height: | 6’5″ |
| Weight: | 217 lbs. |
| Hometown: | P.K. Younge |
| Class: |
Sophomore |
| Name: | Brayden Allison |
| Number: | 26 |
| Position: | Left-Handed Pitcher, First Base |
| Height: | 6’2″ |
| Weight: | 196 lbs. |
| Hometown: | Flanagan |
| Class: |
Freshman |
