Artist and Matinee Series Subscription on Sale Starting June 1 (2018)

AVON PARK, Fla. – May 30, 2018 – SFSC announced subscription ticket packages are available for the Artist and Matinee Series performances for the 2018-2019 season. Subscription packages offer big discounts on tickets, and seats are available in the best sections in the house before the general public.  

“The Artist Series is a bargain and the theater is so close to home,” said Ann Pollard, a long-time Artist Series subscriber. “We don’t have to drive to the coast and stay in a hotel when we want to see a show. We never have to wait in line for our tickets, and we never miss a sold-out show. Plus, we get invited to VIP receptions and events.”

Tom Meisenheimer, another subscriber, said, “My wife Pat and I are season subscribers because the shows are terrific with a good mix of artists and varied performances. We like the 15 percent discount for additional tickets which allows subscribers like us to treat our visiting snowbird friends to a show. It also feels good to make our yearly gift to support the fine arts at such a wonderful college.”

“To celebrate our 35th season, we’ve got something for everyone,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs at SFSC. “Celebrities, comedy, Broadway, orchestras, Christian music, and country superstars—subscribers can save more than $100 by buying a series package.”

The 10-show Artist Series includes: John Tesh, Christmas Wonderland Spectacular, Evita, The Doo Wop Project, Jon Secada, Florida Orchestra, Wayne Newton, “The Sound of Music,” “Legally Blonde,” and Sandy Patti. All performances begin at 7 p.m. in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts. Subscription packages are $385 for gold circle tickets; $338 for silver section seating; and $298 for bronze seats. “With a bronze package, you can see a show for less than $30 and that is the best deal in Florida,” remarked Garren.

The 10-show Matinee Series, which begins in January includes: Let’s Hang On, a Frankie Valli tribute; Simon and Garfunkel Re-visited; Dueling Pianos; Phil Dirt and The Dozers; Divas 3; Alter Eagles, an Eagles tribute; Nashville Legacy with Jason Coleman; “My Mother’s Italian, My Father is Jewish and I’m in Therapy;” Violinist Doug Cameron and Family; and the University of Florida Concert Choir. All performances begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts. Subscription packages are $192 for gold circle seats, $168 for silver section seating, and $141 for bronze seats.

Subscriptions are available online at sfscarts.org, by calling the SFSC box office at 863-784-7178 or by visiting the box office on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. The box office is located at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the SFSC Highlands Campus at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park.                 

SFSC Performing Arts presents over 40 performances in the 1,460-seat Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts and the 250-seat University Center on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park, Fla. For more information and to view videos of upcoming performances, visit sfscarts.org.

AVON PARK, Fla. – May 29, 2018 – Dr. Sonji Nicholas, professor of sociology at SFSC, loves to travel. Through her life experience, Dr. Nicholas has connected her students with the world and nurtured cultural relativity.

“I was born into a traveling family,” she said. “My parents are Jamaican-American and were part of the Windrush generation.”

A post-World War II immigration boom in the United Kingdom began in June 1948 when the passenger ship, the Empire Windrush, arrived in England from Jamaica, carrying 492 immigrants in search of employment and prosperity. Because of a labor shortage between 1948 and 1971, the United Kingdom encouraged immigration from Commonwealth countries to help rebuild the country. Many people came from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and other Caribbean countries.

“My parents had known each other in Jamaica, got re-acquainted in England, and were married in London in 1960,” Dr. Nicholas said. “My dad went into the Air Force and my mom attended nursing school. I was born there, and we lived in England until my parents decided to return to Jamaica. On the way back, our ship stopped at 18 different locations, such as Trinidad and Venezuela. That’s probably how my interest in travel got started.”

In the early 1970s, Dr. Nicholas’ parents headed for the United States, where they felt they had better job prospects. The family settled in West Nyack, N.Y., where she grew up.

Dr. Nicholas went on to earn her Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and took a job as an insurance adjuster right out of college. But underneath it all lurked an interest in sociology. “My history of moving around and living in different cultures may have sparked it,” she said. “I studied business as the practical side of me. But all along, I took electives in social and behavioral sciences. I was studying a lot of African history, while at Howard University. Then I studied on my own and with groups in the community.”

With her African history study group, she took her first of four trips to Africa, visiting the countries of Senegal and Gambia. The location that most moved Dr. Nicholas was Goree Island, off the coast of Dakar, Senegal’s capital city. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its role in the 15th to 19th century slave trade. On the island is the Maison des Esclaves, or House of Slaves, where an estimated 20 million Africans captured for enslavement were held before being shipped to the New World.

She also traveled to northern Senegal to visit the Grand Mosque of Touba, one of the largest mosques in Africa. “Senegal is 90 percent Muslim,” she said. “Upwards of one million Muslims from West Africa make their pilgrimage to the Grand Mosque of Touba annually. It is a beautifully constructed edifice, and worshippers consider this site to be their Mecca.”

“In Dakar, I got to experience the differences in culture from our own, things we take for granted,” she said. “I was struck by the level of religiosity. I went to a bank to exchange money one day at 11:30 a.m. When I got to the bank, I was surprised to find it locked. It turned out that bank managers closed shop for a few hours to allow employees to participate in mid-day prayer.”

Dr. Nicholas continued her academic studies, and was awarded her Master of Arts in African Studies from the State University of New York at Albany, and her Master of Philosophy and her doctorate in Sociology from The Graduate Center of C.U.N.Y.

She went on to teach sociology as adjunct faculty at what is now Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers, Fla. and took a position as program manager for the Florida Department of Health’s Healthy Families program. “Healthy Families is a parenting education program that’s based on sociological research. Thirty years of research has shown that by working with families who are expecting a baby and providing them information about early childhood development, brain development, and child safety significantly helps to prevent child abuse and neglect.”

Dr. Nicholas is currently a member of the Highlands County Healthy Families advisory board and encourages students in her sociology classes at SFSC to get involved. “When we get to the unit on Family in class, I ask representatives from Healthy Families to talk with the students about the organization’s mission and how it works with families. The presentations give students a connection to what we’re studying and provides an example of how sociological knowledge can be applied in work settings.”

In spite of a vibrant academic career, Dr. Nicholas’ love of travel has never gone astray. She’s visited many locations in the Caribbean, Africa, Central America, North America, and Europe. “I haven’t been to Asia, but it’s on my list,” she said.

In fact, Dr. Nicholas had an opportunity to re-visit Senegal in summer 2016, when she was selected to participate in the prestigious Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad program.

The Fulbright scholarship program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. “Sen. Fulbright was interested in cultivating peace around the world through understanding,” Dr. Nicholas said.

Along with 15 other scholars, Dr. Nicholas visited Senegal for six weeks, focusing on religion and diversity in West Africa. “That was right up my alley,” she said. “It had close to 30 years since I’d last been in Senegal.”

“One of our leaders was an anthropologist of Senegalese heritage who was with the Boston University African Studies Center,” she said. “We had lectures at the West African Research Center in Dakar, toured places of worship, and visited towns and rural areas.”

Upon her return, Dr. Nicholas was required to develop a curriculum project that integrated seminar materials into sociology courses that others could use in their own classes over an entire semester. In addition to submitting her project to Fulbright, she made a presentation about it at the Alpha Kappa Delta/Cengage Teaching and Learning Workshop held at the 2017 annual meeting of the Southern Sociological Society. She plans to share some of this information at the upcoming National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) conference in Texas. NISOD celebrates excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges.

“When I returned to Senegal for the Fulbright program, I was interested to see how things have changed, particularly the impact of technology in that country,” Dr. Nicholas said. “Now, everyone has a mobile phone; people are able to start businesses and communicate with the wider world with much greater ease. While there, we also visited universities, and I made good connections at those universities.”

Dr. Nicholas extended her experience to students enrolled in her Honors course the semester after she returned from Senegal. “I had them do a global pen pal project,” she said. “Each of the students was paired with a university student in Senegal. The Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar class was called ‘Marriage and Families across Cultures’ with a focus on Senegal. Over the course of the semester, the students got to know their global pen pals. They would ask about their pen pals’ families and learn how they are similar and different from their own.”

“My students were able to link up with people from across the globe, get directly connected, make new friends, and learn about other people who normally wouldn’t be on their radar,” she said. “With technology, it was possible for my students to experience this. It couldn’t have happened that way 20 years ago.”

In her Introduction to Sociology class, Dr. Nicholas emphasizes culture and how groups influence individuals. “I often draw on my travels,” she said.

“In my classes, we spend a lot of time talking about awareness,” she said. “We need to recognize social context to better understand why people do what they do. We need to step into other peoples’ shoes and understand the bigger picture of their lives and develop a sense of cultural relativity. We’re a nation of immigrants. We have to be aware that others don’t always do things as we do things. We need to be less judgmental and more understanding in our increasingly globalized society.”

AVON PARK, Fla. – May 24, 2018 – The Air National Guard Band of the South will perform one free public concert at the 1,460-seat Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus of South Florida State College (SFSC) located at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park on Wednesday, June 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets are required for the event and are available online now at sfscarts.org. There is limit of four tickets per household.  

Supporting the total Air Force and Air National Guard mission in war and peace, the Air National Guard Band of the South inspires patriotism and fosters a deep appreciation of the rich history and legacy of the Air Force. This support is accomplished, mainly, through professional performances by some of the nation’s best musicians. The band performs as a concert band, ceremonial band, “Space A” and “Sound Barrier” popular music ensembles, “Smooth Groove” jazz/big band ensemble, brass quintets, and as a small jazz combo.

The Band of the South’s mission is two-fold: first, to enhance and lift the morale and espirit de corps of our fellow airmen stationed either in the United States or abroad; second, to increase the public’s understanding of the importance of air power, the missions and programs of the Air Force and Air National Guard and the bravery, sacrifice and dedication of airmen across the globe. While performing these missions, members of the Band of the South have performed in almost every state in the union and have been deployed to Germany, Kandahar, Afghanistan, and more. The Air National Guard Band of the South is stationed at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Knoxville, Tenn.

Tickets are also available by mailing a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Band of the South, South Florida State College Box Office, 600 West College Drive, Avon Park, FL 33825. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  

AVON PARK, Fla. – May 24, 2018 – SFSC is now offering two of its information technology programs online: the Associate in Science (A.S.) in Networking Systems Technology and the College Credit Certificate in Network Security. Fall term classes at SFSC begin on Friday, Aug. 17.

Network security is a high-demand, specialized field of computer networking. In a wired world where sensitive information is transmitted over internal networks and the internet, network security specialists maintain hardware and software, monitor networks for unauthorized access, vulnerabilities, and attacks, and implement policies and procedures that protect networks from hacking.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that jobs for network and computer systems administrators will grow by 28 percent through 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.

With the Associate in Science (A.S.) in Network Systems Technology, graduates will earn 60 college credits in approximately two years. Students become proficient in basic and advanced concepts of network operation, support, and security. They learn concepts, theory, and hand-on laboratory skills that can be used in the workplace.

In as little as one year, graduates of the Network Security program will earn 30 hours of college credit and receive the tools and training they need to pursue the CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+ industry certifications. If a graduate chooses to continue in their studies, the 30 college credits can be applied toward the A.S. in Network Systems Technology.

The quality of these programs is reflected by the distinguished endorsements they have received from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FBI InfraGard, and the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies.

The SFSC Welcome Center on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park accepts walk-in registrations Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and Fridays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Students can also register at the DeSoto Campus in Arcadia, the Hardee Campus in Bowling Green, and at the Lake Placid Center in Lake Placid.

Returning students can register and pay for classes through the college portal, Panther Central. New students can apply for admission to the college by clicking the “Apply Now” button at the top of SFSC’s website homepage where class schedules are also available.

Financial aid is available to those who qualify. For more information about financial assistance and scholarships, contact the SFSC Financial Aid Office at 863-784-7134. For further information about registration, call 863-453-6661 (Highlands Campus), 773-3081 (Hardee Campus), 993-1757 (DeSoto Campus), or 465-3003 (Lake Placid Center).

For more information about the information technology programs, contact Brian Bohlman at 863-784-7443 or visit the SFSC website under “Future Students” > “Degrees & Programs.”

AVON PARK, Fla. – May 14, 2018 – Young explorers who have completed grades six through eight can discover careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through fun activities at South Florida State College’s (SFSC) Camp Adventure TOO.

Camp activities teach middle schoolers about the world through supervised activities, and includes swimming in the afternoons. This summer camp will run in two weekly sessions, June 11-22, at the SFSC Highlands Campus in Avon Park. Campers may attend one or both weeks.

The cost to attend a weekly session, Monday through Friday, is $157 and includes breakfast and lunch. Camp sessions run 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day, with early drop-off beginning at 7:30 a.m. and pick-ups continuing through 5:30 p.m.

Campers are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information and an application, call 784-7388 or visit southflorida.edu/campadventure.

During the first week, June 11-15, “Summer Cyber Camp,” young explorers will learn about STEM careers while focusing on cybersecurity. Through hands-on instruction and fun activities in the computer classroom, students learn cyber defense skills that protect their personal devices. The curriculum was developed by the U.S. government and prominent industry leaders.

During Week 2, June 18-22, “Mr. Roboto,” campers are introduced to the basic principles of robotics and applications in the robotics industry. Through an extensive hands-on practice, students become familiar with the section of a robotic system, learn how to manipulate robotics movements, and simulate industrial processes.

AVON PARK, Fla. – May 11, 2018 – Colleges and universities find a number of ways to honor and encourage faculty who go beyond the requirements of the classroom. To that end, four SFSC faculty have been appointed as endowed chairs in their respective disciplines with funds donated through the SFSC Foundation.

Darlene Saccuzzo, dental education professor, was appointed as the Highlands County Health Facilities Authority (HCHFA) endowed Chair in Dental Education, and Dawn Pisarski, nursing professor, was appointed as the HCHFA Endowed Chair in Nursing Education. The Norm and Laurie Stephens Endowed Teaching Chair went to Bob Sconyers, dental assisting professor, and the Carol Emery Endowed Chair in Mathematics went to Cheryl John, developmental mathematics professor.

Faculty members appointed as endowed chairs are awarded $5,000 per year for two years, with half going toward equipment, professional development, or to attend a conference related to the faculty member’s discipline of study. The other half is a salary stipend.

Saccuzzo plans to use part of her award to offer new technology that delivers more intense one-on-one instruction to dental education students. Students can be seated at their own operatories and watch instrumentation delivered by the instructor relayed via a computer monitor located at each operatory station. In real time, students are able to imitate instrumentation strokes and adaptation as it is being demonstrated.

The funds from Pisarski’s award will be used to send two or three SFSC nursing faculty to the American Holistic Nurses Association annual conference and bring back best practices on the importance of including self-care into one’s daily life. Faculty and students will be given the tools needed to live a fulfilling, balanced life, and avoid the pitfalls of burnout in a high-stress profession.

Sconyers plans to attend a conference that covers the latest in dental materials and equipment and will purchase cutting edge technology for the classroom. “By purchasing the latest and best equipment, not to mention the equipment our local dental clinics use, our department will continue to be on the leading edge of dental education,” he said. “We must stay ahead of the curve to offer the best to our students and the community at large.”

John would like to use her award to create and implement math boot camps for students to take prior to taking the diagnostic testing required for placement into college mathematics courses, if they have not been exempt. Three courses would last one to three weeks each. These courses would improve student testing in mathematics, particularly for those who have been out of school for several years.

Recipients for endowed teaching chairs at SFSC are chosen by a selection committee, with advice and counsel from college faculty. Selections are confirmed by Dr. Thomas C. Leitzel, SFSC president.

The idea of endowed teaching chairs at state and community colleges came from research chairs at universities. “This program gives us a way to show appreciation for excellence in teaching,” said Jamie Bateman, executive director of institutional advancement at SFSC, who oversees the SFSC Foundation.

SFSC honored 10 graduates of its Dental Hygiene program in a traditional pinning ceremony in the SFSC University Center Auditorium on Friday, May 4. The graduates had just completed their Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene (AS) degree program.  

Receiving their pins were Eliana Almendarez, Isabel Cardenas, Amber Cheraz, Amanda Head, Ashley Marquez, Donna Miranda-Collins, Carmen Mitchell, Erika Lisbeth Olvera, Elizabeth Rivera, and Anna M. Wiley. 

Keynote speaker for the pinning ceremony was Dr. Steven Guelff. Graduates were presented their dental hygiene pins by Dr. Deborah Milliken, chair of SFSC’s Dental Education program.  

“The Dental Hygiene Class of 2018 is a wonderful group of young people who have worked hard and will be a great addition to the dental community,” Dr. Milliken said. “They are bright, enthusiastic and, most importantly, skilled clinicians. We are sorry to see them go but delighted to welcome them into the profession.” 

Dr. Milliken also presented individual awards to three graduates. Wiley received the Clinical Excellence Award and the Highest Grade Point Average Award. Mitchell was honored with the Leadership Award, and Almendarez was lauded for Leadership. 

Upon completing the Dental Hygiene program, graduates become dental hygienists by passing the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination and the Florida State Clinical Licensure Examination. They can, then, work alongside a dentist as a member of a dental health care team.

For more information on SFSC’s Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene, call 863-784-7131 or visit southflorida.edu.

South Florida State College (SFSC) marked the end of the 2018 academic year with its Spring Commencement held in two ceremonies on Thursday, May 3, in the SFSC Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus. 

SFSC honored the recipients of Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Associate in Arts (A.A.) degrees at the 4:45 p.m. ceremony. Honored during the 7:45 p.m. ceremony were those earning Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management (BAS-SM) degrees, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, applied technology diplomas, occupational and college credit certificates, and State of Florida High School diplomas. 

In all, 312 students crossed the stage wearing academic regalia adorned with an assortment of colored cords and sashes signifying individual achievement. 

Addressing the graduates, Tim Backer, chair of the SFSC District Board of Trustees said, “As you keep moving forward in life, never stop learning, but take a minute now and then to appreciate where you are in life and your successes at that time.” 

Erika Weaver-Coleman, a graduate who earned her A.A. degree, delivered the Commencement speech during the early ceremony. “The success that we have experienced is a direct result of our endurance to not give up, to see the sunrise above the peak and the calm after the storm,” she said. “In the words of the pop band Journey, ‘Don’t stop believing, hold on to that feeling.’ That feeling, that moment, is the true success. Not that we achieved our goals but that we achieved our goals despite the mountains, hurricanes and statistics tests. That moment of success is realizing not only that we arrived, but our very arrival allowed for more paths, and more unfolding of this great story of ourselves.” 

The 7:45 p.m. ceremony featured Luis Rodriguez as its speaker. Rodriguez, who graduated with his occupational certificate in Applied Cybersecurity and is currently working on a pilot’s license in his spare time, said, “When a plane is on the ground, it begins to rust and malfunction much faster than when it is flying. A plane was meant to fly. Likewise, we do not want to reach the end of our lives with dreams we did not pursue, saying ‘If only I…’ If I had said no to the Highlands Career Institute at SFSC three years ago, I would not be standing here in front of you having earned two occupational certificates and a college credit certificate. And I’ll earn my high school diploma on May 19. I would never have accomplished so many things.” 

Dr. Charlotte Pressler, director of SFSC’s Honors Program, recognized three Honors Program graduates for academic excellence, outstanding leadership, and strong citizenship. They were Zachary Geitner, Leticia Gracia Hernandez, and Rodrigo Gracia Hernandez.  

The college conferred the BAS-SM on 12 graduates, the BSN program graduated 18 students, and the BSEE program nine students. SFSC awarded A.A. degrees to 185 and A.S. degrees to 68 students. College credit certificates, occupational certificates, or applied technology diplomas went to 172 students, with another 20 earning their State of Florida High School diplomas. 

Michelle Macbeth, Spanish instructor, served as mace bearer and chief marshal for this year’s Commencement ceremony. Marshals were Elizabeth Andrews, Davida Austin, Tom Bush, Brian Bohlman, Ashtanel Castillo, Courtney Green, Robert Hampton, Lorri Jaques, Dr. Theresa James, Cynthia Kinser, Dr. Maday Leon, Claire Miller, Tasha Morales, Asena Mott, Ricardo Pantoja, Lena Phelps, Daisy Ramirez, and Joshua Wood.

The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program at South Florida State College (SFSC) conferred 15 Applied Technology diplomas during a ceremony held on Wednesday, May 2 in the SFSC University Center Auditorium, Highlands Campus. 

Eric Bidlack, Danielle Brouillet, Cory Compton, Xiara Cristiansen, Lazaro Gonzalez, William Kingston, Tara Lowder, Paige McNew, Ralph Meeks, Ashley Mingo, Wyatt Montgomery, Justin Newman, Francisco Olivero Jr., Joseph Romanik, and Cecil Williams completed the 16 weeks of training, or 300 contact hours, in the program. 

Graduates receiving special awards were Williams for Best in Lab; Montgomery for Highest Academic GPA; and Bidlack for Most Heart, for his compassion and determination. 

Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply to take the Florida EMT State Board Exam. 

EMTs function as part of an emergency rescue and transportation team by responding to emergency calls through a dispatch system, operating emergency vehicles safely, assessing scenes of accidents or illnesses, setting priorities for treating patients based on their degree of illness or injury, providing pre-hospital emergency care to treat trauma, shock, wounds, and other medical issues. 

For more information about SFSC’s EMT program and other Emergency Medical Services programs, visit southflorida.edu or call 863-784-7272.

The SFSC Library on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park will host a celebration of the Star Wars universe on Friday, May 4, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., featuring themed games, activities, and prizes.

“I grew up with Star Wars, and I’ve loved the expansion of the Star Wars universe over time, from the novels to the new movies,” said Claire Miller, librarian. “I’m a huge fan, and I love getting to share my love through this event.”

Attendees to the event will be able to fly a model X-wing through the Death Star, search for prizes (or peril) in the Detention Cell Block Garbage Compactor 3263827, and create a R2-D2 bookmark and mini-lightsaber as well as other activities Miller refuses to divulge. “I’m not done making them yet!” she said.

In addition to the activities on the day, a display highlighting Star Wars books from the library collection, as well as other fun memorabilia, holds a place of honor on the first floor of Building Y. David Zoerb, professor of developmental math at SFSC, and Lena Phelps, chair of library services both loaned collectables to decorate the case.

Based on a pun using the catchphrase “May the Force be with you,” the new version “May the Fourth be with you” heralds a celebration of Star Wars fans around the world.

The first appearance of the pun and association with May 4 was on May 4, 1979. When Margaret Thatcher took office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, an online article from a Danish broadcaster misquoted, claiming that the Conservatives has placed an advertisement saying “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations.” In 2011, the first organized celebration of Star Wars Day took place in Toronto, Ontario at the Toronto Underground Cinema.

In 2013, the first official celebration hosted by the Walt Disney Corporation took place at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Fans continue to celebrate Star Wars on this date including sports teams, local governments, and even the astronauts in the International Space Station, who watched Star Wars for May 4, 2015.

Star Wars Day’s popularity inspired the rise of “Revenge of the Fifth,” a pun based on the title of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Celebrated on May 5, fans join the dark side by celebrating the villainous Sith lords. The Avon Park Public Library will host a showing of “The Last Jedi“ on May 5 as well as activities and more.