SFSC Graduates Celebrate Commencement

AVON PARK, Fla. – Dec. 13, 2019 – For the South Florida State College (SFSC) graduates who gathered in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, Dec. 12, the 2019 Commencement ceremony was a time to celebrate.

Student Commencement speaker Dolores Breedlove, who earned her Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Supervision and Management (BAS-SM), congratulated her fellow classmates on persevering through their studies to graduation. In her speech, she told her life story and how she overcame the poor choices she made early in life. With the guidance of angels along the way, she got an education, gained self-confidence, and found a job that she loves.

Breedlove said to the graduates: “No matter what obstacles get in the way on your road through life, you must trust in yourself. Many times in my life, I felt like giving up, but the faces of my children, my husband, and my support system helped me to keep moving forward. Find something you love and run after it. The only thing that can stop you is YOU.”

“Choose to follow your dreams and overcome all the barriers of life that include the culture of your family, the choices you make, and the past decisions that will follow you forever. Follow the road to success and that will help guide you to set goals and educate yourself. Never give up on today because tomorrow is guaranteed to be better than yesterday.”

Early in the program, the graduates received congratulations and words of wisdom from Dr. Thomas Leitzel, SFSC president. He referred to the College’s Get Connected enrollment campaign. “Stay connected and promote the connections you made here with others so, together, we build a better community and a better world. Now go forth and connect with those million dreams as they become a reality due to your ingenuity and determination.”

Over 325 students met SFSC December graduation requirements by Commencement. Of these, 21 received their Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management, 1 received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, 1 received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 104 received their Associate in Arts degree, 12 received their Associate in Science degree, 63 received their State of Florida High School Diploma, and 134 received Career Certificates, College Credit Certificates, or Advanced Technical Diplomas. Students participating in the Commencement ceremony totaled 208. 

Speaking on behalf of the SFSC District Board of Trustees, vice chair Joe Wright, addressed the new graduates: “Life can be rough and tumble from time to time. Each of us has a need to feel accepted, to feel wanted, to feel that people care about us. Please remember that we always wanted you here at SFSC. We, collectively, have been pulling for you and are celebrating with you. We have been looking forward to your graduation from the time you first set foot on one of our campuses. Lastly, keep in touch with us after graduation. We want to claim you, and we want you to claim us as part of your extended family at SFSC.” 

Mace bearer and chief marshal for this year’s ceremony was Thomas Bush, Faculty Council president. Faculty and staff selected to serve as marshals were Elizabeth Andrews, Junior Gray, Courtney Green, Robert Hampton, Dr. Theresa James, Cynthia Kinser, Garrett Lee, Michelle Macbeth, Claire Miller, Tasha Morales, Asena Mott, and Ricardo Pantoja.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Dec. 12, 2019 – Mike Albert, who has been portraying Elvis Presley onstage for 29 years, brings his Big E Band and a gospel quartet to the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts at South Florida State College (SFSC) on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. Albert, who has won many Elvis contests, travels the country performing tribute concerts, often with the actual groups that backed Presley, The Jordanaires, and The Stamps. Tickets are $32, $36, $40, and $50; groups of 13 or more save 25%.

“Mike and his band were here a few years ago,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs at SFSC, “And the audience loved him. His performance is respectful; it’s not kitschy. And, boy, Mike sure can sing.” The performance is sponsored by Dr. Michael Kirsch and Sebring Pain Management, Dr. Witford, and Mrs. Inga Reid. 

Albert, who grew up in Canton and Carrollton, Ohio, is a full-time auctioneer who performs at major venues across the country about 60 times a year. His costumes, which cost between $2,800 and $6,500, are created by the gentleman who had patterns to Presley’s costumes. “Mine are exact reproductions,” said Albert. “These are not sequins or paint. It’s all rhinestones, studded and embroidered, and it’s heavy.”

Although Presley was known as the “King of Rock & Roll,” his three Grammy Awards were for his gospel music. After his death, the Gospel Music Association inducted Presley in its Hall of Fame. Three of his gospel albums: “His Hand in Mine,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “He Touched Me” would go on to reach platinum or multiplatinum status.

Presley won his first Grammy Award in 1967 for Best Sacred Performance for his version of “How Great Thou Art.” In 1972, he won his second Grammy for Best Inspirational Performance and, in 1974, he won his third Grammy for a live performance of “How Great Thou Art.”

Expect to hear gospel favorites like “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “Peace in the Valley,” “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” and “I Believe in the Man in the Sky.” 

Tickets can be purchased online at sfscarts.org, by phone at 863-784-7178, or in person at the SFSC Performing Arts Box Office on the Highlands Campus of South Florida State College located at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Dec. 12, 2019 – Hear the Musician’s Hall of Fame rock super-group and ring in the New Year on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts at South Florida State College (SFSC) at the opening of the AdventHealth Trending Now Series. The Hit Men are musicians and vocalists who have performed and recorded with Elton John, Cat Stevens, Frankie Valli, Jim Croce, Rod Stewart, Three Dog Night, The Rascals, The Turtles, Carly Simon, and more.

This performance is sponsored by Sebring Rundown, C & C Plumbing, Realtor Dawn Dell, and South Florida State College Foundation. “It’s a great family show to celebrate the New Year,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs at SFSC. “This is not a tribute show. They are the actual performers who created hits like “Joy to the World” and “Let’s Hang On.” The music and the stories are memorable!”

The above list of legendary artists were among the most influential rock and pop music icons of the second half of the 20th century and all share a common denominator—at some point during their careers, each had at least one of The Hit Men playing behind them on the road or in the studio. The Hit Men, a super-group consisting of Lee Shapiro, Jimmy Ryan, Jeff Ganz, Russ Velazquez and Steve Murphy, either played, sang, or performed on stage with one or more of these artists, creating or recreating live, some of the most memorable hits of the era, including “Who Loves You,” “Oh What a Night,” “You’re So Vain,” “The Locomotion,” “Mony Mony,” “Joy to the World,” and many more, on which they used their musical alchemy to help spin songs into gold and platinum.

In April 2019, The Hit Men became recipients of the first-ever “Road Warrior Award” from the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. This prestigious, Nashville-based organization honors talented, but often overlooked, musicians who played on the greatest recordings of all time. The award acknowledges The Hit Men’s “years of dedication to the music, and the countless miles … that they have traveled in delivering so many hits throughout the world.”

The Hit Men founder and manager Lee Shapiro is a producer, arranger, singer, and musician. As music director for Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, he arranged and performed on some of their biggest hits. He also collaborated with Barry Manilow, Tony Orlando, and Tommy James and the Shondells.

The Hit Men co-founder Jimmy Ryan began his career in the 1960s as lead guitarist, singer, and often songwriter for The Critters. Later, he became Carly Simon’s music director and performed with her in the studio and on the road for 21 years. His guitar is heard on works performed by Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, Elton John, and many others.

Jeff Ganz is a bassist and singer who has performed with an eclectic array of artists including Blood Sweat & Tears, Johnny Winter, Cheap Trick, Lou Reed, Dr. John, Vanilla Fudge, and jazz greats including Gerry Mulligan, Tito Puente and Larry Coryell.

Russ Velazquez is a singer, composer, and arranger whose credits read like a musical Who’s Who. He has collaborated with everyone from Sting, The Ramones, and LL Cool J to Luther Vandross, Korn, and Paula Abdul. He has earned four Emmy Award nominations for his songs on Sesame Street, and his song “2BA Master” hit the top of the children’s music charts on Radio Disney.

Steve Murphy is a drummer/singer, who has toured with The Alan Parsons Project, Jack Bruce, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night), Felix Cavaliere (The Rascals), Dave Mason, Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross, Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad), The Turtles, Mickey Dolenz, Gary Puckett, Mitch Ryder and over a dozen more major artists from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

The Hit Men connect with audiences on a level rarely seen by today’s musical artists. From the classic songs we all know and love, like “Oh What a Night” and “You’re So Vain,” to the backstage stories never told until today, a The Hit Men show is like no other, as they combine the music and the memories alongside exciting multimedia footage and visuals, evoking an unforgettable musical and visual experience.

To quote Lee Shapiro, “Every story we tell, we can relate with complete honesty and legitimacy because we were there. We have an emotional connection with the audience that tribute bands and sound-alike bands can’t claim. When we share our experiences and tell stories, we aren’t reciting a script—we were part of the original event! When we tell you how Warren Beatty had a door slammed in his face from Carly Simon’s dressing room at the Troubadour in Los Angeles in 1971, we know it’s true, because Jimmy Ryan was the one who did it!”

Tickets for The Hit Men are $28, $22, $15, and child/student tickets are only $10. Groups of 13 or more receive a 25% discount. Tickets can be purchased online at sfscarts.org, by phone at 863-784-7178, or in person at the SFSC Performing Arts Box Office on the Highlands Campus of South Florida State College located at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Dec. 12, 2019 – Since 1985, South Florida State College (SFSC) has presented the popular Goodtime Tuesdays Matinee Series which includes country and pop music, comedy, Broadway revues and an Off-Broadway hit. Matinee performances begin in January and run through March, every Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in the 1,460-seat Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park.

“Audiences love coming to spend the afternoon in Highlands County,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs at SFSC. “Do a little golfing on our Citrus Trail, visit the historic Hotel Jacaranda for a delightful lunch, shop, and see a top-notch show—plus you get home before dark!” 

Jim Witter’s Piano Men: The Music of Elton John, Billy Joel and Barry Manilow is scheduled for Jan. 14. It’s an afternoon of classic hits like “Candle in the Wind,” “Rocket Man,” and “Just the Way You Are,” with nostalgic special events. Tickets are $17, $20, and $25. Groups get a 50% discount on this performance.

The Off-Broadway hit, Golden Girls: A Puppet Parody, the laugh-out-loud parody, takes the stage on Jan. 21. This adult comedy has been selling out in venues across the country. Tickets are $17 and $23.               

Back by popular demand is the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra with their one-of-a-kind, high energy big band show on Jan. 28. Tickets are $21, $25, and $28.

Experience the best of Broadway on Feb. 4 with the highly paced, musical revue Broadway Tonite. Tickets are $12, $15, and $18. Groups get a 50% discount for this performance.

Celebrate the music and life of the legendary teen idol Bobby Darin on Feb. 11 at Splish Splash: The Bobby Darin Experience. Tickets are $17, $19, and $23. Expect to hear favorite songs like “Dream Lover,” “Beyond the Sea,” “Clementine,” and “Mack the Knife.”

Conductor Stuart Malina leads the largest professional symphony orchestra in Florida. The Florida Orchestra’s Feb. 18 program will feature Bernstein’s Overture to Candide, Symphony No. 1 composed by Christopher Theofanidis; Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, and Gershwin’s American in Paris. Tickets are $22, $25, and $30. Student tickets are $10. Groups get a 50% discount for this performance.

Lee Lessack and Johnny Rodgers return on Feb. 25 with Central Park Revisited: James Taylor recreating the amazing concert where 250,000 fans showed up in Central Park to hear hits like “Carolina on my Mind,” “Country Road,” “Fire and Rain,” and “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight.” Tickets are $21, $25, and $28.

A must-see for all ages is the Tamburitzans on March 3. In their 83rd season, the “Tammies” present a colorful performance of international song and dance. Tickets are $15, $17, $20, and $10 for students.  Groups get a 50% discount for this performance.

Jimmy Buffet fans will love the country’s premier tribute show to the Mayor of Margaritaville: Changes in Latitude on March 10. This nationally acclaimed band travels the country with beach balls and leis flying, dancing conga lines, and “Trop Rock” fun for all. Tickets are $21, $25, and $28.

Phil Dirt and The Dozers, an audience favorite, bring an all new show to the Wildstein Center on March 24. Expect three decades of great rock music performed with a light-hearted approach that creates a fun atmosphere. Tickets are $21, $25, and $28.

The Matinee Series is sponsored by CenterState Bank, The Palms of Sebring, and Lampe & Kiefer Hearing Aid Center. Subscription packages are available with savings of more than 20%. Special group rates are available with discounts as much as 50% when 13 seats or more are purchased in the same order. Contact the SFSC Performing Arts Box Office at 863-784-7178 for group sales information.

Parking is free. Tickets for the Matinee Series of performances range from $12-$30 and can be purchased online, by phone at 863-784-7178, or by visiting the box office located at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park. Videos and information are available online at sfscarts.org.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Dec. 11, 2019 – South Florida State College (SFSC) has seen far more women in its fall 2019 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) career certificate program than in the past. In fact, eight out of 13 students in the class are women.

Jennifer Serrano, instructor in SFSC’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) programs, was a student at the College 10 years ago when the majority of the students were male.

“EMS has been a predominantly male field,” Serrano said. “But the culture has changed. It’s great to see the shift of having more females who want to make this their career, pursuing their dreams, being mentors for other women, and giving back to their communities. Working in EMS is an exciting career which requires critical thinking, while challenging you every day.”

According to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, men make up approximately 70% of the EMTs in the United States.

“Over the years, we have seen more women entering the workforce,” Serrano said. “SFSC’s EMS program has also experienced that growth and it’s had a positive impact on our recruitment. As an instructor, it’s amazing to see such a diversified group of individuals in our program.”

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.

SFSC’s EMT program runs for 16 weeks. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply to take the Florida EMT Certification Exam. For more information about SFSC’s EMT program and other Emergency Medical Services programs, visit southflorida.edu or call 863-784-7272.

AVON PARK, Fla. — Dec. 9, 2019 —South Florida State College’s (SFSC) Basic Law Enforcement (BLE) Academy graduated 19 cadets from BLE Class 260, and two cadets from the Crossover Academy Class 357 during a ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 5 in the SFSC University Center Auditorium on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park.

BLE Class 260 graduates who received career certificates were Jeremy Ahrens, Jeremiah C. Camino, Rafael Castaneda, Arianna DeArce Maldonado, Adson M. Delhomme, Misei Esquivel, Courtney Hamilton, Jeremy L. Helms, Donneshia Henricks, Alex S. Kowalski, Abigail D. Lewless, Michael J. Maldonado Boria, Steven A. Parker, Adrian J. Perdue, Jorden B. Reyna, Julio A. Torres, Randoph G. Valdez, Perla Vazquez Martinez, and Marc A. Williams. Crossover Class 357 graduates receiving their career certificates were Craig Morris and Christopher J. Tullio.

During the ceremony, special awards were presented to the cadets: Courtney Hamilton of BLE Class 260 for top academics and as class leader and Marc A. Williams of BLE Class 260 for top firearms scores.

SFSC’s Basic Law Enforcement career certificate program trains students to become law enforcement officers in Florida. By successfully completing the program, they are eligible to take the state certification examination to become certified law enforcement officers. The program runs 770 contact hours or approximately five months full time or approximately 10 months part time.

The Correction to Law Enforcement (Crossover) career certificate program trains currently employed corrections officers to become law enforcement officers in Florida. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the state certification examination to become certified law enforcement officers. The program runs 515 contact hours or approximately 10 months part time.

For more information about either of these programs, visit southflorida.edu or call SFSC’s Criminal Justice Academy at 863-784-7285.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Dec. 5, 2019 – Dolores Breedlove will approach the podium as student speaker during South Florida State College’s (SFSC) Commencement ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 12, 6:45 p.m. at the Highlands Campus in Avon Park. She will receive her Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management (BAS-SM). But it isn’t her first degree from the College. In December 2017, she earned an Associate in Science in Supply Chain Management. She is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, an international society that recognizes the academic achievements of community and state college students.

These are high achievements for any college student. But for Breedlove, the support from family and angels in disguise helped her move forward in spite of her past and understand that she can attain anything she chooses.

Breedlove, primarily, grew up in Hardee County, Fla. Her parents were migrant farmworkers, and her family followed the growing seasons. They would head north to Georgia to pick peppers, squash, and cucumbers and return to Florida for citrus.

“Life was rough, but I learned to have a good work ethic,” she said. “When we were up north, we worked. My mom wouldn’t put us in school. She would wait until we came back to Florida. If we helped my parents work, it was more money coming toward the household. But when we returned to Florida, we would start school later in the year than other kids. The other kids would all know each other by then and we’d have to catch up with the classes. I remember failing third grade because I couldn’t catch up.”

At age 15, Breedlove’s parents legally separated and it tore her family apart. “My siblings and I had to pick who we’d go with. I went with my mother, and my brothers went with my father. That flipped my whole world upside down. I’d lost my dad and my brothers.”

Breedlove became violent, particularly at school, in spite of achieving good grades. “I was bad in school and was getting into fights,” she said. “We didn’t have money for me to go to therapy, but later in life, I learned that I was angry at my mom and dad. I got expelled in 11th grade and got arrested for fighting.”

Breedlove’s life took a turn for the worst. In her life, she’s been arrested seven times. At one point, she was on house arrest for violating her probation.

“Under house arrest, you had to be working full time,” she said. “You had to check in with your probation officer every Tuesday at a certain time, and you only had one hour to grocery shop a week.”

In 2008, while on house arrest, Breedlove’s job at a local nursery came to an end. It was the recession and she was laid off. She was frightened. Not only would she no longer have a job, but she was paying $375 in restitution and probation fees each month. And she would have to face her probation officer, Robert Davis, with the news.

She immediately headed to his office, and he called her employer to verify that she had been laid off. He then gave her the lecture that set the course for her future.

“The only person who’s taken your freedom from you is you,” he said. “You’ve taken your freedom, you’ve taken enjoying your life, and you’ve taken your innocence. You’re a smart girl, and you shouldn’t be in this seat. What happens from now and going forward is up to you.”

He then asked her if she’d thought about getting an education. “You know that I got expelled from high school and that means that education is not an option,” she said.

He told her that was nonsense and informed her that according to the terms of the probation, she had the option of working full time or going to school full time. He guided her to apply for General Educational Development (GED) test preparation through the Hardee County School District’s Adult Education program. “I’m 100% sure that this is what you need for your life,” Davis said. Within one month, Breedlove had passed the GED exams and earned her high school diploma.

Davis then sent Breedlove to the SFSC Hardee Campus to speak with a student advisor. She had told the advisor that she wanted to be able to take care of her mother in case something happened to her. So, the advisor urged Breedlove to enter the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. Upon completion, she was scheduled to take the state certification exam but was told that because of her history, she would not be able to take the exam.

The advisor then suggested she consider the Associate in Science in Supply Chain Management program at SFSC. It was perfect for her. “I love the distribution process,” she said. “My husband and I worked at the Peace River Citrus Products juice plant in Arcadia for five years. I learned every process—from the time the oranges got there until the tankers were loaded. I experienced each step of every process. If there was a job I loved in my life, it was that one.”

While working toward her degree at SFSC’s Highlands Campus, she took a student Work-Study job through the Dean of Applied Sciences and Technologies office, where she performed office work. “When I worked in that office, I learned how to be more professional,” she said.

At the suggestion of the dean and Tara Huften, staff assistant to the dean, she decided to continue her education and was accepted into the BAS-SM program. One day, Steve Ashworth, director of the Emergency Management Services (EMS) and Fire Science programs, stopped by the dean’s office. He mentioned that his administrative assistant was retiring shortly and began asking Breedlove a series of questions typical in a job interview.

Eventually, Breedlove was invited to interview for a part-time job in Ashworth’s department. The interview with Ashworth and the department professors went well. Toward the end, she was asked, “Is there anything you want to tell us?” She was candid about her criminal background. Then Ashworth asked, “Is that who you are today?” She said, “No,” and that concluded the interview. She was offered the position.

“My first impression was that Dolores was a good person who genuinely cared for others,” Ashworth said. “Her demeanor was one of humility and honesty. I immediately knew she was the right person to help grow the EMS and Fire Science programs. While working in our department, no matter what she was doing, Dolores always made each interaction with students her highest priority. Her presence was comforting and her professionalism was beyond reproach. She quickly learned all of the skills that were required of her position and then began to teach me the inner workings of College databases and other College programs.”

Now, Breedlove’s life has come full circle. She recently began a full-time position in SFSC’s Farmworker Career Development Program as a case data specialist. The Farmworker Career Development Program helps migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents in Highlands, Hardee, and DeSoto counties realize greater economic stability through career services, training services, youth services, and related assistance.

“Dolores knows, firsthand, the barriers and hardships our students face,” said Tara Jefferies, coordinator of the Farmworker Career Development Program. “This experience allows her to connect with our students in depth—better understanding their needs and providing a high standard of service. She is passionate about our program’s purpose and that is demonstrated in her willingness to go above and beyond helping students any way she can. And she has filled our department with positive vibes and laughter that create an enjoyable work environment.”

For the program, Breedlove maintains all student files and the department database, and runs reports required by the Florida Department of Education. She also assists Jefferies on student job placement plans which include conducting mock job interviews and assisting students in developing resumes.

Breedlove can happily look forward to the future. “My plans are for future growth within SFSC, to get more experience, and to assist other students in choosing a different path for themselves,” she said. “I want to continue to guide other students to do better and be better people.”

Her advice for people who traveled a path similar to hers and want to make changes in their lives is this: “Never give up no matter what has happened in the past. The future is always open to new and positive experiences. Keep moving forward. Getting an education is the smartest decision I ever made in my life. Because of it, so many opportunities in life have opened up for me.”

AVON PARK, Fla. – Nov. 22, 2019 – South Florida State College (SFSC) is one of seven colleges in Florida awarded with the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant.

During the 2019 Legislative Session, Governor Ron DeSantis worked with the Florida Legislature to secure historic funding for Florida’s students and families, including $10 million dedicated to career and technical education for the newly created Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program. The program provides competitive grants to eligible institutions to create or expand apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.

The six other colleges receiving funds under this grant are the College of Central Florida, Daytona State College, Hillsborough Community College, Indian River State College, Miami Dade College, and Northwest Florida State College. Florida International University, 15 Florida school districts, and the ICTC Governing Board dba AMskills will receive funding as well.

SFSC was awarded the grant toward a new Advanced Patient Care Technician (APCT) Apprenticeship program in partnership with CareerSource Heartland and AdventHealth. The program will prepare apprentices for employment as nursing assistants, home health aides, and healthcare support occupations encompassing skills in phlebotomy and electrocardiography.

“This apprenticeship program establishes an opportunity to address the existing workforce gaps especially in our hospital(s) service area. The program also creates meaningful career opportunities for the residents of our local counties,” said Randy Surber, chief executive officer (CEO) for AdventHealth.

The workforce demand driving AdventHealth to sponsor and collaborate with SFSC to create an APCT apprenticeship will continue to accelerate such initiatives well into the future. The apprenticeship model, while relatively new in the healthcare industry, is rich with the potential to provide a pathway to a pipeline that fosters economic independence for individuals and their families and opens the door to future career opportunities.

“It has been a challenge for years to fill such positions and to train and retain individuals at this level of care provision,” said Elsie Graves, chief nursing office (CNO) at AdventHealth. Her perspective on the need to establish such an apprenticeship is that “We always, always need more hands at the bedside. The support such individuals provide can decrease caregiver burnout, provide meaningful work for a community in need, create a life-changing path to success while expanding employees’ skillsets. Participation in such a program has tremendous potential to foster economic independence for individuals and their families and opens the door to other career opportunities.”

The two-year apprenticeship program begins in January 2020 with an anticipated first cohort enrollment of 12. The criteria for selection includes:

• A minimum high school diploma or equivalent
• Completion of basic life support certification
• Satisfactory clearance provided by the sponsor, including background checks and clinical requirements
• Technical standards approval by the healthcare provider
• Contractual agreement for conditions of participation provided by the apprenticeship sponsor
• Adherence to all technical, clinical, and workplace requirements for the duration of the apprenticeship

“SFSC is grateful for Governor DeSantis’ support of the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant,” said Dr. Michele Heston, dean of health sciences at SFSC. “The demand for the role of the Advanced Patient Care Technician will address the need for a skilled workforce in health services by contributing to the economic development of the region served. The creation of an earn-while-you-learn opportunity for individuals, who otherwise would not be able to advance their careers, will build a more confident and resilient workforce.”

For more information about the new Advanced Patient Care Technician (APCT) Apprenticeship program, call 863-784-7027 or email healthsciences@southflorida.edu.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Nov. 20, 2019 – Kathleen Cappo, a South Florida State College (SFSC) Nursing professor, has become certified in nurse coaching through the International Nurse Coach Association.

“Nurse coaching is a new approach to practice for medical professionals,” Cappo said. “It meets the needs of society in new ways—it’s not a quick fix for a medical need. This is a way to nurse the whole person and comes out of the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) values.”

Approximately 250 nurse coaches have been nationally certified in the United States. The American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC), which works with the AHNA, provides the only nationally accredited holistic nurse and nurse coach certification credentials in the United States. Before embarking on studies in nurse coaching, nurses are required to have several years of nursing education and experience as a foundation to developing their coaching skills.

Cappo heard about the nurse coaching program while working toward her doctoral degree in Nursing Education through Florida Atlantic University. Her professor was involved in a study in which she was focusing on the caregiver and how they could recognize the difference between delirium and dementia. The professor was using coaching as an intervention and assistance when working with the caregivers who might be experiencing burnout. Cappo saw that the caregivers were able to make positive changes in their own lives.

With financial assistance from an SFSC Foundation Innovation Grant, Cappo was able to begin the program and join a cohort of students in Boston last May. The SFSC Foundation offers Innovation Grants to support self-contained projects that make an innovative contribution to SFSC by improving the quality of the teaching and learning process. All SFSC employees are eligible to apply for an Innovation Grant.

Cappo’s training consisted of 120 hours—30 hours of intensive training in May and 30 in October. Her final 60 hours were engaged with clients.

During the final 60 hours of the program, she chose her peers—SFSC nursing faculty—as her clients. “I had four one-hour, one-on-one sessions with each of my clients,” she said. Cappo asked them to complete the Integrative Health and Wellness Assessment, a 36-item tool that considers the whole person and eight dimensions of health—life balance and satisfaction, relationships, spirituality, mental, emotional, physical (nutrition, exercise, weight management), environmental, and health responsibility.

“Nurse coaching helps the client or patient with self-discovery, so I don’t tell them what to do,” Cappo said. The assessment tool uses a scoring system, so a client can see where they need help in certain areas, such as diet, weight, nutrition, sleep, or anything in their life they want to work on. The client, then, picks one or more areas that they’d like to work on.

“Through the skills of nurse coaching, you use techniques where the client has a self-awareness, self-motivation (internal and external), and self-development. The coach and client build a trusting relationship where they set smart goals for the client. There is no judgment. When coaching SFSC Nursing faculty, we’d meet on a weekly basis and set goals each week. Patients or clients look at themselves and decide what they really need to change. It’s not somebody else telling them what to do. So through motivational interviewing and appreciative inquiry, there’s a lot of positive talk. The person is built up and not built down to make things happen, so it’s pretty effective.”

Cappo would like to use nurse coaching with SFSC Nursing students. “Nursing students are so stressed—it’s competitive to get into the program and, when in the program, they have a lot of content to cover in a short period of time. And it doesn’t end when they become a nurse. Nurses work 12-hour shifts, many times without breaks because they may be afraid something is going to happen to their patients. They’re dealing with people who are at their most vulnerable and there can be a lot of sadness. So they have to find ways to care for themselves and not be depressed and not get burnout.”

Cappo has already started introducing nurse coaching into SFSC’s Nursing Education curriculum. It’s used in the Associate Degree in Nursing program. “All our curriculum supports the holistic views, so we want to become a certified holistic program,” she said. “Nurse coaching is another track that I would expose the students to, such as becoming an emergency critical care nurse or becoming an obstetrical nurse.”

SFSC currently offers an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, a two-year generic associate in nursing degree program, a one-year transition licensed practical nurse to registered nurse program, and an 11-month practical nursing occupational certificate. For more information about these programs, call 863-784-7131 or visit southflorida.edu.