Don Elwell
AVON PARK, Fla. – June 30, 2022 – The South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation recently elected a new Executive Board for its Board of Directors. Executive Board members begin their terms of office on July 1, 2022 and they serve for two years.
The new SFSC Foundation Executive Board members are Don Elwell, Darrell Jensen, Michael Kelly, and Robin Weeks. Elwell, representing Highlands County, was elected president and has been a member of the Foundation Board of Directors since 2014. He is director of marketing and communications with Alan Jay Automotive Network. Darrell Jensen, representing Highlands County, was elected vice president and has been a member of the Foundation Board since 2018. He is a CPA. Michael Kelly, representing Hardee County, was elected secretary and has been a Foundation board member since 2014. He is editor and co-publisher of The Herald Advocate. Robin Weeks, representing Hardee County, was elected treasurer and has been a Foundation Board member since 2010. She is a CPA and owner of W2 Holdings, LLC.
“SFSC is one of the greatest assets we have in our district,” Elwell said. “It is a bright, shining star and I want to do everything possible to help it continue to grow and be outstanding. One of the Foundation Board’s biggest initiatives is construction of a new dorm facility for the Highlands Campus, which would be a major attraction for new students as well as returning students.
“As the new president of the Foundation Board of Directors, I look at the other members of the Board,” he said. “It’s a who’s who of leaders in the community and the region. I’m honored to be part of that. To even be mentioned alongside those folks and working alongside them is truly an honor.”
Other members of the SFSC Foundation Board of Directors are: Cheryl Brown (Executive Board member-at-large), Corey Allain, Sandy Braxton, Dr. Catherine P. Cornelius, Judge Angela Cowden, Christy Crews, Robert Duncan, Judge Peter Estrada, Dr. Thomas C. Leitzel, Patricia Manderville, Becky McIntyre, Tres Stephenson, Dr. Vinod Thakkar, and Dr. David Willey.
The SFSC Foundation provides financial support for SFSC’s students and the opportunity for enhanced access to an affordable, quality education, training, and experience they will need to excel as tomorrow’s leaders. As a partner in building a better community, the SFSC Foundation promotes higher education with student scholarships, support of instructional programs, technology, and new and improved facilities. A donation through the Foundation supports the College, improves students’ lives, and enhances the community. The SFSC Foundation held its first official meeting in 1984. It was established to offer grants and scholarships to SFSC students from its service district of Highlands, Hardee, and DeSoto counties.
June 27, 2022 – South Florida State College (SFSC) rolled out its new marketing campaign that focuses on meeting students where they are and navigating their path to success. The headline of the new campaign is Your Path. Your Way. 
AVON PARK, Fla. – June 23, 2022 – South Florida State College (SFSC) is bringing an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) College Credit Certificate program to its DeSoto Campus in Arcadia in fall 2022. The program is currently offered at the SFSC Highlands Campus in Avon Park. Graduates will be eligible to apply to take the Florida EMT Certification Exam.
“We are excited to expand our EMT program to the DeSoto Campus and bring this specialized training closer to the residents of the county,” said Dr. Michele Heston, dean of health sciences at SFSC. “We realize how essential first responders are to our community and we want to make sure that they receive the quality training that they need to serve our residents.”
The EMT program prepares students for an entry-level career in Emergency Medical Services. They will have both in-class and practical training on recognizing and treating medical and injury-related emergencies outside of the hospital environment.
Classes will be held Monday and Wednesday, from 9 am. to 6 p.m., at the SFSC DeSoto Campus. Students will be required to participate in the ambulance ride along and hospital clinical experience portion of the program. These experiences will take place at DeSoto Memorial Hospital and DeSoto County Fire Rescue.
“This program is a positive thing for DeSoto County to be sure,” said Chief Chad Jorgensen, DeSoto County public safety director. “It provides an opportunity for people coming through school or people in the community who want to look at another career option.”
For more information about the EMT College Credit Certificate program at the SFSC DeSoto Campus, contact Chris Fowler, EMS/Fire Science program staff assistant, at 863-784-7278 or chris.fowler@southflorida.edu.
June 7, 2022 – South Florida State College (SFSC) Performing Arts presents The McCain Duo on Thursday, June 16 at 7 p.m. at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts in a free concert in recognition of Juneteenth. Hailing from Mobile, Ala., the McCains are dedicated to promoting the works of Black and other underrepresented composers. Gospel singer Andrea Mathis, together with family and friends, will also perform.
Described by the Dallas Arts Society as a pianist with “power and finesse” and by the Austin Chamber Music Center as having a “sense of color, balance, and texture,” Artina McCain has built a three-fold career as a performer, educator, and speaker. Recent performance highlights include guest appearances with the Oregon East Symphony, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and the Austin Civic Orchestra. As a recitalist, her credits include performances at the Mahidol University in Bangkok, Hatch Recital Hall in Rochester, Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens in Jacksonville, Fla., and the Desoto Arts Commission in Desoto, Texas.
Bass trombonist Martin McCain’s career spans an impressive range of musical genres. He is a four-time winner of the Global Music Awards and was featured as their “Emerging Artist” in Billboard magazine. A third-generation musician, McCain maintains a versatile performance schedule as a soloist; recording artist; chamber, orchestral, and jazz/commercial musician; and educator. With performances described by the International Trombone Association Journal as “solid and masterful” with what Glissando Magazine calls a “warm and beautiful tone.”
The duo has performed throughout Asia at Mahidol University in Thailand, The University of Toronto in Canada, and Radio Television Hong Kong. U.S. highlights include performances at the Gateways Music Festival in New York, the American Trombone Workshop in Virginia, The Great American Brass Band Festival in Kentucky, and most recently the Music Teachers National Association Convention. Their concerts and recordings have been broadcast on NPR’s Performance Today, CKWR Toronto, and KMFA Classical Austin.
“The McCains are known for their inspiring mix of classical, jazz, and gospel programming,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs at SFSC. “The audience can expect to hear a range of music from George Gershwin to ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic.’ It will be a lovely musical celebration and I encourage folks to observe Juneteenth at the Wildstein Center.”
The free performance is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Tickets are available at sfscARTS.org and also at the door. The Alan Jay Wildstein Center is located on the Highlands Campus of South Florida State College at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park. Parking is free and the concession stand accepts cash only.
AVON PARK, Fla. – June 14, 2022 – South Florida State College (SFSC) is bringing the Electrical Lineworker Career Certificate program back to its DeSoto Campus in Arcadia in fall 2022. The program is currently offered at the SFSC Hardee Campus in Bowling Green.
“Locally providing skills needed for high-wage occupations is a big part of what our College is about,” said Asena Mott, SFSC DeSoto Campus director. “Students can study for their future without the barriers of traveling. In some fields, online classes can work fine, but in the field of lineworker, so much hands-on learning is required that virtual learning is not feasible. Offering these classes for students locally brings the opportunity directly to the student.”
The Electrical Lineworker program prepares students for careers in the power distribution industry. It provides practice in climbing, framing, building single and three-phase overhead lines, pole top and bucket rescue techniques, operating bucket trucks, and maintaining and repairing underground systems.
Graduates of the program earn a Career Certificate and a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Upon completion, 20 credits can be applied to the SFSC Associate in Applied Science in Industrial Management. Those credits are approximately 30% of that degree.
Classes will be held Monday through Friday, and students may attend full time or part time. Morning class times are 8 to 11:20 a.m.; afternoon classes are 12:15 to 3:35 p.m.
Mott indicated that graduates’ job prospects are outstanding. “Jobs are available all over the region, state, and across the country,” she said. “Graduates are prepared to enter the workforce with the knowledge needed for success at any of the local power companies or subcontractors.”
“I’m really excited that we’re bringing the Lineworker program back to DeSoto County,” said Dr. Bobby Bennett, superintendent of the School District of DeSoto County. “It’s been a fixture for our students for a number of years, and I’m so pleased that Dr. Thomas Leitzel, SFSC president, and Dr. Sidney Valentine, SFSC vice president for academic affairs and student services, have the vision to bring it back to DeSoto County. It’s a good move for our students in terms of future employment opportunities and the training they’ll get. We did not want our students to have to get on the road to Hardee County for this program. We want to build it right here in DeSoto County, so we’re just as pleased as we can be. I have friends who I went to high school with who are lineworkers and they have done exceptionally well in that career. It’s a great opportunity for our students to have.”
For more information about the Electrical Lineworker Career Certificate program at the SFSC DeSoto Campus, contact Mott at 863-784-7041 or motta@southflorida.edu or Laura Wilder, student advisor, at 863-784-7052 or WilderL@southflorida.edu.
Angela Huang with her research poster at Regeneron ISEF
AVON PARK, Fla. – June 13, 2022 – South Florida State College (SFSC) student and Sebring High School junior, Angela Huang, presented research at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2022 in Atlanta, Ga. in April. She was awarded fourth place in Cell and Molecular Biology for her research, “Fusobacterium Nucleatum as a Marker for Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer.” It is an amazing recognition, as Huang was one of 1,750 students from 49 U.S. states and 53 countries who participated in Regeneron ISEF.
According to the Society for Science, the Regeneron ISEF, a program of Society for Science, is the world’s largest global science competition for high school students. Through a global network of local, regional, and national science fairs, millions of students are encouraged to explore their passion for scientific inquiry. Each spring, students are selected as finalists and offered the opportunity to compete for approximately $8 million in awards and scholarships.
Dr. Mintoo Patel, SFSC biology instructor and Huang’s research mentor, broadly explained Huang’s research: “The COVID-19 pandemic has really shifted the number of colorectal cancer screenings, decreasing them by as much as 100% in some countries. It’s more important than ever that we emphasize early detection and enhance current methods of treatment.” Huang’s research delves into this possibility.
But not only is Huang working on a research project with Dr. Patel, she’s taken on another one with Dr. Daniel Sanches, the chair of SFSC’s Natural Sciences Department and a biology instructor. “The research explores the link between melatonin, a key regulator within our circadian rhythm, and cancer within the thyroid, which has been shown to synthesize melatonin,” Dr. Sanches said. “After much trial and error, we’ve settled on examining the role of melatonin on forms of induced and natural cell death on thyroid cancer cells.”
Although working on two research projects at once seems monumental, Huang is unconcerned. “With research, you’re not going to have constant progress on your project all the time,” she said. “At a certain point, one project will slow down. So I thought, ‘If this one’s slowing down, I may as well work on another one.’”
Huang has made other presentations at scientific conferences over the last year, including the prestigious Experimental Biology (EB) annual meeting that was held in Philadelphia in April. EB is an annual meeting of five scientific societies that explores the latest biomedical research. Closer to home, Huang has consistently earned kudos while participating in high school science fairs. For her research on colorectal cancer, she placed first in Cell and Molecular Biology at the District Highlands County Science Fair, first place in Cell and Molecular Biology at the Heartland Regionals Science Fair, and second place in Cell and Molecular Biology at the State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida, which attracted 900 participants.
Huang will enter her senior year at Sebring High School in the fall. She’s undecided about what university she plans to attend after graduation; however, her sights are set on majoring in neuroscience. Her mother, who is a cardiologist, may have influenced Huang’s future career choice. Although Huang is interested in medicine, she’d like to become a physician scientist.
Dr. Patel indicated that undergraduate research benefits Angela and other students in a variety of ways. “Angela can learn about the field she is contemplating going into,” Dr. Patel said. “She’s learning about all the diseases that are prevalent and what we can do about it. She wants to be a physician scientist, so she’s doing the research at SFSC on diseases that are prevalent in our community. That’s a real-life application of what’s she’s learning in the classroom and she’s taking a deeper dive into the subject and seeing what her career will look like. Presenting at the Regeneron ISEF, Angela not only interacted with peers, but Nobel laureates attended and spoke,” Dr. Patel said. “Top scientists attended the conference.”
Dr. Patel encourages other students to participate in research as undergraduates. “Students don’t come to SFSC knowing everything,” she said. “It’s our job to teach them. So, we teach them in many different ways. But project-based learning gives them a deeper insight into different subjects. They can steer their project as far as their curiosity goes. It creates a passion for the subject. If there’s passion, the students are going to take that responsibility of learning. They want to know more, so that’s why they’re going to do more.”
For more information about undergraduate research at SFSC, contact Dr. James Hawker, dean of arts and sciences, at 863-784-7329 or james.hawker@southflorida.edu.
Photo credit: Grodenkoff/Adobe Stock
AVON PARK, Fla. – June 13, 2022 – South Florida State College (SFSC) is offering a two-year, 64-credit Associate in Science in Surgical Services at its Hardee Campus in Bowling Green, Fla. beginning fall term 2022. This program prepares the student to become a surgical technologist.
Surgical technologists are integral members of a health care team, working closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses, and other health care personnel to deliver patient care before, during, and after surgery. They prepare operating rooms for surgery, sterilize equipment, ready patients for surgery, maintain a sterile environment, and pass sterile instruments and supplies to surgeons during surgery.
“The Surgical Services Program is a key component to developing a larger pool of health care talent in Hardee County,” said Denise Grimsley, vice president, AdventHealth Wauchula.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for surgical technologists is projected to increase 7% by 2029, which is the fastest growing profession averaged for all occupations. The lack of trained surgical services professionals across the United States impacts area hospitals’ ability to adequately staff surgery departments. The demand for surgical technicians in Florida is high, and no surgical services programs are available in or near SFSC’s service district of Hardee, Highlands, and DeSoto counties. Currently, 1,445 surgical technologist positions are listed on Indeed.com.
To learn more about this program, contact Danielle Ochoa, Health Sciences advisor, at 863-784-7027 or healthsciences@southflorida.edu.
Jamie Bateman (left), executive director of institutional advancement, and Tina Stetson, director of financial aid
AVON PARK, Fla. – June 6, 2022 – A $60,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has been awarded to the South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation, Inc. to benefit part-time students and parents who are attending SFSC in summer 2022, fall term 2022, and spring term 2023.
The grant comes from the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund, which was established by Roberts as a legacy to support Florida’s community colleges and other charitable organizations. Managed by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the fund continues Roberts’ vision of making higher education a priority, particularly for those motivated to seek a better life for themselves.
SFSC’s grant funds are designated to aid students who attend college part time and may not qualify for other forms of financial aid and students who are parents, whether single or married. Individual students may receive up to a maximum of $2,500 through the end of the grant period, March 2023. The grant covers tuition, housing, books, childcare, transportation, and needs that would otherwise prevent students from attending college. Recipients are identified by SFSC’s Office of Financial Aid.
“Because of grants from organizations such as the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the SFSC Foundation can support the educational goals of SFSC’s students,” said Jamie Bateman, SFSC executive director of institutional advancement. “The funds from this grant allow our students to concentrate on their studies and prepare for personally and financially rewarding careers. This grant also addresses the needs of parents. With this financial support, students can achieve their higher education goals.”
For more information, contact Bateman at 863-453-3133 or email foundation@southflorida.edu. For information about the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, visit cfsarasota.org.
Basic Law Enforcement Class 268
AVON PARK, Fla. — June 3, 2022 —South Florida State College’s (SFSC) Basic Law Enforcement (BLE) Academy Class 268 graduated 18 cadets during a ceremony on Friday, June 3 in the University Center Auditorium on the SFSC Highlands Campus in Avon Park.
BLE Class 268 graduates who received career certificates were: Owen Skinner (class leader), Yeider Bello Jr., Julian M. Clemente, Brian R. Davis, Blanca Guereca, Christian A. Hollingsworth, Jayme Keefe, Russell C. Long Jr., Makayla A. McManus, Nicole M. Peana, Andrew Perez, Veronica Reyes Sanchez, Michael Romero Perez, Emilio J. Roque, Hector J. Santana Jr., Austin Taylor, Jeremy Williams, and Christopher A. Winski.
Guest speaker for the graduation was Deputy Luis Pratts-Martinez of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and adjunct instructor for SFSC since 2015. Addressing the cadets, he said, “In this profession, you must be a counselor, a mediator, and more. One minute, you’ll be helping an elderly person get home, the next you’ll probably be fighting for your life or trying to save somebody else’s life. I hope that we have given you the stepping stones to deal with these situations. This is a profession that’s always evolving. You need to evolve as well. Set goals and educate yourself to reach those goals. In closing, family and friends, please provide your loved ones a place where they can decompress at the end of their shift and have an open line of communication. This will help with their mental well-being. Class 268, remember this: You’re going to professionally represent yourself, your agency, and law enforcement professionals throughout this great state and nation. Always step with your best foot forward. Thank you for making me part of your lives, and I hope to be able to work with all of you in the future.”
During the ceremony, special awards were presented to three of the cadets: Owen Skinner as class leader, Brian Davis for top academics, and Hector Santana for top firearms scores.
Skinner, class leader, offered parting words to the graduates: “Graduation is far from the end of the road. As we continue with our careers and education, we will continue to face many hurdles on our road to success. Once we leave here, I ask that you continue to push yourselves not only physically but mentally as well. Never stop learning, never stop getting stronger and faster and always strive to leave a positive impression on the lives of the people you interact with from this point on. We should be proud of what we’ve accomplished. This profession is not for everyone. It takes a courageous and noble person to want to do this for a living and for that I applaud you. We’ve all grown exponentially since the beginning of the class. We went from believing that law enforcement was about being in high speed pursuits and foot chases to actually understanding that law enforcement is about maintaining a positive relationship in the community and helping people when they’re at the worse points in their lives. Never forget the things we learned and always be there for one another.”
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.
For more information about this program, visit southflorida.edu or call SFSC’s Criminal Justice Academy at 863-784-7285.
