SFSC Receives Grant Funding from Duke Energy Foundation

AVON PARK, Fla. – Aug. 29, 2022 — South Florida State College (SFSC) recently received more than $82,000 in grant funding from the Duke Energy Foundation to enhance the College’s Electrical Lineworker Program.

“Duke Energy is proud of our collaboration with South Florida State College and the positive outcomes of the Electrical Lineworker Program we support,” said Nancy Dodd, Duke Energy Florida government and community relations manager. “We look forward to assisting SFSC in reaching even more students and adding state-of-the-art equipment to enhance the hands-on training opportunities available to current and future students of the program.”

According to Christopher Yeomans, electrical distribution professor, with the grant funding from the Duke Energy Foundation, the SFSC Electrical Lineworker Program will purchase a mini-excavator and a Viper ST breaker. “This equipment will benefit SFSC’s program and its students in two ways: First, the students will learn to safely and efficiently use a mini-excavator to install and maintain primary and secondary cables for an Underground Residential Distribution (URD) system,” he said. “Secondly, the students will also be able to learn the latest technology circuit protection on a distribution system. They will learn how to frame a pole for the installation of a three-phase Viper ST breaker, execute switching orders to place a three-phase breaker in service, and execute switching orders to bypass three-phase breakers for maintenance or change out.”

SFSC’s Electrical Lineworker Program prepares students to work as electric line technicians in the construction, maintenance, and repair of electric utility overhaul and underground systems. Through 1,500 contact hours of training at the College’s Hardee Campus, students gain an understanding of electrical systems, operations, and safety while mastering competencies in electrical distribution, basic electrical theory, and underground electrical construction operations. They learn how to maintain electric power systems and use electrical distribution equipment. The program 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. Students who successfully complete the program earn a Career Certificate.

For more information about SFSC’s Electrical Lineworker Program, contact Christopher Yeomans, electrical distribution professor, by emailing yeomansC@southflorida.edu or calling 863-784-7045.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Aug. 23, 2022 – Dr. Michele Heston, interim vice president for academic affairs and student services at South Florida State College (SFSC), was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the Florida Center for Nursing Board of Directors. She is one of 10 recent appointees from educational institutions that offer nursing programs and hospitals throughout Florida, including Tampa General Hospital and St. Petersburg College.

The Florida Center for Nursing is the definitive source of information, research, and strategies addressing nurse workforce needs in Florida. The Center was established in 2001 by Florida statute to track nursing shortages and recommend possible solutions. By collecting, analyzing, and reporting on the nursing workforce, the Center can help to ensure an adequate supply of providers for the health of Floridians. The Center was closed in 2021 due to lack of funding; however, it was re-established recently to address the ongoing shortage of nurses as the result of burnout and stress from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Dr. Heston’s experience as a seasoned leader in nursing education makes her an ideal choice for membership on the board,” said Dr. Thomas C. Leitzel, SFSC president. “SFSC’s first-time pass rates on the NCLEX rank among the state’s best, a tribute to Dr. Heston’s leadership together with the faculty in the Division of Health Sciences. Her commitment to the nursing profession and knowledge, both theoretical and practical, will be part of a relational framework she will bring to her service on this important board.”

“It is truly an honor to receive this appointment, as nursing has been my passion for more than 40 years,” Dr. Heston said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to help advance the supply of nurses and to provide a remedy for their critical shortage now and in the future.”

Dr. Heston was previously dean of Health Sciences at SFSC. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, the Florida Pathways Institute, and the Florida Council of Nursing Education Administrators. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of South Florida, her master’s degree in Nursing from Clarkson College, and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Higher Education from Barry University.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Aug. 11, 2022 – South Florida State College (SFSC) recently installed state-of-the-art driving simulators to assist in training its students in the Commercial Vehicle Driving program.

The purchase of driving simulators at SFSC were the result of $415,000 allocated to SFSC last January through the governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Those funds were earmarked for the Commercial Vehicle Driver Program to help alleviate the national shortage of truck drivers. According to the American Trucking Associations, the trucking industry may need more than 160,000 drivers by 2030.

Two simulators were recently installed at SFSC’s Crews Center in Avon Park: a virtual pre-trip inspection simulator and a truck cab simulator. “The virtual pre-trip inspection simulator station allows students to view over 100 parts on a truck that need to be inspected prior to a trip,” said Joe Burke, coordinator and instructor of SFSC’s Commercial Vehicle Driving program. “Some of the parts under the hood that they would inspect are the alternator, water pump, air compressor, and power steering box. If parts have an issue, the student must identify them. While the student is inspecting the virtual truck, the instructor can watch along with him or her.”

The truck cab simulator has three screens, and the virtual truck is identical to the actual truck cab that is used in the program. The student learns how to shift the 10-speed transmission, backing maneuvers, and how to drive on various terrains and conditions, such as in the city, in the mountains, on the interstate, in snow and ice, in darkness, and in high winds. The cab is motion-based, so the student can feel the truck moving. The student can inspect gauges on the dashboard, the windshield wipers, steering wheel, horns, all indicator lights, and the defroster.

Both of the simulators can be used to practice for the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) examination. The final examination is done with an actual rig at the Crews Center.

“We’re excited about the truck driving simulators, because they will give our students an enhanced training experience before they get behind the wheel of the truck,” said Tina Gottus, SFSC’s director of corporate and community education. “The simulators will provide students with broader training opportunities and provide reports on the driver’s performance to the instructor. The instructor will evaluate the reports and provide feedback to assist the student, leading to successful outcomes and experiences. The simulators also have a classroom monitor, so all students can learn from the student in the training seat. When things go wrong on the road, students will better know how to recover. Ultimately, they will become better drivers. When they make it safer on our roads, we all benefit.”

SFSC’s Commercial Vehicle Driving program is a four-week course that offers in-depth, hands-on truck driving experience and provides connections with future employers. The College accepts approximately 260 students into the program annually. Currently, 25 students are on its waiting list for acceptance into the program.

For more information about SFSC’s Commercial Vehicle Driving program, call the Corporate and Community Education Department at 863-784-7033 or email corporatetraining@southflorida.edu.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Aug. 9, 2022 – South Florida State College (SFSC) graduated 22 Practical Nursing (PN) program students in a traditional pinning ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 4 in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus at SFSC in Avon Park.

The graduates are Ericka Borders, Dianna Botello, Lakiera Brown, Eliasar Cleto, Erika Coggins, Tara Deeson, Cameron Eason, Olivia Guerndt, Destini Henry, Najey Jones, Jamee Keller, Christian Lashley, Carlos Martinez Jr., Cristal Miranda, Elizabeth Poe, Ricky Rodriguez, Lillian Salazar, Craciela Silvan-Macedo, Katherine Skipper, Brooklyn Sneed, Angelin Stephen, and Bethany Young.

In a tearful farewell address to fellow graduates, 2022 Class President Tara Deesen related the devastation of failing to complete the Associate in Science in Nursing (ADN) program at SFSC in 2021. However, she related that she was given a second chance to prove herself when it was suggested she enter the College’s PN program.

“I stand before you tonight … because when failure stood at my door, the desire for my goal was stronger than my grief,” Deesen said. “When running for president among my classmates, I let them know that attaining this status was not only to prove to myself that it was possible, but to be a leader for them as someone who has failed but did not give up on chasing the goal.

“I commend and applaud every one of you who has dedicated yourself to this Nursing program, community, and this profession. I hope to have lifted the burden of expectations from someone’s shoulders by sharing my story, because it’s not about how old or young you are, how long it takes you, where you came from, how many times you failed, or even if someone doesn’t think you’re good enough for the job. It’s about how many times you get back up and keep pushing for those goals and not let failures get in your way. I sincerely pray for our successes as we venture on for further education, specialty certifications, and for God to keep his eyes upon our hands as we care for those in need. I charge all of you to fervently seek advocacy for your dreams to become a reality. Because those dreams are obtainable. Always remember, a life lived chasing your dreams is a life worth living.”

Each year, PN graduates award the Golden Duck to someone who has served as a mentor to the students in the program. The D.U.C.K. acronym represents the foundational elements of the mentoring arrangement: Developing, Understanding, Compassion, and Knowledge. During the ceremony, graduate Destini Henry presented the 2022 Golden Duck Award to Cori Whitehouse, clinical instructor with AdventHealth Sebring. “She effortlessly served as a Nursing mentor during clinical rotations at AdventHealth and has inspired many of our students to continue in our educational aspirations and begin a Nursing career at AdventHealth,” Henry said.

The practice of pinning new graduates has been a nursing school tradition in the United States since 1916 and, symbolically, welcomes each graduate into the nursing profession. The pin is worn prominently on a nurse’s uniform throughout their career. One story of the ceremony’s beginning goes back to 1883, when Queen Victoria awarded Florence Nightingale the Royal Red Cross on St. George’s Day for her service to the sick and injured during the Crimean War. In turn, Nightingale later extended the honor to her outstanding nursing students by presenting them with a medal of excellence.

Graduates of the 11-month career certificate PN program become licensed practical nurses by passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) exam. SFSC nursing graduates are usually fully employed in Nursing within a few months of graduation.

SFSC offers an Associate in Science degree in Nursing (ADN) program for students interested in becoming registered nurses in three formats: a two-year Generic-RN program, a two-year Evening/Weekend RN program, and a one-year Transition-LPN to RN program. The College also offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

For information about SFSC’s Nursing programs, contact Danielle Ochoa, Health Sciences advisor at 863-784-7027 or by email at healthsciences@southflorida.edu.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Aug. 5, 2022 – South Florida State College (SFSC) was recently awarded a $2,000 grant from the Florida Academy of Sciences (FAS) through its Grants-in-Aid of Undergraduate Research program.

Funds through the Grants-in-Aid of Undergraduate Research program are made available in support of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students at colleges and universities in Florida that have been officially designated as Minority-Serving Institutions and Primarily Undergraduate Institutions. The funds are earmarked for student equipment, supplies, or research travel during the 2022-23 academic year.

According to the FAS, the organization is the Florida affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It sponsors the Florida Junior Academy of Science to encourage young scientists, publishes a quarterly journal, and sponsors an annual meeting to give members an opportunity to present papers, honor peers, and participate in multidisciplinary scientific exchanges.

“At SFSC, the grant money is to be shared by four faculty conducting cell and molecular biology research with students,” said Dr. James Hawker, Jr., dean of arts and sciences at SFSC.  “The four faculty are Dr. Mintoo Patel, Dr. Daniel Sanches, Amy Bohan, and myself. Though we have different projects, we use similar reagents and supplies in our work with students. So, the purpose will be to be to pay for reagents and supplies that our students use for cell biology research in the coming year.

“I am a councilor-at-large for the Florida Academy of Sciences,” Dr. Hawker said. “The Academy set aside funds for minority-serving institutions in Florida to promote undergraduate research in science at both universities and colleges, as those institutions often have little money to do science research with students. At SFSC, we don’t have much money for UGR in science, so we applied for this grant. In addition to SFSC, two other postsecondary institutions received this award. They are Bethune-Cookman University and Florida SouthWestern State College.” 

By participating in undergraduate research at SFSC, students gain a deeper understanding of subject matter beyond regular courses, as they develop critical thinking and analytical skills. Undergraduate research prepares students for success in rigorous research after transferring to universities or to the workforce.

SFSC offers undergraduate research opportunities for students in the natural sciences, humanities, and art. Research may be part of a regular class or honors class, or as a separate special topics course. Students develop and implement research ideas guided by a faculty mentor in their particular discipline. Many SFSC students gain further experience by presenting their research results and making professional connections at state and national conferences, as well as during monthly undergraduate research forums at SFSC.

For more information about undergraduate research at SFSC, contact Dr. Hawker at 863-784-7329 or hawkerj@southflorida.edu.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Aug. 2, 2022 – For over 25 years, residents of Florida’s Heartland have been invited to maintain a healthy lifestyle by participating in the Heartland Games through South Florida State College (SFSC). This year, SFSC’s Corporate and Community Education Department coordinates the Heartland Games in conjunction with the Highlands County Family YMCA for the first time. The Heartland Games begin on Sept. 16 and run through Nov. 12 and will be held at various venues in Sebring.

“The YMCA is known for hosting athletic events and SFSC knows education,” said Tina Gottus, SFSC corporate and community education director. “We believe combining expertise and knowledge will elevate the games so that it is sustainable for years to come. We are excited to bring back the games under this new partnership and leadership.”

The Heartland Games are open to men and women 50 years and older to compete against others of the same gender and age group. The Heartland Games are sanctioned by the Florida Sports Foundation and serve as a qualifying event for the Florida Senior Games for residents of DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, and surrounding counties. The Heartland Games promote physical fitness, good health, and a competitive spirit among seniors who live active lifestyles and inspires those who may not.

This fall, athletes can participate in cycling (road race and time trial), tennis (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles), swimming, a 5K run and walk, pickleball (doubles and mixed doubles), golf, euchre, pinochle, Mahjong, and bridge.

The complete schedule, registration forms, and payment information for the Heartland Games is available at bit.ly/heartlandgames2022. Click “Programs” on upper right side of page. For further information, call 863-382-9622 or email michaelb@highlandsymca.org.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Aug. 1, 2022 – On Thursday, July 28, South Florida State College (SFSC) honored nine of its graduates in a traditional pinning ceremony on the College’s Highlands Campus in Avon Park. The graduates have earned their Associate in Science (A.S.) in Radiography.

The graduates honored were: Jessica Eugenio-Hernandez, Brittany Lockwood, Rebecca Nadaskay, Andre Nguyen, Alex Paulino, Susana Ramirez, Guadalupe Salgado, Leroy Small III, and Ashlyn Smeal.

The guest speaker was Maria Zapada, clinical instructor with HCA Highlands Hospital in Sebring, who addressed the students: “I’m a graduate of the second Radiography class at SFSC. Being part of this program has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me. As a clinical instructor, my duty is to teach and mentor students who have chosen Radiography as their career. Every student who has succeeded in their Radiography program worked hard and sacrificed a lot to be where they are today. I have seen the fear in their eyes when they performed their first x-ray unassisted. I have seen the pride in their eyes when they completed a textbook X-ray on a patient. From the very first clinical day as a new student to the bittersweet last day of clinicals, you all have gone through an amazing journey together. Here’s to a new beginning and to a new adventure.”

Upon completing SFSC’s two-year A.S. degree in Radiography, graduates can work as certified radiologic technologists by passing the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) national examination. Radiologic technologists work in hospitals and clinics performing diagnostic imaging examinations, such as X-rays.

For information about SFSC’s Radiography program, contact Danielle Ochoa, Health Sciences advisor at 863-784-7027 or by email at healthsciences@southflorida.edu.