SFSC Awarded Funding from the Florida College System Foundation

AVON PARK, Fla. – Sept. 16, 2022 — South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation recently received nearly $28,000 in funding from the Florida College System (FCS) Foundation. These funds will be allocated among three student-focused scholarships: The Helios Education Foundation First Generation Scholars Program, Bank of America Dream Makers Scholars Program, and Florida Blue Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship.

The Helios and Dream Makers endowments fund scholarships for first-generation-in-college students who attend colleges within the FCS. The purpose of the Florida Blue Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship is to attract students from under-represented populations into the nursing and allied health care workforce and is for students at colleges within the FCS.

“We are extremely grateful to the Florida College System Foundation for all that they do in support of our students here at SFSC,” said Jamie Bateman, vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs. “Through their efforts, we are able to connect with donors like the Helios Foundation, Bank of America, and Florida Blue, who graciously donate to our programs, ensuring that our students receive the necessary funding needed to aid in their higher education goals. These donations, along with the matching funds from our community, are paving the way for the future leaders of our region.”

To apply for scholarships made available through the SFSC Foundation, visit AwardSpring at: https://southflorida.awardspring.com/. For more information about the SFSC Foundation or to make a donation, call 863-453-3133 or email foundation@southflorida.edu.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Sept. 16, 2022 – Since 1998, South Florida State College (SFSC) Performing Arts has presented professional, live performances for school groups that are educational and entertaining.

“For many, this is their first experience visiting a performing arts center and watching a live performance,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs at SFSC. “All performances include a free study guide for classroom teachers that include curriculum and activities.” 

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? The Musical, produced by Virginia Repertory Theater, is based on the concepts in Carol McCloud’s award-winning children’s book, “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” and Ann Marie Gardinier Halstead’s book, “The Bucket Filling Fairy.” The play uses the concept of a bucket to show students how to express kindness, appreciation, and love to be “bucket-fillers.” The play focuses on the benefits of positive, thoughtful behavior to become “bucket-fillers,” not “bucket-dippers.”

Geared to students in grades kindergarten to third, the musical performance promotes healthy relationships and self-esteem. This performance is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a. m. 

Doktor Kaboom: Look Out Science is Coming! is an educational tour of the modern scientific method, using humor and comedy while demonstrating spectacular applications of physical science. “Doktor Kaboom has an amazing wit and he performs awesome science experiments,” Garren said.

Topics covered in Look Out Science is Coming! include simple machines, chemical reactions, pressure, force and velocity, hypothesis, and experimentation. “Students in third to eighth grade will learn about science, health, and STEAM in this show.” Performances at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. will be on Thursday, Oct. 13.

The Emmy award-winning 1970s pop culture phenomenon, Schoolhouse Rock Live!, will be performed for students in grades 3 through 8 on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Produced by Stages Productions, the action begins when a young school teacher, nervous about his first day of teaching, tries to relax by watching TV. Suddenly the Schoolhouse Rock bunch appear and help him instruct his students on a variety of subjects like math, history, politics, and grammar. Through a series of classic songs like “Unpack Your Adjectives,” “Just a Bill,” and “Conjunction Junction,” this multimedia presentation shows young people that learning can be fun.

Students in kindergarten through third grade can take a fast-paced, joyous tour around the globe at Holiday Traditions Around the World. Students will learn about customs, traditions, and folklore from Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other holidays. The performance is a heartwarming and lively production that celebrates the true spirit of cultural diversity.

All performances are at the 1,460 seat Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the SFSC Highlands Campus, located at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park. All performances run 60 minutes and include study guides for teachers.

Tickets are only $5 per student and groups receive one complimentary ticket for every 10 purchased. Reservations are first-come, first-served. Email ypt@southflorida.edu to make a reservation or call the SFSC Box Office at 863-784-7178.

SFSC Performing Arts offers a 50% discount Teacher Rush ticket on select Artist, Trending Now, and Syncopated Sundays performances. Teachers can save 50% on admission when they show their valid school ID at the Box Office. The discount is not available for all performances, and teachers are advised to check online for the selected performances at sfscarts.org/box-office/teacher. Teacher Rush tickets cannot be purchased online and are available night-of-show only.

SFSC Performing Arts presents a variety of international touring productions, concerts, and Grammy Award winners at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts. For a complete schedule of performances, visit sfsc.org.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Sept. 12, 2022 – South Florida State College (SFSC) opens its 38th season with a free performance by Spanish-born duo pianists Elena Martin and Jose Meliton on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the SFSC Highlands Campus in Avon Park, Fla. The performance, Among the Lemon Trees, is a celebration of classical Spanish music with two pianos. Complimentary tickets are available online only at sfscARTS.org.

“SFSC wants to bring the performing arts to all members of our community,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs at SFSC. “By offering free performances, everyone can experience the joy, beauty, and inspiration of live music. What a wonderful treat for families to enjoy the talents of this international duo who have been applauded around the world.”

SFSC presents an eight-show Artist Series, a 10-show Matinee Series, a four-show Trending Now Series, and a four-show Syncopated Sundays Series. Series subscriptions are available now. Subscribers to a series can save up to 25% over single ticket prices, get seats before the general public, get discounts on pre-show dinners and special engagements.

“The subscription prices are affordable,” Garren said. “A silver seat for the Trending Now Series is only $20 per performance. A bronze seat for the Matinee Series is under $16—that’s an awesome deal.”

Special engagements scheduled are MANIA: Abba Tribute on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. “This is the Abba group that has wowed our audiences the past two years. It’s the original production from London’s West End that started the whole Abba tribute craze; a really, fun show!” Garren said. 

The Guess Who, the first Canadian rock stars, charted 14 top 10 singles in the United States and more than 30 in Canada. Hits include “American Woman” and “Share the Land.”

The AdventHealth Trending Now Series kicks off on Saturday, Nov. 12 with Tapestry: Tribute to Carole King followed by performances of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker Ballet, The Electric Light Orchestra Experience and The Beat Goes On: Lisa McClowry as Cher. Subscriptions begin at $86.  

The popular Artist Series which features international touring companies, Grammy Award winners, and entertainment celebrities includes the “Queen of Christmas” Darlene Love in Love for the Holidays; The Manhattan Transfer; Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine; Wings: Irish Celtic Dance; The Hit Men of Country; Kathy Mattea; The Doo Wop Project; and Motown with a Twist featuring Dancing with the Stars. Subscriptions begin at $217—less than $30 per show.

The Spiegel Chiropractic Syncopated Sundays will be performed at 3 p.m. in the Wildstein Center featuring swing, big band, and traditional jazz music. Upcoming performances are: The Melton Mustafa Quintet, Vivacity with vibraphonist Heather Thorn, the Eddie Metz Trio, and the University of Florida Jazz Band. A series subscription is $100. Free tickets are available to any student with a valid school ID.

The Lampe and Keifer Hearing Aid Center Matinee Series is a Highlands County gem bringing a wide variety of live entertainment on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. The series begins Jan. 3 with Phil Dirt and The Dozers, performing a nostalgic concert of rock from the ‘50s to the ‘90s. The Southern bluegrass gospel band, The Isaacs, who have recently been added to the Grant Ole Opry Family will make their first appearance at SFSC. Other performances include: Rocky and the Rollers, Brothers Four and The Limelighters, So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience, The Edwards Twins, Glen Campbell Tribute featuring Glen’s music director Jeff Dayton, This Broad’s Way starring Broadway performer Jeri Sager, The Lovettes, and Summer Breeze, a yacht rock tribute. Subscriptions are $224, $182, and $152.

Groups sales are available for most performances. Groups of 12 or more can save up to 50% on single ticket admission, plus groups are recognized from the stage. “It’s a fun excursion for a group of friends, a social club, church group, or golf buddies,” Garren said.

Subscriptions are available now with the best seating at sfscARTS.org. Single tickets go on sale, online only, Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. The SFSC Box Office reopens on Oct. 24 for in-person service. Phone messages can be left at 863-784-7178 and will be returned within 24 hours. 

All performances are held in the 1,460-seat Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus of SFSC in Avon Park at 600 West College Drive. 

AVON PARK, Fla. – Sept. 2, 2022 – Students who have graduated from South Florida State College (SFSC) with their State of Florida High School diploma have even more incentive to continue their academic endeavors as the result of a newly created scholarship, the GED© Graduates Endowed Scholarship.

The GED© Graduates Endowed Scholarship was established by Dr. Mary Ann Lewis, an educator, through the SFSC Foundation to help students further their academic careers. The scholarship covers tuition, books, and supplies. It gives preference to graduates who participated in the General Educational Development (GED©) Prep program at SFSC and passed all four required exams. Other criteria for the scholarship are that the applicant must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at SFSC, preference is given to an applicant who has committed to a minimum of 6 credits per semester with at least one class in a face-to-face classroom, and the applicant must be able to maintain academic progress with a minimum 2.0 GPA each semester.

“SFSC is all about pathways,” said Courtney Green, Adult Education director at SFSC. “Individuals in our community have various educational goals and sometimes encounter challenges that interrupt their educational journey in the K-12 system. The SFSC GED® preparatory class offers students an alternative pathway to earn a State of Florida High School Diploma. Obtaining a high school diploma by passing the GED allows individuals to advance in employment or continue on to postsecondary education. I am proud that the College stays committed to offering this program. Not only does this program transform an individual but also the community.”

SFSC’s GED© Prep program is available to residents of Florida 16 years of age or older who do not have a high school diploma. Through the program, students develop skills to pass the GED© exams that cover reading, writing, math, language, and science. By attending face-to-face classes, students are 75% more likely to pass the GED© exam on the first try. Upon successfully completing the four subject area tests, students earn a State of Florida High School Diploma.

“This scholarship is meaningful to those of us in SFSC’s Adult Education program, because we can inform students that funding is available to help them continue their education,” said Green. “The ultimate goal is not just to get their high school diploma, but to encourage graduates on their career path to a high-skill, high-wage job, and become self-sufficient.”

Dr. Lewis’ decision to fund the GED© Graduates Endowed Scholarship came after meeting a 16-year-old girl who had dropped out of high school. “Although she dropped out of high school, she started taking classes at SFSC to prepare for the GED© exams,” Dr. Lewis said. “I was really impressed with her determination. Within a few months, she took all four tests and passed all four. Now she’s enrolled at Valencia College in Orlando, studying Information Technology.”

Dr. Lewis knows, firsthand, the importance of an education. Shortly after graduating from high school in Philadelphia, she studied to become a medical technician. One year after beginning her training, she discovered that medicine and med tech were not for her. She enrolled in Pennsylvania State Teacher’s College to become a teacher. That’s when she found her passion in life. She earned a bachelor’s, a master’s, and a doctoral degree. During her career in education, Dr. Lewis spent 15 years in administration in the Miami-Dade Public School System and spent 15 years teaching graduate education at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“Education is the one thing in life that nobody can take away from you,” she said. “I used to tell my students at Nova Southeastern that somebody can take your house, your car, or your jewelry, but they can’t take your education. You earned it and it belongs to you.”

To apply for the GED© Graduates Endowed Scholarship, visit AwardSpring at: https://southflorida.awardspring.com/. To learn more about the GED© Prep Program at SFSC, contact the Office of Adult Education at 863-784-7441 or visit the SFSC webpage at https://bit.ly/3KOaY81.