The Practical Nursing graduates
(photo by Mark Delaney)
AVON PARK, Fla. – July 30, 2024 – South Florida State College (SFSC) graduated 19 Practical Nursing (PN) program students in a traditional pinning ceremony on Monday, July 29 in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus at SFSC in Avon Park.
The graduates are Stephanie Belmares, Coby Bryant, Guadalupe Diaz, Liyah Donkor, Jan Eason, Sydney Gandy, Victoria Huerta, Layla Langfeldt, Michael Lopez Rivera, Aitza Lopez-Aguiluz, Diamond Machado, Itzel Magana-Navarrete, Jenivette Ortiz Quintero, Isabella Rivero, Paola Rosa Medina, Ariana Rose, Sandra Ruiz-Vasquez, Alexandra Solis, and Sandra Sorto Chavez.
Each year, PN graduates award the Golden D.U.C.K. to someone or an organization that 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. Presenting the award to The Ridge Area ARC, was Class Secretary Isabella Rivero, who said, “We are honored to present this award to a special organization, whose mission reflects ‘serving and advocating for individuals with developmental and other disabilities so they may have the opportunity to choose and realize their goals.’ This organization’s commitment to service and education has made a positive impact on countless lives. We thank you for your unwavering dedication and inspiring efforts and providing such a positive clinical experience for the [SFSC] Practical Nursing students.”
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 (LPN) 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 fully online 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.
The Radiography graduates (photo by Mark Delaney)
AVON PARK, Fla. – July 29, 2024 – On Thursday, July 25, South Florida State College (SFSC) honored 10 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: Aleyah Fox-Dickerson, Macy Kingdon, Lisa Klein, Dennis Mallen III, Trevor Mazurek, Katie Millerd, Katherine Oyola, Analaura Reynoso, Gabriela Sarmiento Egea, and Olivia Wessal.
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.
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The Dental Assisting Graduates
AVON PARK, Fla. – July 11, 2024 – South Florida State College (SFSC) honored 11 graduates of its Dental Assisting program in a pinning ceremony in the SFSC University Center on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park on Thursday, July 11. Dental Assisting graduates receiving their pins were: Kamesha Brown, Jessica Bruno-Alvarado, Kristal Lyn Deery, Celestina Fajardo, Jennifer Alexandra Lopez, Galilea Moreno Carrola, Graciela Munoz Yates, Marisol Paz, Alana Denae Snell, Briana Stewart, and Ta’Hira Amani Williams.
The graduates earned their Career Certificate in Dental Assisting, received their Expanded Functions Dental Assisting Certification, and their Orthodontic Assistant Certification.
After completing the 11-month Career Certificate program in Dental Assisting, graduates can work as certified dental assistants by passing the Dental Assisting National Board Examination (DANB) and qualify for the Expanded Functions Dental Assisting Certification as well as Orthodontic Assistant Certification.
For information about SFSC’s Dental Education programs, contact Danielle Ochoa, Health Sciences advisor, at 863-784-7027 or by email at healthsciences@southflorida.edu.
July 2, 2024 – South Florida State College (SFSC) created and launched a new enrollment marketing campaign that focuses on the needs and concerns of its students and prospective students. The new campaign features the many faces and programs at SFSC, and its tagline is: It’s Possible.
The campaign focuses on the understanding that students have worries and preconceived ideas about college that lead to the hesitation to enroll or pursue their personal or professional goals. At SFSC, we want to dispel these myths and let prospective students know that there are options for them.
“At SFSC, we work to serve our tri-county region, its residents, and the unique and significant challenges they face every day,” said Melissa Kuehnle, director of institutional communications at SFSC. “I am proud to announce our new marketing campaign that puts the needs of our students at its heart. This campaign respects and understands the obstacles that our students face but lets them know that we are here to support them and offer them the resources and education that they need to build a successful and prosperous future. We want our students to feel seen, heard, and valued as members of the SFSC family.”
In the coming months, print, outdoor, digital, and social media advertising will appear on platforms throughout DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties to project the message that an individual’s goals, dreams, and opportunities are possible. Through its academic programs, student services, and employment training, SFSC offers answers and comfort where prospective students only see questions and confusion.
For more information about SFSC, call 863-784-7447, email recruiter@southflorida.edu, or visit southflorida.edu.
