Basic Corrections Class 113
AVON PARK, Fla. – April 18, 2025 – During a ceremony on Thursday, April 17, South Florida State College’s (SFSC) Basic Corrections Academy Class 113 graduated 10 new correctional officers at the SFSC Highlands Campus in Avon Park.
From the SFSC University Center Auditorium stage, Michael Austin, coordinator of SFSC’s Criminal Justice Academy, called up the 10 and handed each new officer a certificate. Those receiving a certificate were class leader Andres Figueroa, Briceida Anguiano, Jazmin A. Brown, Ariana L. Flowers, Kymberlie C. Johnson, Alyanna A. Morton, Arisbeth G. Moya, Cheyann N. Stadler, Margarita Williams, and Mason J. Worth.
Three cadets were singled out for their achievements during the program. Earning top honors for academic excellence was Alyanna A. Morton, Margarita Williams earned a Certificate of Valor, and Andres Figueroa was given special recognition as class leader.
Guest speaker for the ceremony was Julio Nieves, SFSC Criminal Justice Programs coordinator.
The Basic Correctional Officer Program is 420 contact hours or approximately 11 weeks. Upon successful completion of the program, students earn a Career Certificate and are eligible to take the state certification examination to become certified officers.
For more information about this program, visit southflorida.edu or call SFSC’s Criminal Justice Academy at 863-784-7285.
April 18, 2025 – New College of Florida (NCF) and South Florida State College (SFSC) have signed a new articulation agreement, officially welcoming SFSC as the latest partner in the NCF Transform Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP). The agreement, signed Monday, April 14, ensures a seamless transfer pathway for SFSC students earning an Associate in Arts (AA) degree to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree at New College. This strategic partnership opens new doors for SFSC students seeking a top-tier liberal arts education within Florida’s public higher education system.
“We are excited to partner with New College and afford our students an efficient pathway to pursue a bachelor’s degree of their choice,” said Fred Hawkins, president of South Florida State College. “This agreement represents our shared commitment to student success and expanding access to world-class education across the state.”
“New College is ranked among the most transfer-friendly institutions in the country, and we’re proud to extend that reputation with this partnership,” said Richard Corcoran, president of New College of Florida. “SFSC students now have a direct line to Florida’s public honors college—and the opportunity to thrive in a dynamic, intellectually rigorous environment.”
To qualify for NCF Transform, SFSC students must complete their AA within eight semesters and hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of transfer. Students can pursue bachelor’s degrees in a variety of academic concentrations including Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Liberal Arts, Marine Biology, and Psychology.
Through NCF Transform, students receive personalized joint advising and customized academic planning to help them complete their degrees within two years of transfer. Participants in the program are also eligible for generous scholarship opportunities—including annual awards of up to $10,000, renewable for two years—for high-achieving students.
The partnership underscores New College’s commitment to academic excellence and broadening access to Florida’s most distinctive liberal arts experience.
For more information about the Associate in Arts degree at SFSC, visit southflorida.edu or email recruiter@southflorida.edu.
Learn more about NCF Transform at ncf.edu/transfer.
ABOUT NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA
Founded in 1960, New College of Florida is a top-ranked public liberal arts college and serves as Florida’s Honors College. Recognized for its academic excellence, rigorous inquiry, and commitment to free expression, New College offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, graduate programs in Applied Data Science and Marine Mammal Science, and a growing NAIA athletics program.
