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Brian Green (left), Nucor training coordinator; Garrett Lee, SFSC coordinator, Engineering Program; student Carson Cloud; student Dyston Benner; student Mary Portwood; student Brian Hill Jr.; Michelle Leidel, SFSC dean, Division of Applied Sciences and Technologies; Abby Zambelli, Nucor human resources coordinator
AVON PARK, Fla. – Feb. 20, 2025 – In celebration of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, South Florida State College (SFSC) and Nucor Steel Florida are pleased to present four students who were awarded scholarships toward the Nucor Florida Mechanical Technical Academy.
Dyston Benner and Carson Cloud, seniors at Avon Park High School, were awarded scholarships to the Academy and will start classes at SFSC and on-the-job training at Nucor in August 2025. Brian Hill Jr. of Dundee and Mary Portwood of Bradenton, the first students recruited for scholarships to the Academy, began their classes and on-the-job training in August 2024.
In 2023, representatives from Nucor Steel Florida began to recruit students from high schools in Highlands, Hardee, and Polk counties to become candidates for its two-year Mechanical Technical Academy. Successful candidates are enrolled in SFSC’s Mechatronics program and work toward an Associate in Science in Engineering Technology with an Advanced Manufacturing specialization.
While attending classes, the students engage in on-the-job training at Nucor Steel Florida’s mill in Frostproof, Fla., working with the operations and maintenance team. They work alongside experienced Nucor staff in the care and repair of mill equipment. Nucor pays all college expenses, as long as the student maintains a 3.0 GPA. Students are also paid an hourly wage for class time at SFSC and during on-the-job training at Nucor. If the student satisfactorily completes the requirements of the two-year Academy, the student is offered a position at Nucor Steel Florida.
“We started this program because, nationwide, there is a shortage of people in the skill trades needed to run and maintain our plant,” said Tommy Massey, maintenance manager, Nucor Steel Florida. “Second to that, as we look at the job pool out there, high school graduates are an underutilized resource. That’s why we decided to target them. Besides meeting the needs of the company, Nucor and its team members are big into supporting the communities around us. This Academy is a way to support our communities and provide opportunities for young people graduating from high school looking for an education and to get into the job market.”
Nucor Steel Florida’s recruiting period for the Mechanical Technical Academy is September through December for the following year. In January, candidates for the Academy are interviewed and selected. To be considered for Nucor’s Academy, high school seniors are welcome to contact Massey at: tommy.massey@nucor.com.
“This partnership between SFSC and Nucor Steel Florida is a game-changer for our students, providing them with a direct pathway to a rewarding, high-tech career in advanced manufacturing,” said Michelle Leidel, SFSC dean of the Division of Applied Sciences and Technologies. “Nucor is an outstanding company that not only leads the industry but truly invests in the success of its employees and the communities it serves. We’re thrilled to see our students gain hands-on experience, earn their degrees, and step into promising careers with a company that values innovation, excellence, and workforce development.”
Nucor Steel Florida has been partnering with SFSC since the plant first came to Florida in 2015. “They helped us in our initial hiring phases, they allowed us to use their facilities, and we’ve developed relationships with their administration and leadership,” Massey said. “Also, they have the Mechatronics program that facilitates the right blend of educational needs and technical aspects that the successful candidates need. So, they’ve been a great partner. It’s an absolute plus that they’re located in the Sebring/Avon Park area.”
Nucor is America’s largest producer of steel and steel products, and recycler of steel. The company has over 25,000 employees in more than 300 locations. Nucor Steel Florida in Frostproof produces rebar (or reinforcing bar), a ribbed, steel bar used to reinforce and add strength to concrete under tension.
SFSC, through its Mechatronics program, offers students a two-year Associate in Science in Engineering Technology, six college credit certificates, and seven industry certifications. Hands-on training takes place in SFSC’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park, using industry-standard Siemens, Kuka, and Festo technology. Mechatronics technicians assist design, development, and engineering staff and work closely with others to install, maintain, operate, and repair unmanned, automated robotic and electromechanical equipment.
