Alumni Fall Reunion

AVON PARK, Fla. – Aug. 15, 2025 – South Florida State College (SFSC) launches its Young People’s Theater series on Wednesday, Oct. 8 and Thursday, Oct. 9 at 9:30 a.m. with Pinkalicious the Musical, which is based on the beloved books by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann. Featuring music and lyrics by John Gregor, this one-hour musical is ideal for pre-K to third grade students.

“It’s a delightful show that teaches students about self-control, the importance of moderation, and embracing your individuality,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs at SFSC. “The show is playful, educational, and very pink!”

Air is Everywhere, featuring Mr. C Science, an action-packed, interactive show, is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 13 at 9:30 a.m. Students learn how air affects our world in ways they never imagined—from flight and pressure to weather and wind power. “Mr. C is real science,” Garren said. “It’s an ideal event to teach STEM concepts while having a lot of laughs!” This performance is geared for grades one to five.

Mr. C, or Kevin Cornell, has been recognized as the “New Bill Nye the Science Guy.” With 20 years of experience as an educator, he hosts and produces award-winning STEM programs in partnership with PBS stations. Cornell has earned gold, silver, and bronze Telly Award and multiple regional Emmy awards for LearningScienceisFun.com. His shows are high-energy and filled with hands-on demonstrations designed to spark curiosity and laughter.

The popular Holiday Traditions Around the World, featuring Santa Claus and his hard-working elves, will be at the Hardee County Agri-Civic Center in Wauchula on Monday, Dec. 1 at 9:30 a.m. Sponsored by Mosaic, this performance is targeted for Hardee and DeSoto County elementary

school students. “Transportation is an issue for our school districts and the Civic Center has a nice stage and auditorium, so we hope to fill all the seats,” Garren said.

The Emperor’s New Clothes, based on the much-loved tale by Hans Christian Andersen, is scheduled for Thursday, March 12 at 9:30 a.m. Geared for students in third to fifth grade, this musical, produced by Stages Productions, features a bumbling emperor and his court who learned the cost of deceit by crafty swindlers. “Andersen based his fairytale on a 14th century folktale, but he added the innocent child who speaks the truth,” Garren said. “This tale has been teaching children about vanity and pride for hundreds of years.”

Tickets for the performances are $5 per person and one free ticket is available for every 10 purchased. Bookings for homeschool groups, private schools, and public schools are available now by emailing ypt@southflorida.edu or calling the SFSC Box Office at 863-784-7178. Free study guides for each performance are available online at sfscARTS.org.

SFSC kicked off the Young People’s Theater Series in 2006 and over 100,000 students from Highlands, Hardee, and DeSoto counties have attended a performance. 

AVON PARK, Fla. – Aug. 12, 2025 – South Florida State College (SFSC) received a $15,000 grant from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, Inc. to provide scholarships for students from DeSoto County who attend classes at any of SFSC’s campuses – in DeSoto, Hardee, or Highlands County. These funds will be matched dollar for dollar through the SFSC Foundation, bringing the total funds for scholarships to $30,000.

Scholarships will be awarded up to $1,500 for full-time students, up to $1,125 for students enrolled between 9 and 11 hours, and up to $750 for students enrolled between 6 and 8 hours.

The criteria for obtaining a scholarship through the Selby Foundation grant are that the application must be based on financial need and the student must be a resident of DeSoto County and a graduate of Desoto County High School, maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to be considered for renewal, and be accepted into or enrolled in a degree program at SFSC.

Scholarships from the Selby Foundation grant are available for fall term 2025 and spring term 2026.

“The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation’s continued partnership demonstrates the power of sustained community investment in education,” said Emily Dabolt, SFSC executive director of institutional advancement. “This renewable scholarship program has become a bridge to opportunity for our DeSoto County students, ensuring that financial barriers don’t stand between them and their college dreams. With each graduating class, we’re seeing the ripple effects of this generosity — students who once thought college was out of reach are now completing degrees and building careers right here in our community.”

To apply for a scholarship through the Selby Foundation grant, students are encouraged to speak with a student advisor at the SFSC DeSoto Campus at 2251 NE Turner Avenue in Arcadia, visit the SFSC Office of Financial Aid on the Highlands Campus at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park, or call 863-993-1757.

Aug. 7, 2025 – South Florida State College’s (SFSC) Bachelor of Science in Elementary Teacher Education (BSETE) program earned a 3.7 out of 4.0 on the Florida Department of Education’s Annual Program Performance Report (APPR) for 2025.

Among all Elementary Education, ESOL, and Reading programs reviewed, only five Florida institutions scored higher than SFSC, placing the program among the top teacher preparation programs in the state.

The APPR evaluates teacher preparation programs on several key measures of quality:

• Candidate Readiness: This category assesses certification exam pass rates. SFSC scored Level 4 (highest level), reflecting outstanding performance on the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations.

• Workforce Contribution: This aspect tracks graduate employment in teaching. SFSC scored Level 4, with all graduates employed in the teaching profession and additional weighting awarded because SFSC’s degree prepares teachers in a designated high-need area.

• Annual Evaluations: This section is based on employer evaluations of recent graduates. SFSC scored Level 3, with 100% of completers rated Effective or Highly Effective by their districts.

These results affirm the excellence of SFSC’s faculty, staff, and graduates, and highlight the program’s strong role in preparing highly qualified teachers for Florida’s schools.

“The program’s success is a result of the dedication of BSETE professors and adjuncts whose enthusiasm for teaching empowers our student teachers to change lives,” said Dr. Maday Leon, lead instructor for BSETE. “We will continue to support our communities by developing effective educators.”

For more information about SFSC’s BSETE program, contact Dr. Leon at leonm@southflorida.edu or 863-784-7154.