Class of Radiologic Technologists Graduate from SFSC

Aug. 19, 2026 – On Thursday, July 23, South Florida State College (SFSC) honored 13 of its Radiography graduates in a traditional pinning ceremony on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park. The graduates have earned their Associate in Science (A.S.) in Radiography.

The graduates honored were Destiny Badillo, Tori Britt, Megan Crawford, Cristina Diaz Agosto, Lili Garcia, Azusena Gomez Urbina, Lissette Ledesma, Lisa Lee, Brisa Elena Luevano, Eunice Moffatt, Juan Molina-Molina, Chloe Pomerleau, and Alyssa Prieto.

“We are incredibly proud of our graduates and all they have accomplished,” said Amy Ferrante, director of SFSC’s Radiography program. “One of the most rewarding parts of being an educator is having the opportunity to watch students grow in knowledge, confidence, and professionalism as they prepare to enter the healthcare field. Seeing students reach this milestone and begin their careers as radiologic technologists is truly the reason we do what we do.”

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 and MRIs.

For information about SFSC’s Radiography program, contact Danielle Nuccio, Health Sciences advisor, at 863-784-7027 or by email at healthsciences@southflorida.edu.

Aug. 17, 2026 – The South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Ruth E. Handley Memorial Scholarship, a new scholarship honoring the life and legacy of former SFSC employee Ruth E. Handley, a lifelong supporter of the profound impact of education. The scholarship will support those who have a passion for educating others.

Mrs. Ruth E. Handley believed in the transformative power of education, fairness, and equal opportunity as she dedicated her life to serving others and making a positive impact in her community. Through this scholarship, her legacy of compassion, service, and commitment to future educators will continue by helping students pursue their educational and career goals.

“Mrs. Handley’s impact on this community is impossible to measure,” said Emily Dabolt, executive director of institutional advancement at SFSC. “Through this scholarship fund, her legacy will be honored for years to come by helping students discover the same passion for educating others that guided her entire life.”

To be eligible for the Ruth E. Handley Memorial Scholarship, applicants must be enrolled at SFSC and a resident of DeSoto, Hardee, or Highlands County. Applicants must also submit a 500-750-word essay describing their career goals and motivation for pursuing a career in educating others. Preference will be given to students with a 3.0 GPA or higher and involvement in extracurricular activities. The student must also complete a standard financial aid application.

For more information about this or any scholarship at SFSC, email foundation@southflorida.edu or call 863-453-3133.

Aug. 14, 2026 – A $40,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has been awarded to the South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation, Inc. to benefit residents of DeSoto County, part-time students, and student-parents who are attending SFSC in the fall and spring of the 2026-27 academic year.

The grant comes from the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund, which was established by Roberts as a legacy to support Florida’s community colleges and other charitable organizations. Managed by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the fund continues Roberts’ vision of making higher education a priority, particularly for those motivated to seek a better life for themselves.

SFSC’s grant funds are designated to aid students who attend college part time and may not qualify for other forms of financial aid and students who are parents, whether single or married. Preference is also given to residents of DeSoto County or students attending classes at the SFSC DeSoto Campus in Arcadia.

Individual students may receive up to a maximum of $3,000 through the end of the grant. The grant covers tuition, housing, books, childcare, transportation, and needs that would otherwise prevent students from attending college.

“The Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund have long understood that investing in students is investing in the future of our communities,” said Emily Dabolt, SFSC executive director of institutional advancement. “For a part-time student balancing work and family, or a parent going back to school, a single unexpected expense can be the reason they don’t make it to graduation. This grant helps make sure that doesn’t happen, and we’re honored to carry that mission forward for the students who need it most.”

Scholarship recipients are identified by SFSC’s Office of Financial Aid. To apply for a scholarship, visit the Financial Aid Office in Building B on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park, call 784-7134, or email financialaid@southflorida.edu. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have questions about the FAFSA or need assistance, contact the Office of Financial Aid.

For information about the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, visit cfsarasota.org.

Aug. 11, 2026 – The South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation is proud to announce a donation from All American Pool Services that supports students in the Adult Education and English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs.

All American Pool Services is a local company to Sebring, Fla. owned by John McDaniel, an alumnus of South Florida State College who generously decided to give back to his alma mater. This donation can cover the cost of tuition, books, supplies, testing fees, cap and gown fees, and other needs that may hinder a student from completing the program.

“It is truly meaningful when an alumnus chooses to give back to their alma mater and make a difference in the lives of today’s students,” said Anastasia Fuchser, coordinator of institutional advancement and alumni development at SFSC. “John McDaniel once sat in these same classrooms, studied in these same spaces, and walked across the same stage at graduation, and now, he is helping others achieve that same success. It is an inspiring example of the lasting impact of an SFSC education, and we are incredibly grateful for his support. Together, we are building a brighter future for our students and our community.”

To be eligible for the funding, applicants must be enrolled Adult Education or ESOL students who are in good standing with the College and exhibit a financial need. Applicants must also complete the scholarship application. The number of awards will be determined by the funds available each year.

For more information about this or any scholarship at SFSC, email foundation@southflorida.edu or call 863-453-3133.

July 15, 2026 – The Roberts Community Foundation through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has granted South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation $26,000 for Panther Prep, a six-week program that helps high school students learn about their world, fulfill their potential, and discover that a college degree is within reach.

This is the second year that Panther Prep has received funding and this year, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County supported each student with $2,200, allowing 15 students to attend.

This summer bridge program prepares students for college by helping them improve their academic performance and life skills. They participate in mathematics immersion and develop teamwork, communication, time management, and financial literacy skills through 5G Power Skills Certification and Panther Power Hour. Additionally, students will be able to earn college credits in Master Student/College Success and Freshman English I. To further support success, they’ll be assisted in navigating college systems, career planning, and financial aid.

“This unique and special opportunity for our graduating high schoolers is made possible by The Community Foundation of Sarasota, because they care about seeing young adults in Florida’s Heartland reach their potential,” said Asena Mott, SFSC dean of off-campus instructional sites. “The small window of time between high school and a traditional fall start for college is often overlooked. In actuality, it’s a space where students can improve their foundational learning and study practices to set them up for success.”

Panther Prep meets Monday through Thursday, June 25 through Aug. 3, on the SFSC DeSoto Campus in Arcadia. Classes are held Monday through Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is provided daily.

The program is open to DeSoto County residents who graduated from high school this spring, whether they graduated from public or private schools, have been homeschooled, or have earned a diploma through a GED program.

Tuition and books are free and lunch is provided. Students received a Panther Prep kit that included a backpack, lanyard, USB drive, notebook, calculator, and a Panther Prep t-shirt. Students who complete Panther Prep receive $450 toward the purchase of a laptop from the SFSC Bookstore when they enroll in fall classes at SFSC.

For more about the Panther Prep program, contact the SFSC DeSoto Campus at 863-993-1757 and ask for Irene Cerna, or call DeSoto High School at 863-494-3434 and ask for counselor Gerri Lewis or the graduation coach.

About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $605 million in more than 1,600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $44.7 million last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare, and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $542 million to area nonprofit organizations in our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, visit cfsarasota.org or call 941-955-3000.

July 1, 2026 – South Florida State College (SFSC) and Moses Media were honored with a Gold Award in the 41st Annual Educational Advertising Awards for the “It’s Possible” video.

The Educational Advertising Awards is a national competition to recognize the field of educational marketing and advertising. A national panel of industry specialists review each piece for creativity, marketing execution, and message impact. This year, 54 categories were judged for Best in Show, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Merit designations for exceptional quality, creativity, and message effectiveness.

“It’s Possible” was created to highlight the programs and activities on SFSC’s campuses and Moses Media, from Nashville, Tenn., was hired to capture and tell SFSC’s story. The video won gold in the Digital Video Ad – Less than 2 minutes category. “It’s Possible” can be viewed on the College’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/@SouthFloridaStateCollege.

“As showcased in our “It’s Possible” video, we highlight real students, real experiences, and the many educational and athletic options available at South Florida State College,” said Melissa Kuehnle, Ed.D., director of institutional communications at SFSC. “This video is an example of how we bring our mission to life in a way that is both authentic and inspiring. It has become a cornerstone of our promotional efforts by connecting emotionally and socially with our community and showing them what’s possible at SFSC, while including familiar and friendly faces.”

For more information about SFSC, visit southflorida.edu or call 863-453-6661. SFSC is also on social media as @SFSCPanthers on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and X.

AVON PARK, Fla. – July 1, 2026 – South Florida State College (SFSC) alumna, Barbara Stites, who graduated with an Associate in Arts from the College in 1974, spent most of her career in Library and Information Sciences. Although now retired, she looks back on her personal and professional life with a great sense of accomplishment and service to libraries throughout Florida.

Stites earned her doctorate in Leadership and Education with a specialization in Human Resource Development from Barry University, a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida, and her Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of South Florida.

However, Stites’ academic and professional careers may never have come to pass, but for Stites’ own tenacity as well as the generosity of one person who strongly believed that education paves the road to a better life.

Stites’ family moved to Broward County, Fla. from New Jersey when she was 10 years old. At age 15, she moved to Lake Placid and, later, graduated from Lake Placid High School.

“My father graduated from Pace University in New York on the GI Bill after World War II,” she said. “But my parents were divorced and I didn’t have much contact with my dad. So, college wasn’t familiar to me. I came from serious poverty. We lived in a travel trailer in a trailer park in Lake Placid. I moved out of my mother’s place when I was 16 and was then on my own. I just wanted to do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. I was a feisty teenager.”

Stites decided that she wanted to become a librarian. “I was a curious individual and just loved learning,” she said. “I like reading — it was an escape for me. But I just loved digging through information. I love the hunt, just as people go to thrift stores and hunt for good deals. Some people like to go fossil hunting. I loved the idea of researching.”

But Stites felt somewhat limited in her resources to become a librarian. “At the time in Central Florida, a woman had three choices: she could become a secretary, a nurse, or a teacher,” she said.

Stites knew little about pursuing a college degree or how to apply for college. In fact, she was unaware that South Florida State College (South Florida Junior College at that time) existed in her own community. “But I heard that a scholarship was available through the Lake Placid Rotary Club,” she said. “And I considered going to secretarial school. The man who was in charge of the Rotary’s scholarships was Mr. Wilkins.”

When Stites applied for the Rotary scholarship, Mr. Wilkins contacted her and said that the scholarship was for college, but that secretarial school wasn’t considered college. He said, “I have an idea. How about I pay for your first semester of secretarial school personally?” Stites agreed.

A few months later, Stites spoke with Mr. Wilkins and said that she learned about South Florida State College in Avon Park and would like attend. Mr. Wilkins agreed to pay for her first semester at the College. 

“By the end of my first semester at the College, I got straight A’s,” Stites said. “Then Mr. Wilkins said he’d pay for my second semester. After that, I had gotten married and was able to take care of my own financial obligations. All these years later, I’m a strong supporter of scholarships. They change lives. Mr. Wilkins changed my life.”

Stites blossomed as a student at SFSC. “Between the staff, faculty, and other students, everybody was encouraging. It had a positive, ‘Can Do’ atmosphere. They recognized that students are out there like me who need an extra hand.”

Stites took an astronomy class at SFSC from Dr. Bill Gene Smith. “In his class, we learned more about education than we did astronomy, because he was running for the Highlands County School Board for the first time,” she said. “And he wanted to talk about education. It inspired me.”

After graduating from SFSC, Stites continued her education at the University of South Florida in Tampa. “Three women I knew from SFSC and I carpooled from Highlands County to USF to take classes,” Stites said. “We’d get up at 4 a.m., attend classes all day, then drive home.”

Right out of college, Stites was offered a job at Lake Placid Elementary School, teaching first, second, and third grades. She taught at the school for over nine years.

“All the while, I still had the desire to be a librarian,” she said. “But to be an entry-level librarian, you needed a master’s degree. So, I went back to college, driving to Tampa, Fort Myers, and Orlando for classes.” Stites earned her master’s degree and took her first job as a librarian at Sebring High School, working with Peggy Smith, Dr. Bill Gene Smith’s wife.

As the years passed, Stites worked as a librarian in a corporation and at a law firm. “I was training lawyers and accountants in how to do research. But they were being paid far more money than I. So, I made a list of the jobs that made the kind of money that I wanted to make.

A job came open as an executive director of a non-profit organization that paid good money. “It was a non-profit that was like a small business development center but for libraries,” Stites said. “So, I switched to leadership. That tipped me from frontline service as a high school or corporate librarian to leading an organization. That was a big shift for me.”

One of the highlights of Stites’ career came when she and colleague, Dr. Elizabeth Curry, created the first statewide training ground for library leaders in Florida called the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute (SSLLI) that continues to serve a new generation of library leaders 20 years later.

“Around the late ‘80s or early ‘90s, a colleague of mine at the Tampa Bay Library Consortium and I talked about being able to provide internet access to the public. At the time, there was no internet access in people’s homes. We wrote a grant and got funding to provide the first internet access to the public in Florida. We rolled out the internet to a couple of rural libraries, some medium-sized libraries, and some larger libraries. We taught people about the internet, how it worked, what buttons to push. We did all the training that it took to get the first line of librarians trained so they could begin training the public on the internet and how to use it.”

“Eventually, we provided desktop access to the internet at all these test libraries, such as the one we set up in Wauchula. We also hooked up 11 large libraries so that they had the first online ‘card’ catalog.”

After four decades of library service, Stites retired in 2019 from her role as interim dean of the Florida Gulf Coast University Library. “When the university was new, I helped to build a library from the ground up. The library is the heart of a university. People come there to study and do homework, research, sleep, find a boyfriend, participate in student-centered activities. We did some serious research about student engagement in library spaces and what influenced that. We determined what kind of furniture supported that, what kind of lighting. We had a 133,000 sq. ft. building with 100 employees. We needed to manage a cadre of people like that and make sure they always provide the best customer service possible.”

Stites believes that in these times, the role of a librarian has changed, that you don’t just check out books. “Larger academic libraries are not so much about the books anymore. It’s about artificial intelligence and working with large data sets and crunching information. Public libraries have moved toward supporting people’s education and entertainment needs, but also their social needs. That requires the computer community supporting people who don’t have internet access.”

In Stites’ view, Information Sciences has become more and more important for the public. “So much of the information that we’re exposed to is not accurate,” she said. “Thinking about running a world on information that isn’t accurate scares me to death. It’s important that libraries and information scientists connect in any way they can with our students. Our main goal is to connect with students, employees, community members, and help connect them with information that they need to make the best decisions. If you’re at an educational institution, you’re supporting student learning and you’re supporting faculty research.”

To an extent, Stites’ early experience with college has come full circle. Her daughter, Emily Dabolt, is the executive director of institutional advancement at SFSC and oversees the SFSC Foundation. The Foundation solicits, receives, and manages charitable donations in support of the College, its programs, staff, and students. “My life changed through the scholarship from Mr. Wilkins and it led all the way to SFSC,” Stites said. “Emily has an opportunity to make a difference in other people’s lives through her job — along with all the support that’s at the College and from donors. A little generosity makes a huge difference in someone’s life.”

South Florida State College (SFSC) President Fred Hawkins has been selected to serve as chair of the Florida College System Council of Presidents, a leadership body representing the 28 state colleges across Florida. Additionally, Valencia College President Dr. Kathleen Plinske will serve as the policy and advocacy chair. 

In these roles, Presidents Hawkins and Plinske will help guide statewide priorities for the Florida College System, working collaboratively with fellow presidents, state leaders, and policymakers to advance student success, workforce development, and institutional excellence. The Council of Presidents serves as a key advisory group to state leadership, including the Florida Legislature and the Governor’s Office, on issues impacting higher education and workforce readiness.

“I am honored to be selected by my peers to serve as chair of the Florida College System Council of Presidents,” said Mr. Fred Hawkins, president of South Florida State College. “Florida’s state colleges play a critical role in preparing our workforce and strengthening our communities. I look forward to advocating for the colleges, collaborating with members of the Legislature and the Governor’s Office, and ensuring our system receives the appropriate funding to continue delivering high-quality, affordable education for all Floridians.” 

Mr. Hawkins currently serves as president of South Florida State College, with campuses in DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties, and brings extensive experience in public service, higher education leadership, and workforce development initiatives. Prior to being named president of South Florida State College, he served in the Florida House of Representatives for Osceola and Orange counties as the vice chair of the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee and the whip of all education committees. Additionally, he was the president and CEO of the Osceola County Education Foundation. As a former member of the Florida Legislature, he brings a strong understanding of the policymaking process and established relationships with state leaders that will further strengthen the Council’s advocacy efforts. 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the chair of the Policy and Advocacy Committee,” said Dr. Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia College. “Florida’s state colleges are essential to expanding access to higher education, meeting the needs of our workforce, and creating pathways to opportunity for students across our state. I look forward to working alongside President Hawkins, my fellow presidents, and state leaders to advocate for policies and investments that strengthen our colleges and help more Floridians achieve their academic and career goals.” 

Dr. Plinske serves as president of Valencia College, the sixth-largest community college in the nation, serving more than 75,000 students annually. Under her leadership, Valencia has achieved historic enrollment levels and its highest graduation and retention rates on record. The College has expanded affordability through innovative scholarship programs and employer partnerships while strengthening workforce education to prepare students for high-demand careers across the region.

The Florida College System Council of Presidents provides strategic leadership and advocacy for the state’s colleges, which collectively serve more than 680,000 students annually. Under President Hawkins’ and President Plinske’s leadership, the Council will continue to focus on innovation, access, and alignment with Florida’s economic and workforce needs.

To learn more about the FCS Council of Presidents, please visit www.FCSCouncils.org. 

AVON PARK, Fla. – June 18, 2026 – Maria Gloria, a Take Stock in Children (TSIC) scholar, was recently promoted to operations manager at the Fort Myers Branch of MIDFLORIDA Credit Union. She attributes TSIC for paving her way to college and teaching her about professionalism.

TSIC is a statewide program that provides at-risk children with a mentor and a college scholarship. In return, Take Stock scholars sign contracts in which they promise to remain drug-free, to avoid behavior that would get them into trouble with law enforcement, to attend school regularly, and to earn satisfactory grades. The students’ parents also sign the contracts and agree to provide home environments conducive to education. The South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation is the lead agency for TSIC within the College’s service district of DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties. The local program was established in 1996 and has awarded Florida Prepaid college scholarships to more than 667 local students.

Gloria, who calls Lake Placid home, is the child of migrant farm workers, who resided in Michigan and Florida through the agricultural seasons. While in high school, Gloria took dual enrollment courses at SFSC. She graduated from Lake Placid High School in 2017 and continued her education at Florida State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management Information Systems in 2021. She is a first-generation college graduate.

After graduation, Gloria was offered a job with MIDFLORIDA Credit Union as a peak-time teller at its Lake Placid branch. During that time, she learned about MIDFLORIDA’s Associate Manager Program, a rotational development program that is open to recent college graduates who would like to pursue a career at a financial institution. Gloria entered the program and was transferred to work at various Sebring branches as associate manager for 18 months. And now, she is headed to Fort Myers in her new position as operations manager.

Gloria joined TSIC while in sixth grade and continued in the program through 2017, when she graduated from high school. Early on, she was paired with her mentor, Lake Placid attorney and SFSC alumna Pam Karlson.

“TSIC itself was an amazing program that encouraged me to consider college options not only through workshops, but quarterly check-ins, academic mapping, and college exploration,” Gloria said. “But more importantly, it brought me an amazing mentor who guided and encouraged me through middle, high school, college, and all the way to today. Mrs. Karlson has significantly influenced my life. She guided me in career options, encouraged me to get involved in school and the community, helped me with college applications, and has always been someone who I can turn to for advice. The advice and time she poured into me for over half of my life has been pivotal in my development as a professional and, more importantly, the person I am today. I am eternally grateful that TSIC brought Mrs. Karlson into my life.”

Through TSIC, Gloria was eligible to apply for the Asofsky Family Foundation’s Leaders 4 Life Fellowship and became one of six students in Florida to be awarded the scholarship in 2017. “This scholarship, along with my TSIC scholarship, was a tremendous financial help through college,” she said. “I was not only able to prioritize my college academics, ensuring successful completion of my degree, but it allowed me the opportunity to partake in many once-in-a-lifetime experiences, such as studying abroad in Spain for half a year. Ultimately, TSIC set me up for success in many areas of my life.”   

Because of TSIC and the Leaders 4 Life Fellowship, Gloria was also able to take part in prestigious post-undergraduate prep programs, such as the Duke University Law School PLUS program, a four-week summer residential program to help first-generation college students prepare for law school and the legal profession. In addition, she participated in IDDEAS@Stanford and IDDEAS@Berkeley, a two-day immersion program for undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds who are interested in pursuing doctoral-level business research and academic careers.

“I will always be a proponent of TSIC for all students,” Gloria said. “I know that my journey is only one of hundreds that TSIC has impacted. The commitment and dedication offered by teachers, mentors, program directors, and legislators are what makes this program so impactful and effective. If I can offer one piece of advice to students currently in the program, it would be to use the resources that are available through this amazing program. Lastly, be willing to ask for help, but also have the tenacity and perseverance to fight for your dreams and aspirations.”

For information about TSIC, call 863-784-7343 or email tsic@southflorida.edu.