- Welcome
- Campus Maps
- History
- Mission Statement
- Accreditation
- Administration
- Employment
- Human Resources Employment Process FAQ
- Position Vacancies
- Salary Schedule (PDF)
- Employee Benefits
- Paid Holidays
- Employee Handbook (PDF)
- Faculty Handbook (PDF)
- BENCOR Special Pay Plan (PDF)
- Social Security Collection and Usage
- Affordable Care Act Notice (PDF)
- Social Security Disclosure Summary (PDF)
- Tobacco-Free College
- Drug-Free Workplace & Campuses
- Technology Usage Acknowledgment (PDF)
- Employee Safety Manual (PDF)
- SFSC’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (PDF)
- Calendars
- News
- Social Media
- Honoring Our Retirees
- Celebrating Our Trustees
Class 115
AVON PARK, Fla. – April 17, 2026 – During a ceremony on Thursday, April 16, South Florida State College’s (SFSC) Basic Corrections Academy Class 115 graduated 12 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 12 and handed each new officer a certificate. Those receiving a certificate were class leader Nahdia Ifill, executive officer Nicholas Smith II, Vintyre Barrett, Alexis Green, Malasia Horn, Kevin Laws Jr., Jose Loreto Jr., Roselande Pierre, Clarrissa Summers, Latajah Wallace, Takayla Wilson, and Takyla Wilson.
Two cadets were singled out for their achievements during the program. Earning top honors for academic excellence was Nicholas Smith II. Nahdia Ifill was given special recognition as class leader, and Nicholas Smith II was recognized as class executive officer.
Guest speaker for the ceremony was Dr. Robert Shannon, pastor of Wings of Faith Christian Worship Center in Sebring. He started his career in Corrections in 1979 and retired from the Florida Department of Corrections as warden at the Glades Correctional Institution when it closed in 2011.
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard posted the colors at the beginning of the ceremony.
This graduation ceremony was somewhat bittersweet for Michael Austin, as it was his final Basic Corrections graduation before he retires from SFSC in August.
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 these programs, visit southflorida.edu or call SFSC’s Criminal Justice Academy at 863-784-7285.
