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Oct. 22, 2026 – South Florida State College (SFSC) celebrated the graduation of 19 students from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, Class 275, on Thursday, Oct. 22. These graduates have completed their training and are now prepared to begin law enforcement careers in Florida.
The ceremony honored the graduates’ hard work, discipline, and commitment as they prepare to serve and protect their communities. The program featured speeches from SFSC representatives and graduating class members, along with the presentation of certificates and special awards recognizing the students’ academic performance, leadership, and achievements.
Melinda Burke, coordinator of Criminal Justice programs at SFSC, noted that this graduation marks the start of a new professional chapter and the beginning of the official responsibilities the graduates will assume within their communities.
“Graduation is not the finish line. It is the beginning of a responsibility that you will carry for the rest of your careers,” Burke said during her address.
Furthermore, eight of the 19 graduates were sponsored by public safety agencies, meaning they already have jobs waiting for them after completing their training. These agencies include the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, the Hollywood Police Department, and the Arcadia Police Department.
The graduates were Class Leader Jacob Peters, Executive Officer Arieli Kaminski, Justin Marlow, Shawn Block, Javier Garcia, Erika Chavez-Luberto, Joshua Walls, Jeremy Jones, Caden Bradford, Frederick Estevez, Christian Pardo-Aldana, Melissa Perez-Zamorano, Alfonso Venegas-Baez, Julian Villegas, Rebecca Oser, Emily Alonzo, Michael Dunn, Timothy Gage, and Yuliana Torres-Bermudez.
The ceremony presented special recognition to several individuals, including Arieli Kaminski, executive officer of Class 275, who was honored as Top Academic, Executive Officer, and for achieving the highest overall performance in firearms. Additionally, Shawn Block received the Peer Leadership Award, while Jacob Peters was recognized as Class Leader.
In her speech, Kaminski reflected on the personal and professional growth all the cadets experienced throughout their training and the importance of supporting one another.
“We have learned not solely to look out for ourselves but for others,” said Kaminski, highlighting how the training taught everyone to recognize the value of teamwork.
The class slogan, “One team. One mission,” reflected the camaraderie and shared responsibility that defined these young individuals’ experiences.
The ceremony also featured Zachary Forbes-Edwards of the Florida Highway Patrol as the guest speaker. Other contributors included Dr. John McLaughlin, director of SFSC Criminal Justice programs, who offered brief remarks, and student Jacob Peters, who addressed the class.
Training these new officers reflects SFSC’s commitment to preparing professionals who can address public safety needs with discipline, integrity, and respect for their communities.
For more information about the Criminal Justice programs at SFSC, visit southflorida.edu or call the SFSC Criminal Justice Academy at 863-784-7285.
