Practical Nursing graduates

The Practical Nursing graduates
(photo by Mark Delaney)

AVON PARK, Fla. – July 30, 2024 – ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø (ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø) graduated 19 Practical Nursing (PN) program students in a traditional pinning ceremony on Monday, July 29 in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø in Avon Park.

The graduates are Stephanie Belmares, Coby Bryant, Guadalupe Diaz, Liyah Donkor, Jan Eason, Sydney Gandy, Victoria Huerta, Layla Langfeldt, Michael Lopez Rivera, Aitza Lopez-Aguiluz, Diamond Machado, Itzel Magana-Navarrete, Jenivette Ortiz Quintero, Isabella Rivero, Paola Rosa Medina, Ariana Rose, Sandra Ruiz-Vasquez, Alexandra Solis, and Sandra Sorto Chavez.

Each year, PN graduates award the Golden D.U.C.K. to someone or an organization that has served as a mentor to the students in the program. The D.U.C.K. acronym represents the foundational elements of the mentoring arrangement: Developing, Understanding, Compassion, and Knowledge. Presenting the award to The Ridge Area ARC, was Class Secretary Isabella Rivero, who said, “We are honored to present this award to a special organization, whose mission reflects ‘serving and advocating for individuals with developmental and other disabilities so they may have the opportunity to choose and realize their goals.’ This organization’s commitment to service and education has made a positive impact on countless lives. We thank you for your unwavering dedication and inspiring efforts and providing such a positive clinical experience for the [ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø] Practical Nursing students.â€�


The practice of pinning new graduates has been a nursing school tradition in the United States since 1916 and, symbolically, welcomes each graduate into the nursing profession. The pin is worn prominently on a nurse’s uniform throughout their career. One story of the ceremony’s beginning goes back to 1883, when Queen Victoria awarded Florence Nightingale the Royal Red Cross on St. George’s Day for her service to the sick and injured during the Crimean War. In turn, Nightingale later extended the honor to her outstanding nursing students by presenting them with a medal of excellence.


Graduates of the 11-month Career Certificate PN program become licensed practical nurses (LPN) by passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) exam. ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø Nursing graduates are usually fully employed in nursing within a few months of graduation.

ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø offers an Associate in Science degree in Nursing (ADN) program for students interested in becoming registered nurses in three formats: a two-year Generic-RN program, a two-year Evening/Weekend RN program, and a one-year Transition-LPN to RN program. The College also offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

For information about ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏ꿉۪s Nursing programs, contact Danielle Ochoa, Health Sciences advisor at 863-784-7027 or by email at healthsciences@southflorida.edu.

The Radiography graduates

The Radiography graduates (photo by Mark Delaney)

AVON PARK, Fla. – July 29, 2024 – On Thursday, July 25, ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø (ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø) honored 10 of its graduates in a traditional pinning ceremony on the College’s Highlands Campus in Avon Park. The graduates have earned their Associate in Science (A.S.) in Radiography.

The graduates honored were: Aleyah Fox-Dickerson, Macy Kingdon, Lisa Klein, Dennis Mallen III, Trevor Mazurek, Katie Millerd, Katherine Oyola, Analaura Reynoso, Gabriela Sarmiento Egea, and Olivia Wessal.

Upon completing ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏ꿉۪s 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.

For information about ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏ꿉۪s Radiography program, contact Danielle Ochoa, Health Sciences advisor at 863-784-7027 or by email at healthsciences@southflorida.edu.

ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø Welcome CenterTransformative enterprise resource planning solution optimizes technology infrastructure at one of Florida’s top public colleges
July 18, 2024 – , the leading higher education technology solutions provider, today announced thatÌýºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍøÌý(ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø) has gone live with Ellucian Banner SaaS, a powerful Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform, which is designed specifically for higher education and that delivers comprehensive student, HR, finance, and financial aid management solutions. ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø joins more than 2,000 Ellucian customers around the globe using the Ellucian SaaS Platform.
ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø has partnered with Ellucian to modernize and consolidate its technology infrastructure to drive operational efficiency and improve student outcomes. TheÌý, integrated withÌý,Ìý,ÌýandÌý, now supports enhanced academic planning for the institution’sÌýmore than 5,000 students. Powering data-driven decision-making for ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø leaders and elevating the experience for students and employees, the platform will advance the institution’s operations, improve student outcomes, and drive local workforce development.
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“Ellucian is committed to delivering technology that powers higher education so institutions can empower student success,” said Laura Ipsen, president and CEO, Ellucian. “We’re proud to partner with ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø as they modernize operations and accelerate outcomes to support their students. Moving to the Ellucian SaaS Platform with Banner empowers ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø with timely data for better decision-making and improved team efficiency.â€�
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“ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø’s migration to the Ellucian SaaS Platform with Banner from our on-premise platform has provided us with a robust, secure solution that supports the anytime/anywhere access expectation for students, faculty, and staff,” said Peter Elliott, vice president, administrative services, ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø. “Our partnership with Ellucian has maximized and modernized the technology and staff resources available for our business operations and provides more focused support for faculty to drive student success.”
For more information on Ellucian solutions, visit .

The Dental Assisting Graduates

The Dental Assisting Graduates

AVON PARK, Fla. – July 11, 2024 – ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø (ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø) honored 11 graduates of its Dental Assisting program in a pinning ceremony in the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø University Center on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park on Thursday, July 11. Dental Assisting graduates receiving their pins were: Kamesha Brown, Jessica Bruno-Alvarado, Kristal Lyn Deery, Celestina Fajardo, Jennifer Alexandra Lopez, Galilea Moreno Carrola, Graciela Munoz Yates, Marisol Paz, Alana Denae Snell, Briana Stewart, and Ta’Hira Amani Williams.

The graduates earned their Career Certificate in Dental Assisting, received their Expanded Functions Dental Assisting Certification, and their Orthodontic Assistant Certification.

After completing the 11-month Career Certificate program in Dental Assisting, graduates can work as certified dental assistants by passing the Dental Assisting National Board Examination (DANB) and qualify for the Expanded Functions Dental Assisting Certification as well as Orthodontic Assistant Certification.

For information about ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏ꿉۪s Dental Education programs, contact Danielle Ochoa, Health Sciences advisor, at 863-784-7027 or by email at healthsciences@southflorida.edu.

It's Possible to Afford CollegeJuly 2, 2024 – ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø (ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø) created and launched a new enrollment marketing campaign that focuses on the needs and concerns of its students and prospective students. The new campaign features the many faces and programs at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, and its tagline is: It’s Possible.

The campaign focuses on the understanding that students have worries and preconceived ideas about college that lead to the hesitation to enroll or pursue their personal or professional goals. At ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, we want to dispel these myths and let prospective students know that there are options for them.

“At ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, we work to serve our tri-county region, its residents, and the unique and significant challenges they face every day,â€� said Melissa Kuehnle, director of institutional communications at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø. “I am proud to announce our new marketing campaign that puts the needs of our students at its heart. This campaign respects and understands the obstacles that our students face but lets them know that we are here to support them and offer them the resources and education that they need to build a successful and prosperous future. We want our students to feel seen, heard, and valued as members of the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø family.â€�

In the coming months, print, outdoor, digital, and social media advertising will appear on platforms throughout DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties to project the message that an individual’s goals, dreams, and opportunities are possible. Through its academic programs, student services, and employment training, ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø offers answers and comfort where prospective students only see questions and confusion.

For more information about ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, call 863-784-7447, email recruiter@southflorida.edu, or visit southflorida.edu.