ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½

ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ (ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½) is partnering with Hawks Cay Resort to expand educational and training opportunities in the field of hospitality in the middle Keys. Beginning in August, the resort will host ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ hospitality classes on their property and sponsor three paid internships within ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½â€™s Hospitality Game Changer Scholar program. Students will have the opportunity to live at Hawks Cay Resort during their two-year experience.

ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½â€™ (ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½) annual fundraiser, the Seaside Soiree, is going virtual this year with an online auction that will run Monday, March 22 through Saturday, April 3. Items up for bid include art, jewelry, and sports equipment, as well as adventure and travel packages.

ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ (ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½) invites the community to participate in ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Poetics, comprised of virtual events on March 25 and April 29. The annual visiting poets series will feature live readings from nationally acclaimed poets Richard Blanco on Thursday, March 25 at 6 p.m. and Ross Gay on Thursday, April 29 at 6 p.m.

ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ (ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½) invites prospective students to learn more about the various academic and career training opportunities available locally at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ through a virtual information session on Wednesday, March 10 at 5:30 p.m.

ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ invites prospective students and their parents to learn more about its Project ACCESS program at a virtual information session on Wednesday, February 24 at 5:30 p.m. Project ACCESS is an inclusive postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities and autism. The personalized program includes academics, social activities, employment experience, and independent living. Starting this fall, students can participate in Project ACCESS at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½â€™s Key West Campus or new Upper Keys Center in Key Largo.

After a 45-year hiatus form collegiate sports, ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ dove back into athletics this past weekend with the debut of its first-ever women’s and men’s swim teams competing at their first meet. Five student athletes, four female and one male, traveled to Fort Pierce to compete in the 2021 Stanton C. Craigie Memorial Swim Invitational Meet, hosted by Indian River State College, February 5 through 7.

Waiting time is not down time. While anticipation grows for sufficient, steady flow of COVID-19 vaccine to the Keys, ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ (ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½) has initiated collaboration among multiple organizations in Monroe County to prepare for a future rollout. The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County (DOH-Monroe), the Medical Center at Ocean Reef, the Ocean Reef Community Foundation, Monroe County Emergency Management, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Key West, Monroe County School District, Lower Keys Medical Center, Curative, and Community Health of South Florida (CHI) are among the stakeholders working diligently and creatively together with the College.

Six diving students from ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ have advanced from the role of student to instructor. Each successfully passed the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) Instructor Examination (IE) in December, certifying them as open water scuba instructors.

ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ collected dozens of stuffed animals, games, puzzles, and other toys as well as $2,330 in donations from ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ employees and friends for children’s holiday gifts. The donations were given to Samuel’s House, a Keys-based non-profit organization that offers housing and supportive services for homeless women and intact families.

ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ held its sixty-first Commencement Exercises for the graduating Class of 2020 in an outdoor ceremony beside the Gulf of Mexico on the Key West Campus on Friday, December 11. Graduates donned face masks with their caps and gowns to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. Some of the graduates participating in the ceremony completed their studies earlier this year but were not able to formally celebrate their achievement as the College’s spring graduation exercises were cancelled. The College awarded more than 200 bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and certificates in 2020.