News & Info Overview Information for Current Students at the Florida Keys Community College in Key West, FL
News & Info Overview
Find out the latest news about Florida Keys Community College!
Dr. John Majewicz, Mathematics
It doesn’t take an expert in enumerative combinatorics* like FKCC Math instructor Dr. John Majewicz to see tha
t at small institutions the interactions between students and faculty would statistically be more frequent and personal than at larger institutions. That’s why in 2009 Majewicz acted on his love for Key West and made the logical leap from the 40,000-plus campus of the Community College of Philadelphia to find a sense of true community at the small southernmost college.
“There were so many classes and so many instructors, you hardly ever saw the same student twice; it was very impersonal,” said Majewicz of the institution where he taught for 20 years. “Here, it’s not uncommon for me to work with a student through four courses—from College Algebra to Calculus. I’ve developed some really nice student-instructor relationships. We have conversations about the subject matter and they don’t hesitate to seek help.” Click here to read the full article.
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FKCC Library Hosts Civil War Reading & Discussion Series
January 19, 2012—The FKCC Library will host a free, five-part reading and discussion series called “Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the American Civil War.” The FKCC library is one of only 65 public libraries nationwide receiving a grant to host the series developed by the American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The approximately two-hour sessions are open to all members of the community and will be held each Tuesday, January 31 through February 28. FKCC history professor Sharon Farrell, a Ph.D. candidate who specializes in minority history, will lead the group discussions. At each session, the conversation will focus on a different facet of the Civil War experience, using one or more common texts as a foundation and touchstone. Click here to read more.
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Featuring Live Sharks, Fabien Cousteau, Beautiful Art, and More!
Proceeds to benefit FKCC Marine Science program & scholarships
Saturday, January 28
6:00p.m.-10:00p.m.-Tennessee Williams Theatre
Explore the fascinating world of sharks at FKCC's Shark Expo 2. Enjoy live sharks and the scientists who study them, including famed ocean explorer Fabien Cousteau (host of PBS’ acclaimed series Ocean Adventures). Bid on extraordinary items: Wyland and Guy Harvey artwork, SCUBA trips, sports equipment, jewelry, flying sharks and much, much more-- including a very special surfboard.
Prior to the main event, true adventures are invited to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dive alongside Cousteau. The two-tank dive of the spectacular artificial reef, the USS Vandenberg, will include equipment, lunch, and a one-in-twenty chance to win a week long SCUBA adventure aboard Blackbeard’s Cruises in the Bahamas. Space is limited; contact Patti Carey to sign-up.
Order tickets at KeysTix.com. Save $5 by ordering in advance.
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FKCC Library Gallery Showcases Nature Photography
The FKCC Library Gallery will exhibit a collection of original nature photographs, entitled “A Day in the Life,” by artist Patti Davis beginning January 9 through February 29. An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, January 18 at 6:00p.m. The event, sponsored by The Friends of the FKCC Library and the FKCC Foundation, is free and open to the community.
The collection of giclées prints and other media depict a variety of local nature scenes, including floral-feeding butterflies and Hemingway cats. All pieces will be for sale with proceeds benefitting the FKCC Library Gallery. Click here to read full article.
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The collection of giclées prints and other media depict a variety of local nature scenes, including floral-feeding butterflies and Hemingway cats. All pieces will be for sale with proceeds benefitting the FKCC Library Gallery. Click here to read full article.
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Dr. Kerry Charron, English
Having grown up 45 miles from the nearest community college in the Hudson Valley area of New York, Dr. Kerry Charron probably never anticipated that she would develop a passion for community colleges, nor that she would become an English professor at the opposite end of the country at Florida Keys Community College. Charron was first introduced to the world of community colleges at Columbia University’s Community College Research Center, where her contributions to a national study of 15 community colleges earned her a student research award. “It really opened my eyes to how important community colleges are to American society and how critical they are to the workforce. I felt like that was where I wanted to slot into higher education.” Click here to read full article.
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FKCC Graduates Nurses
Dec 20--FKCC marked the graduation of 29 soon-to-be nurses with a traditional nurses’ pinning ceremony on the Key West Campus last Friday. Each graduate was presented his or her pin by select family members and friends. Originating with nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, the presentation of the nurses’ pin symbolically welcomes new nurses to the profession. FKCC Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Debbie Allish presented several awards to the highest performing students. Kendra Coffield and Cecil St. Cyr were recognized for excellence in clinical practice, and Sandra Kaster was awarded for academic excellence. Click here to read more.
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Frank Wood, Business Administration
After more than 20 years in theater management, the leap from show business to business academia was literally quite short for Frank Wood. As Executive Director of the Tennessee Williams Theatre, located at Florida Keys Community College’s Key West Campus, Wood has been surrounded by collegiate life for the past seven years. Eventually, his regular interactions with college students and personnel sparked a new career endeavor—on just the other side of the campus. “I just had this desire: I want to teach,” said Wood, who joined the FKCC faculty in 2010 and now oversees the business program, which includes an Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Administration and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship. Click here to read full article. _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sharon Farrell, History
There may not have been many female history professors when Sharon Farrell, History instructor at FKCC, first entered college. Fortunately that didn’t stop her from chasing her dream and doing her part to shift the historical gender gap among history teachers.“I couldn’t be a history major because women were only allowed in the school of nursing or education, said Farrell who has taught at FKCC since 2005. “I had to go to the school of education as a secondary teacher, so I could take history courses with men.”
Since then Farrell has earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a master’s degree in History, and completed significant coursework toward a doctorate in History. Not to mention raising a family in between. She now leads the college’s Social Sciences and Art programs and teaches American History, World History: the Holocaust, and Oral and Community History. Click here to read full article.
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Since then Farrell has earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a master’s degree in History, and completed significant coursework toward a doctorate in History. Not to mention raising a family in between. She now leads the college’s Social Sciences and Art programs and teaches American History, World History: the Holocaust, and Oral and Community History. Click here to read full article.
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Barbara Reis, Mathematics
Long before Florida Keys Community College shone a spotlight on math as the topic of its Quality Enhancement Plan, Barbara Reis has been dedicated to teaching the often-feared, but critically-important subject. Currently teaching six math courses at the college’s Middle and Upper Keys Centers, Reis has taught students at a range of institutions from middle schools to large universities in her 50-plus year career.“I always loved teaching math, even when I was a student just tutoring and helping my friends,” said Reis who has taught FKCC students for six years.
“I like teaching at a community college; I like the level of students—having a certain number coming out of the high schools, as well as holding the hands and reassuring the ones that are coming back. I really enjoy those students.” Click here to read full article.
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FKCC Voted "BEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE" in FL for Third Year!
October 31, 2011—Florida Keys Community College was voted “Best Community College” by the readers of Florida Monthly magazine in the publication’s annual “Best of Florida” awards. This is the second consecutive year and third year in total that FKCC took the top spot among the “Great 28” institutions in the Florida College System. Click here to read full article.
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Captain Mark Woods, 
Marine Engineering & Seamanship
Steeped with diesel fuel, fiberglass, salt and sweat, the Marine Engineering and Seamanship program at Florida Keys Community College is not known for its glamour. But that doesn’t matter a bit to Mark Woods, the coordinator of the program and faculty member since 2007. He—and his students—are into it because the courses provide a practical, relevant education that helps students land jobs.
With real world experience in such fields, Woods is well-seated at the helm the program. During his 20-year service in the U.S. Navy, he was a Master Training Specialist and Instructor Certifier for Naval Nuclear Power Training. He is also a dive instructor, charter boat captain, and certified marine electrician and mechanic. Woods has to his credit an associate degree in Marine Engineering, fittingly from FKCC, a bachelor’s degree in Management, and a master’s degree in Teaching and Learning with Technology. And, as if that weren’t enough, he is in his final semester of coursework toward a doctorate in Education. Click here to read the full article.
With real world experience in such fields, Woods is well-seated at the helm the program. During his 20-year service in the U.S. Navy, he was a Master Training Specialist and Instructor Certifier for Naval Nuclear Power Training. He is also a dive instructor, charter boat captain, and certified marine electrician and mechanic. Woods has to his credit an associate degree in Marine Engineering, fittingly from FKCC, a bachelor’s degree in Management, and a master’s degree in Teaching and Learning with Technology. And, as if that weren’t enough, he is in his final semester of coursework toward a doctorate in Education. Click here to read the full article.
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FKCC Gears Up For Math Overhaul
Oct 20, 2011-- FKCC held a “Grand Preview” on Thursday to celebrate its ne
w program, Island TIME: Transition into Math Excellence, an initiative to overhaul developmental math courses to improve student learning, confidence, and success. The Grand Preview also served to unveil the new Student Success Center, the high-tech annex where students will take Island TIME courses beginning next semester.
The college discovered that more than half of its first-year students tested below college-level and were placed into developmental math courses to prepare for the more rigorous college-level courses. Furthermore, the college found that the majority of such students do not complete past the developmental-level and often give up their pursuit of a college degree all together. These statistics do not only exist in the Florida Keys, but permeate throughout the United States—contributing to the lacking number of college graduates needed to strengthen the nation domestically and compete globally. Math has indeed earned the nickname of “the dream killer.” Click here to read more.
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Governor Appoints New FKCC Board Members
Florida Governor Rick Scott announced on October 14 the reappointment of Edwin A. Scales III and the appointment of Brian C. Schmitt and Robert C. Stoky to the District Board of Trustees of Florida Keys Community College. Scales’ term began Friday and will end May 31, 2014. Schmitt and Stoky succeed Kim Bassett and Spencer Slate, respectively, with terms that began Friday and will end May 31, 2015. The three appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Click here to read full article.
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Click here to read full article.
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Mary Turner, Nursing
In the two decades that Mary Turner has practiced nursing, she has earned an alphabet of letters that decorates her name and distinguishes her in the health profession. She is an ARNP (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner), an FNP-BC (Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified), and an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing), received from the University of Florida.
Her experiences are wide-ranging—from the emergency room to the operating table to physical and medical rehabilitation care. Cumulatively, Turner would be an asset at any hospital, doctor’s office, or health care facility—but she has chosen the classrooms and laboratories at Florida Keys Community College to impart her considerable talent, skills, and real world experience to the next generation of nurses.
Click here to read the full article.
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Click here to read the full article.
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Melissa Nicholas
Developmental Reading & Writing
Melissa Nicholas’ path to becoming the Developmental Reading and Writing instructor at Florida Keys Community College started early. As the daughter of a linguist, raised in a French, Spanish, and Creole-speaking household, language has always been a central element of her life. She has taught English at various levels that range from introducing the language to foreign speakers new to this country to coaching accent refinement to international doctoral students. Click here to read the full story.
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Dr. Bill Irwin, Biology
Equipped with a Ph.D in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an impressive resume that highlights a host of fascinating jobs and experiences—including extensive sea turtle research—Dr. Bill Irwin could choose to teach just about anywhere. And he has—counting three colleges and a number of other eco-educational facilities. Luckily though, opportunities have drawn him progressively southward from his origins in Massachusetts to the southernmost city as the newest full time Biology faculty member at Florida Keys Community College. Click here to read the full story.
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FKCC Library Gallery Showcases Sculpture and Photography
September 20, 2011—FKCC’s Library Gallery will exhibit two complimentary, yet distinct art collections September 26 through November 1, with an opening reception on Thursday, September 29 at 5:30p.m. The event, sponsored by The Friends of the FKCC Library and the FKCC Foundation, is free and open to the community.
Both collections were created by local artists. Jackie Sanchez’s “STEEL” includes 25 welded abstract sculptures and “Journey Unknown” is a 30-piece photography collection of Ellen Westbrook’s world travels. Click here to read more.
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Celebrate Constitution Day
September 7, 2011—FKCC invites the community to celebrate Constitution Day with students, faculty, and staff on Friday, September 16 from 11:00a.m. to 12:30p.m. in the lobby of the Tennessee Williams Theatre on the Key West Campus. Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, laying the foundation of our government. Click here to read more.
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FKCC Graduates Basic Law Enforcement Academy #44
FKCC's Institute for Public Safety marked the graduation of its Basic Law Enforcement Academy #44 with a ceremony on Monday, which was also the first day of the fall semester. Eight students, six of whom were female, successfully completed the 770-hour training program held on the college’s Key West Campus. Upon passing the state certification exam, each will become Florida Law Enforcement Officers.
FKCC is currently accepting applications for four upcoming academies. Click here to read more.
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FKCC Graduates Upper Keys Basic Law Enforcement Academy
July 5, 2011— FKCC's Institute for Public Safety celebrated the completion of Basic Law Enforcement Academy #41 with a graduation ceremony on Friday, July 1 at the Murray E. Nelson Government and Cultural Center in Key Largo. Seven students successfully completed the 770-hour training program and upon passing the state certification exam, will become Florida Law Enforcement Officers.
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FKCC Library Gallery Exhibits Miller’s “Silver Jubilee”
June 14, 2011—FKCC’s Library Gallery will exhibit “Silver Jubilee,” a 50-piece show created by long-time resident artist Florence M. Miller from June 20 through August 29. An opening reception will be held to celebrate the collection on Thursday, June 23 at 6:00p.m. The event, sponsored by The Friends of the FKCC Library and the FKCC Foundation, is free and open to the community.
“Silver Jubilee” includes a range of multimedia art using charcoal, watercolor, oil, and acrylic paints. Most pieces in the collection will be available for purchase, with the proceeds to benefit the college’s library. Read more.
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FKCC President Emeritus Increases Bequest to College
May 18, 2011—Florida Keys Community College President Emeritus Dr. William A. Seeker shared formal plans with college officials on Monday to substantially increase his bequest to support the college through the FKCC Foundation. His amended will directs the majority of his estate to go toward the creation of three endowments—totaling approximately $3 million—enabling the former president of 28 years to continue his legacy of generosity, dedication, and service to the college in perpetuity. Read more.
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FKCC Student Art Show Exhibits Talent
April 29, 2011—Florida Keys Community College will showcase the talent and creativity of their students at the annual FKCC Student Art Show, May 2 through June 10, in the Library Gallery on the Key West Campus. Over 50 pieces of art created by students over the past academic year will be featured, including ceramic pottery, “object art,” paintings, drawings, black and white photography, and digital photography. Click here to read more.
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Congresswoman Helps FKCC Open New Passport Services
April 19, 2011—Florida Keys Community College will welcome Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to commemorate the opening of the college’s new service as a U.S. Passport Application Acceptance Agency on Friday, April 22 at 10:00a.m. at the Campus Store on the Key West Campus. Read more.
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American Legion Creates FKCC Nursing Scholarships
April 19, 2011—The Key West chapter of the American Legion, Arthur Sawyer Post 28, donated $5,000 to the FKCC Foundation to establish a scholarship for Florida Keys Community College nursing students. The donation will be matched by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida through a program offered by the Florida College System Foundation—doubling the amount of nursing scholarships available. Click here to read more. __________________________________________________________________________________________________
FKCC Environmental Club Celebrates Earth Week
In honor of Earth Day, the FKCC Environmental Club will host an entire week of eco-minded activities, including a variety of guest speakers, trivia games, and a live concert in the amphitheatre by The Key West All- Stars. All events are free and open to the public. Click here to read a story highlighting the admirable work of the FKCC Environmental Club.
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FKCC's Diving Program Obtains National Designation
March 24, 2011— Florida Keys Community College proudly announces its induction into the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS). FKCC is only the second community college in America to be granted AAUS membership—and the only one in Florida. The designation means that now all scientific diving activities at the college’s James E. Lockwood Jr. School of Diving and Underwater Technology will function under the standards and guidelines of the AAUS and will be overseen by an internal Dive Control Board comprised of college faculty and administrators. Read More.
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FKCC Names Residence Hall "Lagoon Landing"
March 8, 2011— Florida Keys Community College proudly announces that its new student residence hall will be called “Lagoon Landing.” The winning name was one of approximately 40 nominations that were submitted by students, faculty, staff, and community members as part of a “Name the 
Residence Hall” campaign. The members of the college’s District Board of Trustees were presented with a “Top Five” list of names compiled by college staff at their monthly meeting last week. However, they relinquished the naming honor to FKCC President Dr. Larry Tyree who made the final selection. Click here to read more.
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Residence Hall” campaign. The members of the college’s District Board of Trustees were presented with a “Top Five” list of names compiled by college staff at their monthly meeting last week. However, they relinquished the naming honor to FKCC President Dr. Larry Tyree who made the final selection. Click here to read more.________________________________________________________________________________________________
FKCC Library Hosts Nationally-Traveling “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War”
February 1, 2011—Just in time for President’s Day, Florida Keys Community College’s Library will host “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War,” a traveling exhibit that examines how President Abraham Lincoln used the Constitution to confront three intertwined crises of the Civil War—the secession of the Southern states, slavery and wartime civil liberties. Click here to read more.