Ira Holmes International Film Series Wraps Up with Bonus Short Film Festival

The finale of the College of Central Florida Ira Holmes International Film Series’ 60th anniversary season will be a bonus short film festival on Tuesday, April 12.

The highlights of the festival will be two of 1962’s best short films: “Vive Le Tour,” Louis Malle’s energetic evocation of the Tour de France, and “La Jetée,” a tale of time travel told in still images, which remains one of the most influential, radical science fiction films ever made.

Films will be shown at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., and at 7 p.m., at the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, Building 8, Room 110. Films at the Ocala Campus are free and open to the public. Films at the Appleton are free to all museum and film series members; nonmembers pay museum admission. Films may contain mature content.

For more details, visit cf.edu/filmseries.

College of Central Florida Student Named Florida’s Top Workforce-Bound-Scholar

Makayla Cox of Ocala was named the New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar and will receive a $1,250 scholarship sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation.

Cox is one of seven CF students recently named to the All-Florida Academic Team. She was the state’s top-scoring student in the All-USA Academic Team competition, which drew more than 2,000 applicants.

“We are so proud of Makayla,” said Dr. Allan Danuff, associate vice president of Arts and Sciences and Phi Theta Kappa advisor. “She’s excelling in CF’s rigorous Associate Degree Nursing program and is a Phi Theta Kappa honor society student, which requires at least a 3.5 GPA. She was selected for the New Century Workforce Pathway Scholarship and the All-Florida Academic Team not just for her academic performance, but for leadership and community service as well.”

For more information about the College of Central Florida, visit CF.edu. For more information on the New Century Pathway Scholarship, visit PTK.org.

College of Central Florida Students Named to All-Florida Academic Team

Seven outstanding students at the College of Central Florida have been named to the Florida College System 2022 All-Florida Academic Team and will be recognized at a team ceremony on April 1 on Orlando.

Giselle Bustos, Makayla Cox, Dominique Gandiongco, Brian Holloway, Charles McGee, Brandon Medrano and Kelsey Meekins are members of the CF chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the largest honor society in American higher education. They were selected based on academic performance, leadership and community service.

“We are so proud of these CF student leaders,” said Dr. Allan Danuff, associate vice president of Arts and Sciences and Phi Theta Kappa advisor. “They consistently excel in not only academic performance but in serving our community and contributing to CF’s supportive, high-quality learning environment. We are proud to share that of the 28 schools in the Florida College System, only four schools had more students recognized on this year’s team.”

For more details, visit CF.edu.

CF Students Present ‘You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown’

The beloved characters from the “Peanuts” comic strip will come to life when College of Central Florida Visual and Performing Arts students present the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” April 7-10.

Performances times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 7-9, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at the Dassance Fine Arts Center, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala.

“Audiences have been enjoying these iconic characters and the show’s universal themes of friendship, fun and finding happiness for decades,” said Nonalee Davis, CF Theatre instructor and the play’s director. “Our production features 12 CF students performing more than a dozen Tony Award-winning musical numbers. It will be a fun experience for theatregoers of all ages.”

Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for non-CF students and can be purchased at CF.edu/Musical or by calling 352-873-5810. Tickets are free for CF students, faculty and staff with valid I.D.

For more information about CF events, visit CF.edu.

CF Appleton Museum of Art to Feature Exhibition of Photographs by Steven Benson

In the Balcony Gallery for Florida Artists, Benson explores the world and what it means to be human through his meditative black-and-white photographs of everyday people and scenes.

“There is something extraordinary about finding magic in things, places, people and processes never intended to carry any grand significance,” Benson said. “It’s long been known that photographing something places importance on the subject — even the mundane.” Taken throughout the world, his photographs are influenced by the existentialist writings of Camus, Kafka and Dostoevsky.

Benson is a professor of Photography and Video and chair of the Southeast Center for Photographic Studies, School of Photography at Daytona State College. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the College for Creative Studies and Master of Fine Arts from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts/ArtsMidwest Fellowship. His work is represented in numerous collections, including the Museum of Fine Art-Houston; Detroit Institute of Arts; Centre Georges Pompidou; and the Museet for Fotokunst in Denmark. His works have been displayed worldwide in Argentina, South Korea, Syria, Poland and China.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

College of Central Florida Professor Receives National Award

John Ash, associate professor of music and department chair for Visual and Performing Arts at the College of Central Florida, will be honored with the American Association of Community Colleges 2022 Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Recognition at their annual conference in New York City in May. Ash directs the college’s bands and wind symphony, teaches music classes and recently served as the Faculty Senate president for two years.

The award, named after former AACC President and CEO Dale P. Parnell, recognizes individuals making a difference in the classroom.

“Professor Ash always puts our students first and has been a great asset to the College of Central Florida,” said Dr. Mark Paugh, vice president for Academic Affairs. “Throughout the pandemic, he has led his department to safely offer musical and theatrical instruction and performances for our students.”

For more information about the College of Central Florida, visit CF.edu. For more information about the AACC, visit aacc.nche.edu.

CF Accepting Applications for Citrus Paramedic Training Program

Are you an Emergency Medical Technician who’s ready to take your career to the next level? The College of Central Florida is now accepting applications for the next Paramedic class at our Citrus Campus, which will begin May 11.

“There is a huge need for certified paramedics in Citrus County, and our graduates are in high demand,” said Rod McGinnes, associate dean of Health Sciences and EMS program manager. “CF is the only nationally accredited Paramedic program in Marion, Citrus and Levy counties. Our 12-month, hands-on program was designed to accommodate EMTs’ shift schedules so they can continue to work as first responders while we train them in advanced treatment skills such as medication administration, airway skills and management of critical trauma, and prepare them to pass the state and national certification exams.”

Prospective Paramedic students must be currently licensed Florida EMTs and must first apply to the College of Central Florida at CF.edu/Apply. Prospective students are encouraged to view the virtual EMS information session at CF.edu/EMS. Paramedic program applications, available at CF.edu/Paramedic, are due by April 15.

For more information, visit CF.edu or call 352-873-5800.

Artist, Author and Educator Charles Eady to Speak at the Appleton Museum

On Sunday, Feb. 27, at 2 p.m., Eady will speak at the Appleton on how history has informed his creative process. This talk is free and open to the public; no RSVP required. (Regular admission fees apply if you also plan to visit the galleries.)

Born in South Carolina, he currently lives in Ocala and teaches in the Marion County Public Schools. A contemporary artist and author who uses art to examine long-held beliefs about the South, his emphasis for the past decade has been on the lives of those living in the South before the Civil War. His unique artistic language layers art into history, and his paintings open dialogues into little-known facts about Southern history. Through his work, Eady endeavors to improve social conflict by disrupting mainstream imagery and gives voice to a population silenced from history.

His book, “Hidden Freedom: The South Before Racism,” is a compelling story about a free Black family seeking equality in South Carolina before the Civil War. Signed copies are available in the Appleton Store for $12.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

CF Invites Future College Students to Preview Night

The College of Central Florida invites anyone thinking about college to attend an upcoming Preview Night event: Ocala Campus on Tuesday, March 1, 5-7 p.m.; Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus on Thursday, March 3, 4-6 p.m.; or Citrus Campus on Thursday, March 10, 5-7 p.m.

Preview Night is a chance for anyone considering college to find out everything CF has to offer – for high school students to retirees and everyone in between. At CF’s largest event of the year, representatives from admissions, financial aid, student services, clubs and organizations will help attendees plan their very own fun, successful college experience.

“Preview Night is an opportunity for students and their families to get answers to all their questions about college,” said Dr. Raphel Robinson, director of Admissions and Student Recruitment. “CF is a college for everyone, and we’re committed to providing a supportive, high-quality learning environment where all individuals can excel.”

The $30 application fee is waived for anyone who applies at Preview Night. Attendees who complete a survey will get a CF T-shirt and will be entered to win free tuition for one 3-credit undergraduate class at the in-state tuition rate.

For more details, visit CF.edu/PreviewNight.

Learn about Bachelor’s Degree Business Programs at CF

CF invites prospective students to learn more about the Bachelor of Applied Science in Business and Organizational Management program at a virtual information session on Monday, Feb. 28, from 6-7 p.m.

Join advisors, administrators and faculty to learn about bachelor’s degree specializations in Accounting, Agribusiness, Equine Studies, Management Information Systems, Health Care Management, Public Safety Administration, and Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Find out about program design, affordability and the admissions process.

Visit CF.edu/BusTechEvents to register for this Zoom event. To learn more about CF, visit CF.edu.