The College of Central Florida congratulates the 2026 Florida Teacher of the Year, Mark Harrison. He received the honor on July 17 from Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas at the 2026 Florida Teacher of the Year Gala in Orlando.

Harrison, who teaches economics and American government at Union County High School, earned an Associate in Arts degree, with honors, from CF in 2002. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Florida. He earned the Civics Seal of Excellence, has served as a sponsor for the civics and debate team and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and also drives a school bus.

“Mark sets the example of how a talented and dedicated teacher makes all the difference for his students,” Kamoutsas said.

Dr. Mark Paugh, CF vice president of Academic Affairs, said it is an honor for the college to have an alumnus win such a prestigious award.

“We are so proud of Mr. Harrison and the meaningful work he does every day with students,” Paugh said. “It is always rewarding to see graduates of our Associate in Arts program continue their education and have access to a wide array of career options that positively impact our communities.”

As the 2026 Florida Teacher of the Year, Harrison will serve as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education for one year, advocating for students and representing Florida’ remarkable teaching community. He will receive a $50,000 award and a tuition waiver to pursue a graduate degree from the Florida State University College of Education plus a two-year scholarship from the Florida Prepaid College Savings plan to present to a student of his choice.

For more information about the Florida Teacher of the Year program, visit www.fldoe.org.

The talented musical theatre students at the College of Central Florida are about to hit the ground running with an exciting new production – described by its creator as “a meditation on change” – and the community is invited to enjoy the world premiere of a brand-new musical on stage Aug. 1-3 at the Black Box Theatre sponsored by Norman and Susan Reid, 3001 S.W. College Road.

“In Willowbark Woods” is an original theatrical work composed and written by Joshua L. Mazur, CF adjunct instructor of music. Students registered for a special two-week section of the college’s Advanced Play Production class will be assigned roles and will learn and rehearse the musical from July 21-31, then perform the show live Aug. 1-3.

“‘In Willowbark Woods’ is about change in a place that seems unchanged,” Mazur revealed. “Through spare dialogue, vivid moments, intimate songs and an atmosphere that feels both familiar and strange, ‘In Willowbark Woods’ becomes a portrait of ordinary people who, despite the stillness around them, cannot avoid confronting their own transformation. Audiences are invited into this small, imaginary community not as spectators alone, but as fellow travelers – reflecting on how even the quietest corners of life conceal tides of change we all must eventually meet.”

The production will be directed by Dr. Jason Longtin, CF professor of music and choral director. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 1, and Saturday, August 2, and 3 p.m. Sunday, August 3. Tickets are $10 for adults and can be purchased at cf.universitytickets.com or by calling 352-873-5810. Tickets are free for CF students, faculty and staff with valid I.D.

The community also is invited to two free talks with Mazur: “Making a Show: The Writing and Composing of ‘In Willowbark Woods’ on Tuesday, July 22, at 3 p.m., and “Making a Living: Being a Composer in 2025” on Tuesday, July 29, at 3 p.m. Both 90-minute events will be held at the Black Box Theatre sponsored by Norman and Susan Reid, 3001 S.W. College Road.

For more information about CF Visual and Performing Arts events, visit CF.edu/theatre.

Topics and concepts presented at this event are for discussion purposes only and are not intended to espouse, promote, advance, inculcate, or compel individuals to believe the topics or concepts presented therein. Nor do they constitute endorsement of such topics or concepts by the College of Central Florida, its Board of Trustees, or any of their officers, employees, or agents.

In recognition of its support for military students and families, the College of Central Florida has been officially designated a Collegiate Purple Star Campus by the Florida Department of Education.

CF’s Veterans Success Center, located in the Bryant Student Union on the Ocala Campus, is a welcoming, dedicated space for student veterans and veterans’ dependents where they can connect with the CF Veterans Services department for assistance with college applications, the transition to college life, and guidance in Veterans Affairs education benefit programs. The Veterans Success Center also serves as a meeting place for the CF Veterans Association, a student-led organization, which provides peer support for veterans and their families.

“At the CF Veterans Success Center, we strive to assist members of the military and veteran community from the very beginning of their college journey all the way through graduation and beyond,” said Eric Zimmer, CF Veterans Affairs coordinator. “The Purple Star Campus designation demonstrates our continuing commitment to those currently serving, those who have served, and their dependents.”

CF is the 13th Florida College System school to earn this distinction since the Collegiate Purple Star Campus program was established by the Florida Legislature in 2023 to recognize colleges that demonstrate a commitment to supporting military families.

For more information about CF’s specialized services for veterans, visit CF.edu/Veterans.

The College of Central Florida is proud to announce a record number of workforce expansion initiatives in the 2024-2025 academic year, as part of the largest workforce education expansion in the college’s 68-year history.

“The College of Central Florida is achieving unprecedented growth and receiving national recognition for our quality, with the help of our amazing partners,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, CF president. “Governor DeSantis’ goal is to make Florida the No. 1 state in the country for workforce education, and CF has contributed to this effort by investing more than $100 million in state and local support over the past few years to expand our academic programs and facilities and prepare the most qualified, job-ready graduates to meet the needs of employers.”

CF’s workforce education accomplishments in the 2024-2025 academic year include the following:

Launching new programs, degrees and certificates:

• In response to growing demand for skilled professionals in Florida’s leading industry, CF added a new Hospitality and Tourism Management program to begin in Fall 2025, which will meet the local labor market needs of the expanding hospitality industry.
• The college submitted a proposal to the State Board of Education for a new Associate in Science degree in Precision Agriculture Technology, which will be the first of its kind in Florida, preparing students for careers in the dynamic and increasingly technology-driven agricultural sector.
• CF launched a new Associate in Science degree in Fire Science in the Spring 2025 semester, designed to help individuals advance in their careers and meet the expanding need for public safety leaders in the region.
• To meet a major increase in the need for technicians with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) training, CF worked with the City of Ocala, Marion County and regional employers to create a new college credit certificate in GIS, which is now open for Fall 2025 enrollment. Graduates will be in high demand for local jobs in information technology, emergency response, urban planning, agriculture, environmental science, education, site development and more.
• To prepare graduates to fill around 300 local job openings in these high-demand health care fields, CF launched programs in cardiovascular technology, diagnostic medical sonography technology and respiratory care.

Creating and strengthening community partnerships:

• CF formalized a new partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to enhance student education and advance the use of uncrewed aircraft systems in agriculture.
• CF partnered with CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion (CLM) and public school districts in Marion, Citrus and Levy counties to offer the Pathways to Permanent program for teachers on temporary certifications. Since the program started in 2023, CF has enrolled and supported 71 classroom teachers on their journey to licensure, and more than 100 teachers have applied to the program for the Fall 2025 semester.
• Through its public-private partnership with Fleetforce Truck Driving School, CF has produced 263 Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) graduates and has just expanded into Levy County, in partnership with the Levy County School Board and CareerSource CLM, with the first cohort of Class B CDL students set to graduate in June 2025.
• CF, in partnership with BDI Datalynk and CareerSource CLM, has trained 109 individuals with the support of the Creating Connections Broadband Infrastructure Grant – with a 99% pass rate. CF worked to have the Certified Fiber Optics Bootcamp certifications, including Certified Fiber Optics Technician, Certified Fiber Optic Specialist – Testing and Maintenance, and Certified Fiber Optic Specialist – Splicing added to the Master Credential List.
• Lockheed Martin has launched a new schedule of seven apprentice cohorts, which will train at the CF Ocala Campus advanced manufacturing lab. After the first four weeks of training, apprentices will be eligible for nine college credit hours in the CF Associate in Science in Engineering Technology degree program.
• CF Corporate College partnered with the Levy County School Board to offer the first of its kind phlebotomy training for high school seniors.

Expanding facilities, supporting students and maintaining excellence:

• Through the Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2021, CF received four grants this year: $1,967,027 in scholarship funding from the FLDOE Open Door Grant Program, to support students in career and technical education programs; $1,049,273 from the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) PIPELINE District Fund, for nursing education; $661,959 from the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive (CAP) grant to renovate and modernize technology at the Vintage Farm Campus and expand IT programs to the Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus; and $600,000 from the FLDOE Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) fund, for nursing education and scholarships.
• CF was certified as a National Institute of Food and Agriculture Non-Land-Grant College of Agriculture, one of only three Florida educational institutions and the only college in the Florida College System with this designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• The college is currently renovating the Ocala Campus Building 19 to serve as a new home for its award-winning Emergency Medical Services programs, as part of an ongoing Health Sciences expansion that also included the opening of the new AdventHealth Center for Nursing in January 2025 and the opening of the Allied Health Sciences building in 2023.
• Health Sciences have expanded at the Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus with the addition of the Respiratory Care program and the Citrus County Hospital Board Nursing Promise Scholarship, which covers tuition for Citrus County residents in the Associate Degree Nursing program.
• CF is preparing to break ground on a new Criminal Justice Instruction Center, a 33,744-square-foot modern, multimedia learning environment where students will prepare to fill the large number of open law enforcement jobs in our area.

To learn more about the College of Central Florida and stay updated on the college’s ongoing initiatives, visit CF.edu.

On view in the Appleton’s Balcony Gallery for Florida Artists from June 21, 2025-January 18, 2026, “The Human Pulse: Photographs by John Elliott” features 42 black-and-white prints from the Ocala-based photographer’s ongoing series, “The Human Pulse.”

Elliott’s “The Human Pulse” project is shaped by his life and travels across 32 countries, capturing the remarkable array of the human experience. His photographs reflect a dreamlike vantage point: floating somewhat above, sometimes even at a great distance, but still connected to the moment.

As an influence, Elliott cites the renowned “The Family of Man” exhibition, organized by photographer Edward Steichen for the Museum of Modern Art New York in 1955. Elliott discovered the exhibition catalog in his father’s library and said, “Only decades later did I recollect perusing it with interest as a child, and the memories of many images remained vivid. Recently musing upon the genesis of one of my series, ‘The Human Pulse,’ I began to realize how influential this book was on my photographic vision. I strive to paint a multi-faceted spectrum of global humanity — joy to suffering, spontaneity to reflection.”

Gallery Tour

Saturday, October 4, 11 a.m.

Join Elliott on the October 4 Free First Saturday for a tour of his solo exhibition, “The Human Pulse.” Tour meets at 11 a.m. in the Balcony Gallery for Florida Artists on the second floor. Free as part of Free First Saturday; no reservation needed to attend.

About the Artist:

John Elliott was born in Spring Valley, New York, and for his first dozen years lived in Manhattan, after which he moved with his family to Coral Gables, Florida, where he fell in love with photography. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and double minors in Spanish and international studies from Ohio University. After a successful career in media production, in early 2011 he was selected to be an officer in the U.S. Foreign Service and, after five months of training, received a congressional appointment to be a vice consul in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. From 2014-2016, he served as press attaché in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before returning to Washington, D.C., to work for the State Department in five senior diplomatic assignments through 2021. Elliott and his family currently reside in Ocala. He is a founder of the Ocala Photography Group and has exhibited his work in solo and group shows since 1973.

Regular admission fees apply to visit. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month as part of the Free First Saturday program.

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.

Featured image: John Elliott, “Bliss Ride (Giza, Egypt),” 2015, Archival giclée pigment print, Courtesy of the artist.

The College of Central Florida (CF) has formalized a new partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to enhance student education and advance the use of uncrewed aircraft systems in agriculture.

The agreement, approved by the CF Board of Trustees on May 28, gives CF Agribusiness Management students unprecedented opportunities to access innovative technologies and get hands-on experience with the latest industry equipment. Learners studying at the CF Vintage Farm Campus will benefit from autonomous aircraft demonstrations and guest lectures by Embry-Riddle experts, who will focus on agricultural operations such as crop monitoring, livestock management and precision farming.

“Expanding the college’s agribusiness training opportunities is responsive to the needs of employers,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, CF president. “With our area producing nearly $400 million in agriculture exports each year and generating an economic impact of more than $4 billion through our equine industry, CF is positioned to be Florida’s top educational provider for agribusiness career training, talent development and applied research.”

Embry-Riddle, located in Daytona Beach, will have access to CF facilities for collaborative events, research and career awareness initiatives.

“This partnership represents an exciting opportunity for students to explore the intersection of aviation and agriculture in a real-world setting,” said Dr. Alan Stolzer, dean of the Embry-Riddle College of Aviation. “We look forward to engaging with the College of Central Florida community and providing meaningful experiences that inspire the next generation of uncrewed aircraft systems leaders.”

College of Central Florida was certified in 2024 as a National Institute of Food and Agriculture Non-Land-Grant College of Agriculture, and is one of only three Florida educational institutions with this designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alongside Florida State University and Florida International University. CF’s 103-acre Vintage Farm Campus, located on County Road 475 just south of downtown Ocala, is the only working farm campus in the Florida College System.

For more information about CF’s Agribusiness Management program, visit CF.edu/Agribusiness.

In response to the growing demand for skilled professionals in Florida’s leading industry, the College of Central Florida is launching a new Hospitality and Tourism Management program beginning in Fall 2025.

Designed to support Florida’s rapidly growing tourism industry, the program offers a clear academic pathway starting with the Guest Services Specialist college credit certificate. This entry-level credential equips students for frontline roles such as concierge, guest services associate, or front desk coordinator. The curriculum also includes preparation for industry-recognized certifications like the Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP) and ServSafe Food Manager/Handler.

The certificate seamlessly transitions into the Associate in Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management, which expands students’ knowledge in areas such as hospitality principles, hotel management, event and conference planning, tourism marketing and digital media, leadership, and human resource management.

Both the certificate and associate degree programs feature exclusive internship opportunities, professional networking events, and hands-on learning with major industry partners, including the World Equestrian Center.

“One of CF’s key focuses is to provide programs that meet the workforce needs of local businesses and organizations, and we’ve developed this new Hospitality and Tourism Management degree to do just that,” said John Ash, CF dean of business, technology and agricultural sciences. “With an average salary for industry professionals of around $29 an hour and rapid job growth in Marion County, we’re excited to be able to offer local students the opportunity to become part of Florida’s $1.2+ billion tourism industry.”

To learn more about CF’s Hospitality and Tourism program, visit CF.edu/Hospitality.

CHIEFLAND, Fla. (May 27, 2025) — The College of Central Florida invites anyone thinking about college to attend Application Day on Thursday, June 19, from 4-6 p.m. at the Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, 15390 N.W. Highway 19, Chiefland.

At this event, future students may apply to the college with no fee, start the financial aid application, speak with advisors about program and degree options, and tour the campus. The college will give away free CF merchandise and attendees may enter to receive a scholarship to cover tuition for one class at the in-state rate.

Additional Application Day events will be held Saturday, June 21, from 9-11 a.m. at the Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala, and Monday, June 23, from 4-6 p.m. at the Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus, 3800 S. Lecanto Highway, Lecanto.

For more information, visit CF.edu/AppDay.