A Blue Star Summer at CF Appleton Museum of Art

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, was founded and funded by World War II Navy veteran Arthur Ivar Appleton. Before establishing and opening Ocala’s world-class art museum in 1987, Appleton had achieved the naval rank of lieutenant and returned to serve as president of Appleton Electric Company in 1947. The Appleton Museum proudly upholds our founder’s vision of supporting military service by offering a unique year-round program of free admission for U.S. veterans.

This summer, the Appleton participated in the Blue Star Museums program once again. From Armed Forces Day (May 18) through Labor Day (Sept. 2), the Appleton welcomed 675 visitors under the Blue Star Museums program. This annual initiative is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and museums across America. Working to connect the military with their communities in making them feel welcome, participating museums provided free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.

“Reinforcing the museum’s unwavering commitment to service personnel, in 2020 the Appleton established its venerable Community Heroes program,” said Jason Steuber, Appleton director. “Year-round, state of Florida health care professionals, first responders and educators with a valid work ID receive free admission to the museum.”

Since January 1 of this year, more than 600 individuals have taken advantage of this program, which is a heartfelt thank you for their leadership, lifesaving work and dedication to keeping communities safe.

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 to Host Rescheduled Naming Ceremony in Memory of Ira Holmes

The College of Central Florida, in partnership with the City of Ocala, will host a special naming ceremony dedicating a Humanities and Social Sciences classroom in memory of Ira Holmes. The event, originally scheduled for Oct. 8, now will take place Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the Ocala Campus, Building 8, 3001 S.W. College Road.

The beloved professor, who passed away on June 9 at age 90, joined the CF faculty in 1962. He started the Ira Holmes International Film Series more than 60 years ago to share his lifelong passion with the community. The newly named Ira Holmes Classroom is the location for series film screenings open to CF students and the community.

Holmes, known for his love of art, travel, lifelong learning and cultural studies, led more than two dozen study tours to Europe. He was one of the first members of the Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board, serving more than 40 years and assisting with numerous landmark projects including the Reilly Arts Center and Marion Theatre renovations. Just a few days before his passing, the City of Ocala was preparing a proclamation recognizing Holmes’ years of service.

At the 5:30 p.m. event, CF President Dr. Jim Henningsen will deliver dedication remarks, and Ocala City Manager Pete Lee will present the City of Ocala proclamation. At 6 p.m., Ira Holmes International Film Series director Wendy Adams will lead the sharing of memories plus a special presentation by Holmes’ daughter, Amanda Concha-Holmes, and at 7 p.m., the 2024-2025 series will kick off with a screening of “The Seventh Seal.” The 1957 Swedish historical fantasy film was selected by Holmes as “a message of hope for us all.”

RSVP requested at CF.edu/Ira.

CF Nursing Students Benefit From New Scholarship

College of Central Florida nursing students are benefitting from a new Citrus County Hospital Board Nursing Scholarship, which covers 100% of tuition and fees for Citrus County residents accepted into CF’s Associate Degree Nursing program. Through the inaugural round of scholarships, 44 students had their tuition completely paid for the Fall 2024 semester, collectively receiving nearly $53,000 in funds.

“In my cohort, a lot of us are working double time, and it can be really hard to balance that work with schooling. So now with this scholarship, we’re able to focus primarily on school,” said Aleigh Alexander, a third semester nursing student at the CF Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus. “This is going to open so many more doors for us because we’re able to 100% focus on our education and grow as future nurses.”

The CCHB scholarship was made possible by an $11.7 million endowment established by the CF Foundation in partnership with the Citrus County Hospital Board. To qualify for the scholarship, students must be Citrus County residents and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the CF Foundation scholarship application annually.

The CF Nursing program has received several national recognitions for its quality, including being ranked No. 1 Nursing Program in Florida by RegisteredNursing.org and No. 3 for Best Online Nursing Programs in Florida by Research.com. Most recently, CF was included on US News and World Report list of Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs, in which CF was ranked as the highest among Florida College System institutions.

“I want to become a nurse because I want to help people,” said Julia Harrigan, a level one CF Nursing student. “This scholarship helps so much. I don’t believe I would be able to attend CF without the scholarship.”

CF anticipates supporting as many as 50 future registered nurses a year through the CCHB scholarship fund. To learn more about the CF Nursing program, visit CF.edu/Nursing. To explore opportunities for supporting students through endowments, visit CF.edu/Foundation.

Hurricane Milton

8 a.m., Oct. 12

All CF campuses and locations, including the Ocala Campus, Citrus Campus, Levy Campus, Hampton Center, Appleton Museum and Vintage Farm, are open for business.


12:34 p.m., Oct. 8

Based on current weather projections, the College of Central Florida will extend its closure of all campuses and sites for Hurricane Milton through Friday, Oct. 11.

By remaining closed Friday, campus officials will be able to assess post-storm damage and ensure all facilities are safe for students, faculty and staff to return. The college plans to reopen Saturday morning for classes and business operations, weather permitting. Please continue to monitor the CF website (www.CF.edu), traditional media and social media for additional updates.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to prepare now for this storm.


12:41 p.m., Oct. 7

The College of Central Florida will close all campuses and sites for Hurricane Milton.

In order to provide time for storm preparations and mandatory evacuations for our coastal students and employees, CF’s closure will begin Monday, Oct. 7, at 5 p.m. CF will remain closed through Thursday, Oct. 10. All online and on-campus classes and activities during that time have been cancelled or postponed, including the Ira Holmes room dedication, the Ira Holmes International Film Series screenings and the Criminal Justice graduation ceremony.

The college plans to reopen Friday morning for classes and business operations, weather permitting. Please continue to monitor the CF website (www.CF.edu), traditional media and social media for additional updates.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to prepare now for this storm.


1 p.m., Oct. 6

The College of Central Florida is monitoring Tropical Storm Milton. Marion, Citrus and Levy counties could see high levels of rain, heavy winds and flooding. The College of Central Florida administration is reviewing information and planning options concerning operations. The next update will be posted here Monday afternoon.

All CF campuses and locations, including the Ocala Campus, Citrus Campus, Levy Campus, Hampton Center, Appleton Museum and Vintage Farm, remains open at this time.

Please continue to monitor the CF website (www.CF.edu), traditional media and social media for additional updates.

Hurricane Helene Update

8 a.m., Sept. 28

All CF campuses are open.


1 p.m., Sept. 24

The College of Central Florida will close all campuses and sites for Tropical Storm Helene.

Because of the threat of severe weather, particularly in CF’s coastal counties of Citrus and Levy, the college will close all sites, including the Ocala Campus, Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus, Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, Hampton Center, Appleton Museum and Vintage Farm, as well as online classes. Scheduled activities also have been cancelled.

The Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus and Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus will both close at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 25, to provide time to prepare for the storm.

All other CF campuses and sites, including online, will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, and will remain closed through Friday, Sept. 27.

The Sept. 25 District Board of Trustees meeting will be rescheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the CF Hampton Center.

The college plans to reopen Saturday morning for all business operations, weather permitting. Please continue to monitor the CF website (www.CF.edu), traditional media and social media for additional updates.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to prepare now for this storm.


11 a.m., Sept. 24

The College of Central Florida is continuing to monitor Potential Tropical Cyclone #9. Marion, Citrus and Levy counties could see high levels of rain, heavy winds and flooding. The College of Central Florida administration is reviewing information and planning options concerning operations. Updates will be posted to CF.edu/Hurricane.

All CF campuses and locations, including the Ocala Campus, Citrus Campus, Levy Campus, Hampton Center, Appleton Museum and Vintage Farm, remains open at this time.

Please continue to monitor the CF website (www.CF.edu), traditional media and social media for additional updates.

AdventHealth Ocala Commits $3M for CF Health Sciences

Students in College of Central Florida’s Health Sciences programs will benefit from scholarships and new program equipment, thanks to a $3 million commitment from AdventHealth Ocala to the CF Foundation.

“We are very grateful for AdventHealth’s support and trust in our award-winning programs,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, CF president. “This is a game-changing gift that will ensure students now and in the future have the best instruction and opportunities as well as have a lasting impact on our community.”

The irrevocable pledge creates the AdventHealth Nursing Endowment and the AdventHealth Health Sciences Endowment. The nursing endowment will allow CF to apply for the Florida Legislature’s Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) matching grant – a fund created in 2022 to alleviate the statewide nursing shortage by providing matching funds for nursing education programs that partner with health care providers. The health sciences endowment will support students in high-demand health care fields including Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Services, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiography and Surgical Services, plus new programs in Cardiovascular Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology and Respiratory Care.

“At AdventHealth, we know the quality of instruction CF has, and we are excited to invest in the good work of creating new opportunities for students in these critical areas of need,” said Erika Skula, president and chief executive officer of AdventHealth Ocala.

CF Health Sciences students consistently rank above average on career certification exams. This year’s class of Associate Degree Nursing students achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam, and Radiography graduates attained a 100% pass rate on the national radiologic technologist certification exam. For the second year in a row, Surgical Services graduates earned a 100% pass rate on the Certified Surgical Technologist national exam. For more information, visit CF.edu/health.

Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, presents “Striking Poses: Portrait Photography from the Permanent Collection.”

On view through Jan. 26, 2025, in the second-floor Preview Gallery, the exhibition is drawn from the Appleton’s extensive photography collection. Seventeen gelatin silver prints and one color photograph highlight the individuality of the subjects – including rare and intimate portraits of Marlon Brando, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin – as well as the distinctive artistic perspectives of the photographers. Artists on exhibit in “Striking Poses” include Mary Ellen Mark, Anne Noggle, Abigail Perlmutter, Berni Schoenfield, Bert Stern, Brett Weston and Edward Weston.

“With photographers who are just as fascinating as their subjects, we are pleased to present these compelling works, along with some interesting backstories uncovered during the process of organizing the show,” said Victoria Billig, Appleton assistant director.

Regular admission fees apply to visit. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month as part of the Free First Saturday program. Free First Saturdays are sponsored in part by CAMPUS USA Credit Union and Marion Cultural Alliance.

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 Students Present “Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic”

The College of Central Florida Dassance Fine Arts Center auditorium is being transformed into a fantastical wizarding world for the four performances of “Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic,” presented live on stage by CF Theatre Oct. 24-27. Performances times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-26, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, at 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala.

Told from the point of view of members of the lesser-known Puffs house, who congregate in their kitchen-adjacent basement common room, the fast-paced farce evokes familiar stories of a society of sorcery in which young people – dressed in robes and hats – attend a school of witchcraft, battle dark forces, encounter enchanted creatures, and find plenty of mayhem and mischief. The production includes nearly 30 CF student performers, with four CF staff members cast as wizard-school faculty and several other CF students taking on roles with set construction, costumes and technical crew.

“This production is pure magic,” said Nonalee Davis, CF assistant professor of theatre and the play’s director. “If you are familiar with the wizarding world, you will laugh from the opening line through the entire show, catching all the inside jokes. If it’s your first foray into the magical universe, you will still find it hilarious. Matt Cox’s script is phenomenal.”

CF Theatre Manager Mario Cieri designed and built an elaborate set featuring well-known elements of the castle in which the school of magic is housed, with its myriad staircases and hidden doors and a potions lab where bizarre brews boil and bubble. Preshow music will include original compositions by Erica Morales, a CF student.

“We are growing our performing arts program to offer opportunities to a larger number of students, and increasing the theatre department’s collaborations with other college departments,” Davis said. “We want to give our students a priceless educational opportunity while offering the community an enjoyable experience.”

Theatergoers are encouraged to wear their house colors, wizarding robes or hats, and bring magic wands.  Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for non-CF students 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.

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

CF Hosts Geographic Information Systems Career Event

The community is invited to learn more about career options in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at a CF event offered in partnership with the City of Ocala, Clymer Farner Barley Inc. and Marion County.

“Mapping Your Future: GIS Career Pathways” on Wednesday, Nov. 20, noon-3 p.m. will explore an industry offering jobs that span information technology, urban planning, engineering, land development, environmental management, emergency response planning, logistics and precision agriculture. Take part in hands-on demonstrations, insightful talks and valuable networking sessions by college representatives and industry leaders. The event will take place at the Ewers Century Center, 3001 S.W. College Road. For more information, visit CF.edu/GIS.

About the College of Central Florida:
The College of Central Florida is committed to providing a full range of educational programs, offering high-quality, affordable education across three counties and online. CF offers over 170 academic pathways in a variety of fields to prepare students for meaningful careers and successful futures.

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.

CF Celebrates Nursing Bachelor’s Degree with Anniversary Event

The College of Central Florida will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program with a special event on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Award-winning photographer and filmmaker Carolyn Jones, who created the book and documentary film “The American Nurse,” will present “The American Nurse: Moving the Needle on the Most Important Issues of Our Time” at 6 p.m. at the Dassance Fine Arts Center, 3001 S.W. College Road.

“CF’s RN to BSN program provides a valuable education for registered nurses who are ready to take their career to the next level,” said Dr. Stephanie Cortes, vice president of health sciences. “We are celebrating 10 years of supporting nurses who choose to pursue advanced clinical positions and nursing faculty positions as well as meet the need for more primary care nurses in our community.”

The public is invited to learn more about the role of nurses in the U.S. health care system as Jones shares inspiring stories of nurses from across the country who are helping to find nurse-led solutions to the nation’s maternal mortality crisis.

RSVP requested at CF.edu/nurse.

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.