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The Webber Gallery at the �������� and the Ocala Model Railroaders’ Historic Preservation Society present the 24^th annual exhibit “Trains at the Holidays” Dec. 21-Jan. 3. The Webber Gallery is located at the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road.

The exhibit features modular train layouts and railroad memorabilia. Many of the layouts are inspired by historic Ocala landmarks, such as the Six-Gun Territory theme park that operated in Marion County until 1984.

“This event is a gift that CF gives the community each year for the holiday season,” said Dr. Allan Danuff, CF associate vice president for Arts and Sciences. “Thousands of patrons, young and old, come to enjoy the exhibit. My favorite part is watching the train hobbyists who build and maintain these exhibits interact with the folks who come along. They talk with older patrons about how things used to be, and seem to love explaining to the little kids the different types of trains and what they were used for. Where else can you go from the North Pole, to the mountains of the West to  Six Gun Territory in just a few short steps?”

The exhibition will open Saturday, Dec. 21, with a reception from noon-2 p.m. Admission to the reception and exhibit are free. The exhibit will be open daily during special gallery hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Jan. 3; it will be closed Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan.1. For more information call 352-873-5809.

Our athletics program is a national model of excellence, and its success is attributable to the level of quality in our athletics administration, coaching staff, and student-athlete support systems. Our decision to close the basketball and volleyball teams did not come lightly. It will free up over $600,000 in recurring budget, which we will reinvest to support our local educational needs, employers and economic development.

At CF, it is our responsibility to be fully focused on student academic success that ultimately impacts the local community. As the landscape for funding public higher education has become more challenging, CF is realigning resources with our mission. Per �������� State statute, the primary mission and responsibility of the �������� College System institutions is responding to community needs for postsecondary academic education and career degree education.

What changes have caused the college to take this action?

• CF has experienced declining student enrollment – 23% in the last nine years. Colleges and universities across the U.S. are experiencing similar declines as enrollment drops when the economy is healthy.
• Our local business community is demanding a workforce to meet their employee needs.
• Local community needs in high-demand, high-wage areas include Accounting, Business, Cardiovascular Tech, Cattle Management, Dental Hygiene, Elementary Education, Hospitality Management, Nursing expansion, Respiratory Tech, Robotics, Sonography and Surgical Technology.

Why is it necessary to downsize the athletic programs at this time?

• We are looking at all areas of the college for increased efficiencies and are analyzing where we can directly impact student learning and community workforce needs.
• Downsizing the athletics program will result in more than $600,000 recurring savings that can be reinvested in programs that meet employer demand for high-skill, high-wage jobs.
• The college is committed to increasing our investment in academic support for student success.

What is the impact of this change?

• Three sports teams, men and women’s basketball and volleyball programs will close on June 30, 2020. Men’s baseball and women’s softball will still be offered.
• Of our almost 10,000 students at all locations, this will impact 42 student-athletes. Twelve are set to graduate in May 2020, and we will work with 12 additional students who might be able to finish in summer semester.
• Making this decision now allows enough time for first-year student-athletes to find opportunities at other colleges and universities. Student scholarships will be honored for the spring semester.

How will funds be reallocated?

• The $600,000 recurring savings will be reinvested in academic programs that support high-skill, high-wage careers. These programs include Accounting, Business, Cardiovascular Tech, Cattle Management, Dental Hygiene, Elementary Education, Hospitality Management, Nursing expansion, Respiratory Tech, Robotics, Sonography and Surgical Technology.
• We will increase our investment in scholarships and tutoring for our students.

As we move forward, we will remain committed to the holistic development of our students inside and outside of the classroom. This includes high-quality classroom instruction, strong academic support as well as intramural sports programs, and leadership development through student clubs and governance groups.

Revised Dec. 5, 2019

�������� students won numerous awards for student newspaper and literary magazines on Friday, Nov. 15 at the �������� College System Publications Association awards banquet in Tampa.

Imprints, CF Ocala Campus literary magazine, won General Excellence, which is the overall accumulation of points in each category, first place for Design, Contents Page and Two-Page Spread. It also received first place for submissions to the magazine in the Art, Poetry and Photography categories. CF students Emily Bennett and Byron Luckey both placed in the Inner Circle category, which is reserved for students who place in at least three categories.

The Patriot Press, CF’s student newspaper, placed fourth in the Newspaper division. Delaney Van Nest won an Inner Circle award for placing in four different categories, including CF’s only two first-place awards for News Photo for her photo of CF’s simulated active shooter drill in fall 2018, as well as photo picture story for her collage of a 2018 summer concert. She was awarded second place in Editorial Cartoon and in Humor Writing for her spoof on being an “insomniac.”

Lily Carnival was awarded Inner Circle for placing in three categories: third place for In-Depth Reporting for her story on feminine products, third in Arts Review for coverage of a CF play in fall 2018, and third in illustration.

Zach Grinstead, the current co-editor-in-chief, placed third in Sports Column for his coverage of softball Coach Kevin Fagan and third in Sports Writing for his feature on a CF baseball player.

Former co-editor-in-chief Nathalya Reyes placed third in General Column for her series on balancing work and college, and former section editor Mya Kreuer placed second in Feature Story for her article on CF Professor Julee McCammon.

In the Write Mind, CF Citrus Campus literary magazine, placed first in the magazine division for staff page’ and CF student Ja’Onna Brown won an Honorable Mention in On the Spot poetry competition.

CF Professor of Communications Zackery Cote was also elected vice president of the �������� College System Publications Association

The �������� College System Publications Association brings students and advisors together to provide a common ground for discussion of publications and mass media. The association provides responsible guidance to student publications to ensure their growth as a medium for the education of future citizens of a free society and to obtain the best thinking on problems in publications and mass communications and to share this thinking.

The �������� invites those looking to advance their career to an open house on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 2-6 p.m. in the Ewers Century Center at the Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, and at the Citrus Campus, 3800 S. Lecanto Highway, Lecanto.

Future students are encouraged to stop by and receive assistance with the application process, financial aid and registration for spring semester, which begins Jan. 8.

To apply for financial aid at the event, please bring these documents: Federal Student Aid ID available at fsaid.ed.org; email address; 2017 W-2 and Federal Income Tax Forms (1040, 1040A or 1040 EZ) of you and/or your parents (if you are a dependent student); 2017 untaxed income (Social Security, disability, workman’s compensation, etc.); driver’s license or state ID; Social Security card; spouse or parent’s Social Security number and date of birth.

For �������� residency verification, please bring a copy of your �������� driver’s license and a copy of your �������� vehicle registration or voter’s registration. Students under the age of 24, parent or guardian information is needed.

For more information, visit www.CF.edu/openhouse or call 352-873-5800, ext. 1379

The �������� has received an $80,000 grant to develop a Hospitality Management apprenticeship program to meet the growing need for hospitality jobs in the tricounty area.

The grant is part of the Pathways to Career Opportunities grant program managed by the �������� Department of Education to assist state colleges and technical centers to establish apprenticeship opportunities. The college will partner with Hotel Development and Management Group LLC (HDG Hotels), CareerSource of Citrus, Levy and Marion counties, and the American Hotel and Lodging Association to develop an apprenticeship program that will allow participants to earn a college credit certificate, along with an industry certification as a Certified Hospitality Supervisor.

“Access to education and training has a tremendous capacity to positively impact individual lives as well as the businesses and communities in which such access is available,” said Lisa Lombardo, chief people and culture officer for HDG Hotels. “We are proud to be growing our partnerships with CF and the American Hotel and Lodging Association in ways that will once again offer our team members opportunities to grow with us.”

Additionally, apprentices who complete the program will receive at least 15 college credits that can potentially go toward an Associate in Science degree. Initially, many of the apprentices participating in the program will be current HDG Hotels employees; it eventually will be open to other organizations within the hotel industry. The program is expected to begin in the Fall Semester 2020.

In January 2019, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued , which included a directive to the Commissioner of Education to secure $10 million for the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant. High schools, school district career centers, charter technical career centers, �������� College System institutions, and other entities authorized to sponsor an apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship program were encouraged to pursue this competitive grant to create new or expand existing apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.

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

�������� faculty, staff and students will serve an early Thanksgiving lunch to the residents of Evangeline Booth Garden Apartments, 2921 NE 14^th St., Tuesday, Nov. 26, at noon.

This is the 17^th year the college has prepared and shared a traditional meal of turkey and all the trimmings with the residents of the senior citizen complex run by the Salvation Army. Students will decorate and set tables.

In 2002, students in the college’s culinary arts program began preparing and serving the meal as a service project. The CF chapter of the Association of �������� Colleges has carried on the tradition. AFC pays for the meal that is cooked by the college’s Rosemary and Thyme Catering.

“Our partnership with Evangeline Booth Garden provides an atmosphere where students and faculty can give back to the community and ensure that we are a part of the goal to enrich lives,” said Ron Kielty, AFC CF chapter president. “This Thanksgiving luncheon is just one of our many events we do over the course of the year.”

Over the years, CF students have embraced Evangeline Booth as a site for service-learning activities. Practical Nursing students have conducted health screenings; art students have produced a mural for the community room; and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society helps with maintenance and other tasks on United Way Day of Caring.

The �������� was honored with several awards at the Association of �������� Colleges annual conference in Palm Harbor Nov. 6-8.

The CF AFC Chapter won Platinum chapter status, Cara Bennett was presented the Unsung Hero award for Region Three and retired CF staff member Debbie Bowe was given honorary Lifetime AFC Membership. Kim Sellers and Rory Wells were awarded their Certified College Professional designation.

CF Marketing and Public Relations earned 11 Awards of Excellence from the Communications and Marketing Commission: first place for their Yearbook Print Advertisement, Financial Aid and Program Brochures, and High School Poster Series; second place for the 2017-2018 Annual Report, Fall 2018 and Summer 2019 Connection Magazine and the Domestic Violence Single Sheet Flyer; and two third place awards, for the CF was the Right Choice for Me Video/Digital Promotion and the International Viewbook/Recruitment piece. In addition, the student art and literary magazine Imprints won first place for Faculty-Advised Student Publication.

Three CF team members accepted 2020 leadership positions: Marjorie McGee will serve as immediate past president of the state organization, Jean Scheppers will serve as the Faculty Commission Chair, and Tina Banner will serve as the Communications and Marketing Commission vice chair.

The �������� will hold its fall 2019 commencement ceremony at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, at First Baptist Church of Ocala, 2801 S.E. Maricamp Road.

Mrs. Mary Brent Kraus will be honored posthumously with the CF Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award and student Marjorie Ann-Elizabeth Cothron will be the graduation speaker.

For those unable to attend, the ceremonies will be webcast live at 

For more information, call the Ocala Campus at 352-854-2322, ext. 1391 or ext. 1739; Citrus Campus at 352-746-6721; or Levy Campus at 352-658-4077.

The Appleton Museum of Art, ��������, invites shoppers for a long weekend of savings in the Appleton Store, Nov. 29-Dec. 1.

Whether you plan to brave the crowds on Black Friday, Shop Small on Saturday, or support Museum Store Sunday, the Appleton Store has shoppers covered with amazing deals on all three days! Appleton members will receive a 30% discount on purchases; nonmembers receive a 20% discount. This includes everything from a large array of holiday home decor and gifting, one-of-a-kind jewelry from local artists, art supplies and toys for children, to scarves, hats and bags imprinted with your favorite paintings. Books and items already on clearance are excluded from discounts.

Need a gift for the person who has everything? Give the gift of art by way of gift memberships, admission tickets or certificates for studio art classes. Memberships are available at a variety of levels to fit all needs; basic memberships range from $10-$60.

There is no admission fee to shop in the Appleton Store. The museum, ARTSpace and Appleton Store are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and closed every Monday. The museum is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Owned and operated by the ��������, 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 

Community members are invited to join �������� students on two study abroad trips this summer to Belize.

Both trips are from May 31-June 8, 2020.  Cost is approximately $1,480 for each trip and includes eight nights of accommodations, all ground transportation, eight breakfasts and dinners, seven lunches and a full-time guide. Program price is an estimate until tickets are finalized.

Participants can choose between a traditional study abroad experience that includes snorkeling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, visiting Caye Caulker beaches, iguana farm, Blue Hole National Park and Xunatunich Mayan Ruins, and an introduction to medicinal plants. Or choose a trip focused on allied health, which includes most of the traditional highlights as well as clinics, site visits and observations, and a nursing workshop.

For more information, call Wendy Adams at 352-854-2322, ext. 1546.