The Opportunity of a Lifetime!

In today's economy people are wondering which direction to go to gain the skills necessary for the modern workforce.  Although the modern economy can be confusing or frustrating, this is a prime time to "re-tool" your skill-sets that can help you realize your future.  At Southwest Florida College, we have many career programs that will allow you to add more skills to your personal toolbox to help you start a new, rewarding career. 

Did you know that Southwest Florida College has the following programs?

Associate Degree Programs:
Accounting
Computer Programming and Database Management
Criminal Justice
Digital Design
Early Childhood Education
Health Information Management
Interior Design and Decorating
Management
Medical Assistant
Medical Lab Technician
Network Engineering and Administration
Nursing (R.N.)
Surgical Technician
Paralegal

Bachelor Degree Programs:
Accounting
Cyber Technology and Security Systems
Early Childhood Development
Elementary Education
Healthcare Administration
Information Technology and Security Systems
Interior Design
Management
Public Service Administration

At Southwest Florida College we have top-notch faculty members who are eager to teach you the necessary skills that employers are looking for, and a top-notch support team that will walk you through the whole admissions and financial aid process.  We encourage you to bring your friends and family members with you as they may want to increase their skill-sets too, and it may be possible for you to be in the same cohort where you can travel this exciting journey together.  So, what are you waiting for? Contact your admissions professionals today and jump start your new career at Southwest Florida College. We look forward to seeing you!


Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with lifetime placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐279-2342 or visit www.swfc.edu.

Southwest Florida College Graduate, Maria Segura, delivers speech at the 12th annual Celebration of Reading

Graduate of Southwest Florida College, Maria Segura, was the keynote speaker at the 12th annual, Celebration of Reading. The event raises money for literacy programs and advocates for the importance of family involvement in overcoming illiteracy, both in children and adults. Coverage of the event was published in both the News-Press and in the Naples Daily News.

"Education is so important," former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said. "It's the leading indicator of a successful life. If you can't read, write, calculate math, understand history, you're not going to be successful in life."

Below, is a copy of Maria's speech, which earned her a standing ovation at the event.

All of us at Southwest Florida College, are so proud of you, Maria!

Good evening everyone! My name is Maria Segura, and some of you may remember me as the speaker at the celebration three years ago. I’m happy to be invited back again . . . because I want to share with you my newest accomplishment . . . a real dream come true.

I have a bright horizon before me, thanks to an incredible “celebration” gift. In 2009, I became the first recipient of volunteer USA’s and the Florida Association of post secondary school and colleges scholarship program.

That scholarship landed me at Southwest Florida College. I was offered the opportunity to learn first-hand what it takes to be a teacher. From the time I stepped into my first college class, I knew teaching was what I was meant to do.

This past summer I received my associates of science degree from Southwest Florida College. I recall walking across the stage and saying to myself “those long hours of studying paid off. I am graduating with honors and my family is here supporting me.”

Now, I’m studying for the general knowledge test so I can continue my studies to earn a bachelor’s degree. Many good things have changed since 2009. Because I take seriously the value of an education . . . I am proud to be raising a family of college graduates!

My second son, Juan Carlos, is now a graduate of Ohio State University with two bachelor’s degrees. He works for the attorney general in Columbus, Ohio and plans to attend a program where he can obtain a law degree and a master’s degree at the same time.

My oldest son, Jose Luis Jr., just graduated in December from Ohio State, with a degree in Architecture. He plans to obtain his master’s degree, plus he’s the proud father of a new baby girl! I’m a grandmother!

My third son, Enrique Anthony, that one-time toddler, who 9 years ago helped me change my life at the Family Literacy Academy of Immokalee, is now 12 and a straight A student. And my youngest daughter, Analley, is in the first grade, earning straight A’s as well.

It is hard to express just how grateful I am. For those who don’t know my background, I lived most of my life as a migrant farmworker, same as my parents and my husband. I had no high school diploma, so my only option was to work in the fields to help my family make ends meet. I picked and packed produce everyday, even after I became a mother. I would bring along my children so I would not miss a day of work.

My oldest children sacrificed weekends and summer breaks to work in the fields too. It broke my heart watching them work under the extreme conditions, especially at a young age.

You can say that our life was pretty tough, but we stuck together. This was our life for 18 years. By the time my third son was a preschooler, I knew I had to make a change. I must sacrifice certain things to give my children a better life.

I just needed a chance, but as a mom with young children, I knew going back to school would be tough. That’s when I learned about the Family Literacy Academy of Immokalee. The wonderful people there welcomed not only my desire to learn, but also my toddler. Suddenly, English instruction, reading, writing and preschool classes were real.

I worked very hard to earn my GED and then my child development accreditation. Later, I was hired part-time to help children’s classes. Today, I am proud to be the lead preschool teacher.

It may have taken me a while to get to this point, but I have always taught my children that a good education will provide them with many wonderful opportunities.

So, as I stand here today, you see a different person. You no longer see a migrant farmworker. I’m still the wife of a supportive husband and the mother of four amazing children, but now I’m a college graduate and a teacher who will inspire a new generation.

Thank you for believing that it is worthwhile to help families learn together. Thank you for believing in me.

Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with lifetime placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐279-2342 or visit www.swfc.edu.

Southwest Florida College is preparing graduates for high demand STEM based careers!

Dr. Barbara Calabro, PhD, Chief Academic Officer for Sextant Education which governs Platt College and Southwest Florida College, is on the STEM committee for the Foundation of Lee County Public Schools and works closely with the county-based STEM team.

According to Dr. Calabro, Southwest Florida College is providing education in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math or STEM fields through a number of programs that include:

• All Information Technology programs
• Computer Aided Drafting and Design and Revit classes that are a big part of the design process
• Health Information Management for analyzing a number of costs and expenditures
• Medical Lab Technician
• Nursing
• Graphic Design

Southwest Florida College will take part in STEMTASTIC which is being held on the 31st of May at the School Department. Businesses from Southwest Florida will set up unique demos for students, who will come through with their with parents, to interact with at the tables. Last year there were 600 people at the event and 1,000 participants are expected this year.

Lee County’s education director, Sue Roshon has said, “If we’re going to compete in a global society, our students need to be prepared in STEM. STEM is a big emphasis in countries like China and India, and we have to make it an emphasis here, too.”

A recent U.S. Department of Commerce report found, "It’s no longer good enough just to be proficient in reading, writing and arithmetic. Knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math is critical for future success”

The report also noted, “STEM careers pay better and offer more job security than non-STEM jobs because of higher international demand for those workers”

What does STEM stand for?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. In a report created for congress by Jeffrey J. Kuenzi, who is an Education Policy Specialist, he mentions “There is growing concern that the United States is not preparing a sufficient number of students, teachers, and practitioners in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).”

What are STEM programs?

Engineering and Engineering Technologies
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer Systems Technology
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Math and Statistics

What Careers require STEM skills?

Computer Aided Drafting & Design (CADD)
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Computer Programmers
Database Administrators

Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with lifetime placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐279-2342 or visit www.swfc.edu.

Relay for Life Bake Sale

Southwest Florida College raised $186.00 for the Relay for Life through a Valentine's Day themed bake-sale. Check out all the yummy photos! Thank you to all who participated in the bake sale to make this happen!

Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with lifetime placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐279-2342 or visit www.swfc.edu.

Southwest Florida College faculty and staff at the Heart Walk

Southwest Florida College was a proud sponsor of this year's American Heart Association's Lee Heart Walk. 

Lee Heart Walk took place on December 10^th, 2011 in Centennial Park of Downtown Fort Myers. Registration began at 8 AM and the walk took place at 9 AM. The total distance of the walk was 5K, with an optional 1-mile route. 

 

 

Southwest Florida College had a walking team, which was led by Team Captain, Dana Thimons. 

 

Each year, thousands of people will walk at more than 2,000 locations across the U.S. to fight heart disease and stroke. The Heart Walk is a success due to the commitment of corporate walk teams and sponsors.

For more details about Lee Heart Walk, visit http://www.leeheartwalk.org.

Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with lifetime placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐279-2342 or visit www.swfc.edu.

Tampa Job & Internship Fair - March 7 at Southwest Florida College

Southwest Florida College is calling all area employers from the greater Tampa marketplace to participate in a spring Job and Internship Fair on Wednesday, March 7th from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Southwest Florida College campus, 3910 Riga Blvd. in Tampa.

“Regional employers interested in motivated, well trained and ready to work students from Southwest Florida College can benefit from networking and interviewing students and graduates from Southwest Florida College,” said Stephen Tirey, Director of Industry Relations and Graduate Placement (IRGP) for Southwest Florida College.

Southwest Florida College graduates and students will meet regional employers between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. US Military Veterans and members of the general public are invited to attend and network with employers from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

There is no cost for employers to participate but space is limited at the on-campus location. Network and interview with students and graduates from the following disciplines:

ALLIED HEALTH:

• Healthcare Administration
• Health Information Technology
• Medical Assisting
• Medical Billing & Coding
• Surgical Technician

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS:

• Network Engineering & Administration
• Computer Programming & Database Management
• Early Childhood Education
• Business Management
• Digital Design
• Web Design & Development
• Computer Animation/Multi-Media
• Computer-Aided Drafting & Design
• Criminal Justice

Jan McKenna, Tampa Industry Relations and Graduate Placement (IRGP) Director, is the contact person for this event. The IRGP department is the go-to resource for graduating students and building employer relationships in the Tampa Bay area. Contact her at the campus (813) 630-4401 or by email at jmckenna@swfc.edu.

Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus.

Since the College was founded in 1974, approximately 6,000 students have graduated with degrees, diplomas and certificates in career fields such as allied health, legal studies, education, business, design and information technology – all of which offer high growth potential. For more information on the event and directions please call (813) 630-4401, email jmckenna@swfc.edu or visit www.swfc.edu.

Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with lifetime placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐279-2342 or visit www.swfc.edu.

Chris Kovaz, student at SWFC, will be featured at the Fort Myers Art Walk!

The artwork of Computer Animation and Digital Design major Chris Kovaz will be featured at the Fort Myers Art Walk. See Chris’ work Feb. 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Fort Myers.

Chris is the Director of Graphics for Underwater Planet. His portfolio is extensive and includes shots of marine life from teeny nudibrachs up to great white sharks!

For more information, e-mail Chris at chrisk@diversonly.com.



http://www.swfc.edu/GraphicDesign/DigitalDesign-Disclosures.htm

About Southwest Florida College: Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call 1-877-455-0107 or visit www.swfc.edu.

Want a new career as a Registered Nurse?

Southwest Florida College is now enrolling for the NEW Associate of Science degree in nursing.

The Associate of Science degree in nursing is a full time program that can be completed in two years. The program is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing and upon graduation the student is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse. As part of the program students receive specialized training in critical care or perioperative nursing.

A selective admissions process is in place for this program. Please contact an admissions representative for further details regarding enrollment criteria.

Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with lifetime placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐279-2342 or visit www.swfc.edu.