Northwest Florida State College is transforming the economy of our region by providing the future workforce — ONE STUDENT, ONE OPPORTUNITY, ONE POSSIBILITY at a time.
One-half of the nation’s undergraduates are served by the community college system, proving that state colleges provide a life-changing impact on our community. In 2019-2020, Northwest Florida State College served 9,238 students and conferred close to 1,600 credentials during our virtual commencement ceremony.
Did you know that for every person with a college credential, there are two who have none and that gap is increasing every day? The one thing we must do is encourage students to move from a high school diploma to a college credential to bolster individual earning power and positively impact the local economy.
What we do know is that graduates with associate’s degrees and certifications are contributing to the economy sooner than those with a bachelor’s degree. In many cases, our associate degree completers have higher salaries than workforce bachelor’s degree completers in their first jobs. We are making that impact ONE degree at a time.
There are numerous stories of resilience and persistence from our community. Here are a few of our students who are already experiencing transformational change in their lives.
When the real-life moment came, Elliot Wyant didn’t hesitate to implement what he had just learned in class at Northwest Florida State College. The NWFSC plumbing apprentice was working for a local plumbing company when a customer asked to change out his plastic piping for copper.
After inspection, Wyant’s work proved to be error-free and he said he looks forward to accepting more complex work assignments in the future. Wyant plans to complete both the plumbing apprenticeship and a follow-up program of home-building so he can obtain as many licenses as he can.
Former Air Force Combat Controller Dillon DeMers found a home in NWFSC’s teacher education program. “No other school provides the same preparation, certifications and endorsements, all of which directly influenced my decision-making process. After graduation, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in psychology to better the lives of all the children in Northwest Florida.”
Against the odds, Nicole Vandenbemden, mother to five children, is currently pursuing her Associate in Nursing degree on scholarship. Working around-the-clock, she has the drive to succeed in order to improve her family’s quality of life.
Education is the ONE key factor in transforming the economy of Northwest Florida by providing the future workforce and closing the educational attainment gap — ONE STUDENT, ONE OPPORTUNITY, ONE POSSIBILITY at a time.
Enrollment for our Spring 2021 term is underway! Fast-track your education by signing up for NWFSC’s 8-week mini-term beginning March 4. You can receive full credit in half the time. We encourage you to visit www.nwfsc.edu to learn more about our programs, or call 850-502-2895 to speak to one of our Student Success Navigators.
#FuturesBeginHere
