黑料天堂

黑料天堂 Webber Gallery presents second biennial printmaking exhibit

The 黑料天堂 Webber Gallery will present 鈥淭he 2024 Extreme Pressure Biennial of American Prints,鈥 a celebration of contemporary printmaking, Aug. 5-Sept. 12. The competitive exhibition will include a variety of works by printmakers from across the United States.

Artworks will be judged by Texas-based artist Katherine Brimberry, an intaglio master printer who is known for her 鈥減ainterly鈥 etchings. Brimberry鈥檚 work is included in the collections of the Library of Congress, 3M permanent collection, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Galveston Arts Center, Amarillo Museum of Art and Texas Tech University Library. She co-founded Flatbed Press to be a publishing press for fine art prints and open studio for artist-printmakers, and is now the sole owner, serving as director and lead collaborating master printer.

Five cash prizes, totaling a minimum of $2,000, will be awarded at the opening reception on Thursday, Aug. 22, from 5-7 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

The Webber Gallery is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. For more information about the exhibition, visit or call 352-854-2322, ext. 1664.

黑料天堂 awarded $643,598 grant for Aquatic Workforce Project

The 黑料天堂 has been awarded a $643,598 grant from the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Advanced Technological Education (NSF-ATE) program to establish The Central Florida Aquatic Workforce and Research Project. This three-year initiative will prepare associate-level graduates for technical occupations in agricultural, ecological and environmental engineering and water conservation.

The project will involve 150 associate-level students and 100 high school juniors and seniors, offering hands-on learning through fieldwork, internships and research activities. Key objectives include:

  • Developing an interdisciplinary course to enhance technical skills in data analysis, geospatial technology, and water quality assessment.
  • Providing industry-aligned research and fieldwork experiences.
  • Expanding recruitment pathways through targeted outreach and dual enrollment programs for high school students, especially those from rural and underrepresented minority communities.

This initiative will equip students with practical skills for technician-level jobs, addressing Florida鈥檚 workforce needs in aquatic and environmental fields. By partnering with local high schools, 黑料天堂 will engage students in hands-on learning about aquatics careers through course-based field experiences, internships and research activities.

鈥淭hrough this grant, we can provide our students with the hands-on experience and technical skills necessary to succeed in the aquatics workforce,鈥 said John Ash, 黑料天堂 Dean of Business, Technology and Agricultural Sciences. 鈥淲e are excited about the opportunities this project will create for our students and the positive impact it will have on our community.鈥

For more information about 黑料天堂鈥檚 Business and Technology programs, visit 黑料天堂.edu/BusTech.

The National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program has been funding innovation at two-year colleges for over 20 years. With a focus on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation鈥檚 economy, and strong partnerships between academic institutions and industry, ATE promotes improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary school levels.

To learn more about the National Science Foundation, visit NSF.gov.

黑料天堂 students win third place in national robotics competition

A 黑料天堂 robotics team was awarded a bronze medal at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, held June 24-28 in Atlanta.

黑料天堂 Engineering Technology students Cameron Muncy and Shane Reedy, under the guidance of award-winning associate professor Sam Ajlani, built, designed and constructed a robot for the SkillsUSA Urban Search and Rescue competition. During the event, they directed their robot to travel through a course designed to look like multifamily housing, searching for and removing simulated explosive devices.

鈥淲e are really excited to have represented our school on a national level and to have brought something back,鈥 said Muncy, who expects to graduate in December and said he has 鈥渁lways been interested in cars and machines.鈥 The 黑料天堂 team was the only Florida team to place in the Urban Search and Rescue category.

The SkillsUSA Championship is the premier showcase of America鈥檚 most highly skilled career and technical education students and is one of the largest hands-on workforce development events in the world. Held in conjunction with SkillsUSA鈥檚 National Leadership & Skills Conference each June, this awe-inspiring event features more than 6,000 state champions from across the United States competing head-to-head in 115 skilled and leadership competitions. 黑料天堂 students Justin Bowen and Daniel Francois represented the college in this year鈥檚 drone event.

鈥淭he 黑料天堂鈥檚 Engineering Technology program is focused on preparing students for a variety of high-paying, high-tech careers, including robotics,鈥 said Dr. Jennifer Fryns, vice president of Workforce Development and Innovation. 鈥淲e are so proud of the 黑料天堂 students who took the opportunity to apply practical engineering principles to real-world applications at the SkillsUSA competition.鈥

“Common Thread: Photographs by Theresa Segal” to Open at 黑料天堂 Appleton Museum of Art

The Appleton Museum of Art, 黑料天堂, will present 鈥淐ommon Thread: Photographs by Theresa Segal鈥 from July 27, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025.

Opening in the museum鈥檚 Balcony Gallery for Florida Artists, “Common Thread” is a comprehensive anthology showcasing the work of Segal. This career-spanning collection of photographs delves into a subject she knows well: her native state, Florida. The exhibition features a diverse array of subjects, from the formal gardens of Vizcaya in Miami to the storage spaces of the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine. Whether she is exploring historic buildings and neighborhoods, parks or rural landscapes, Segal’s aesthetic remains both intimate and singular.

Also included are black-and-white gelatin silver prints from a collaborative photography project exploring Baracoa, Cuba. Shot on film using a medium format camera, the photos were exhibited in Havana, then traveled throughout the state of Florida in 2005, and are now part of the Appleton鈥檚 permanent collection.

Following photography鈥檚 progression from film to digital methods, Segal鈥檚 images retain a common vision. Much of her influences come from the Southern Gothic genre and she embraces the tropes with a darkly romantic approach. While her photographs are often symmetrically composed within a clinically square composition, they have a timeless, surreal quality. The act of photographing is of particular significance, which she views as 鈥渁n occasion for quiet contemplation and opportunity to connect and create 鈥 it鈥檚 as much an expression as it is a meditation.鈥

Regular admission fees apply to visit. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month as part of the Free First Saturday program. Join the artist on the Sept. 7 Free First Saturday for two tours of 鈥淐ommon Thread.鈥 Tours will meet at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Balcony Gallery for Florida Artists. Tours are free; no reservation needed to attend.

About Theresa Segal

Segal was born in St. Augustine, Florida, where she attended Flagler College and later taught photography in the same classroom where she had discovered her love of the medium. She studied photography at the Southeast Center for Photography at Daytona State College and the University of North Florida. The artist has received numerous grants for her work including several Individual Artist Grants from the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida, the Florida Department of State and the National Endowment for the Arts. Her work has been exhibited widely across the state of Florida.

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 黑料天堂, 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

黑料天堂 Hosts Summer FAFSA Workshops

Prospective or current college students seeking assistance with their Free Application for Federal Student Aid are invited to attend summer FAFSA workshops, hosted by the Financial Aid team at the 黑料天堂.

Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free, and the application is used to determine students鈥 eligibility to receive federal student aid, the largest source of student aid. Most 黑料天堂 students qualify for some form of federal financial aid after filling out the FAFSA.

This series of workshops will offer personalized, in-person guidance on completing the FAFSA form. Participants are encouraged to create their Federal Student Aid ID at least three business days before the event. The FSA ID can be created at .

The following workshop dates and locations are available for drop-in assistance:

Ocala Campus

  • Saturday, June 22, 9 a.m.-noon
  • Saturday, July 13, 9 a.m.-noon
  • Tuesday, July 16, 9 a.m.-noon
  • Tuesday, July 16, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, July 17, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus

  • Tuesday, June 25, 9 a.m.-noon
  • Wednesday, July 10, 9 a.m.-noon
  • Monday, July 29, 9 a.m.-noon

Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus

  • Thursday, June 27, 9 a.m.-noon
  • Thursday, July 18, 9 a.m.-noon

For more information, visit 黑料天堂.edu/FAFSAWorkshop.

黑料天堂 APPLETON MUSEUM OF ART TO OPEN NEW EXHIBITION, 鈥淓N POINTE: EXPRESSIONS OF DANCE IN ART鈥

The Appleton Museum of Art, 黑料天堂, will present 鈥淓n Pointe: Expressions of Dance in Art.鈥

In dance, our bodies are the paintbrush and the world is our canvas. Dance is performative, occupying space and elapsing time, and it is a particular challenge to capture motion within one static moment. Yet, it is a challenge many artists have endeavored for centuries.

We dance to celebrate, to commemorate, to commiserate and to initiate. It can be the play of free expression, or impressive and rigidly choreographed physical achievements. Dance can serve as a social function that communicates ideas beyond barriers of spoken language, allowing us to tell stories and say with our bodies what we cannot put into words.

Dance serves ritualistic and religious functions in historic cultures worldwide. We dance to entreat deities, remember our forebearers and to maintain traditions. We dance to celebrate the changing seasons of our world and the changing seasons of life.

On view June 29-Oct. 6, 鈥淓n Pointe: Expressions of Dance in Art鈥 explores various forms of dance and more through paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures, masks and costumes. Over 60 works from the permanent collection will be on display in the Edith-Marie Gallery, telling the story of this powerful and multifaceted form of expression. Several videos of dance add to the experience, and an interactive station invites visitors to add their own form of art in motion. From poetic paintings and drawings of the Ballet Russes by Ernst Oppler (German, 1867-1929) and prints of Native American dancers depicted by Alice Asmar (American, 1929-2021), to a full Panamanian Diablico Sucio costume (circa 1980) and a golden pair of traditional Thai headdresses (circa 1900), visitors can discover how performative arts have inspired the visual arts in cultures throughout history.

On July 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m., all Appleton members are invited to celebrate the exhibition at a reception. Enjoy summertime hors d鈥檕euvres and refreshing beverages, while enjoying dance hits throughout the decades by DJ Just Joel. RSVP for all guests is required by July 7 to Colleen Harper, harperc@cf.edu, or 352-291-4455, ext. 1831.

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 黑料天堂, 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

黑料天堂 and Appleton Museum of Art Voted Best of the 352

The 黑料天堂 has been voted the Best College / University in the Best of the 352 competition, an honor presented by North Central Florida Media to celebrate local businesses and organizations that excel in the community. The award is determined by votes from members of the community,听highlighting听黑料天堂鈥檚 impact and reputation as the best educational institution in the region.

鈥淲e are thrilled to receive this recognition from our community,鈥 said Dr. Jim Henningsen, president of 黑料天堂. 鈥淭his award is representative of the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff and students. We remain committed to providing high-quality, affordable education for our students.鈥

The 黑料天堂 Appleton Museum of Art was also recognized as Best Museum and the Best Art Gallery in the Best of the 352 Things to Do category. The Appleton Museum of Art is home to an extraordinary permanent collection of over 24,000 objects and offers enriching summer camps, free admission on the first Saturday of each month, and a variety of engaging exhibitions and special events throughout the year.

For more information about the 黑料天堂 and its programs, visit 黑料天堂.edu/Why黑料天堂.

黑料天堂 to Host Naming Ceremony for Hampton Center Community Room

The 黑料天堂, in partnership with the City of Ocala, will host a special ceremony to celebrate the naming of the Hampton Center Community Room in honor of Dr. Lorenzo Edwards. The event will take place Thursday, June 20, 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Hampton Center, 1501 W. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.

Dr. Lorenzo Edwards’ connection with 黑料天堂 began as a student, earning his Associate in Arts degree in 1971. His professional journey at the college started in 1989 when he joined as the Coordinator of Project Success and Minority Recruitment. In 1990, Edwards advanced to the role of Dean of Minority Affairs and Handicapped Services, contributing to the inclusivity and support for all students until 1998. He then became the Director of the Hampton Center, where he continued to influence and shape the community until his retirement in 2003.

Edwards played a vital role in enhancing the college’s support systems for students, ensuring they had the resources needed to succeed. Beyond the college, Edwards served as pastor of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in downtown Ocala since 1968, retiring in 2018, and also served on the Ocala City Council from 1986 to 1996.

The naming of the Community Room at the Hampton Center is a fitting tribute to Edwards’ legacy, honoring his leadership during his time at 黑料天堂 and his commitment to serving the community.

黑料天堂 President Dr. James Henningsen, City Manager Pete Lee and City Councilmember Ire Bethea will deliver remarks at the ceremony, and light refreshments will be served.

To RSVP for the dedication ceremony, please visit 黑料天堂.edu/HamptonCenterEvent.

黑料天堂 Hosts Application Day Events at Multiple Campuses

The 黑料天堂 invites prospective students to attend Application Day events taking place across three campuses 9 am-noon: Ocala Campus on Saturday, June 22, Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus on Tuesday, June 25, and Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus on Thursday, June 27. The events are designed to provide a streamlined path to enrollment at 黑料天堂, with opportunities to complete the admissions application, begin financial aid processes and more.

At each Application Day event, attendees can:

  • Receive assistance with filling out their admission application, with the $30 fee waived at the event.
  • Start the FAFSA process to help pay for college (creating your FSA ID at least three business days before the event is recommended).
  • Take a placement test to assess college readiness.
  • Speak with advisors about program and degree options.
  • Meet with other 黑料天堂 departments like Veterans Services, EOC and Access Services.
  • Go on a guided tour of the campus.

Attendees will receive 黑料天堂 merch and one lucky applicant will receive a scholarship, covering tuition for one class at the in-state rate.

RSVP is required, and participants must arrive promptly at 9 a.m. if they wish to complete both the admissions application and placement testing. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review 黑料天堂鈥檚 New Student Checklist to verify the necessary documents in preparation for Application Day.

For more information, contact 黑料天堂 Admissions at admissions@cf.edu or visit 黑料天堂.edu/ApplicationDay.

黑料天堂 Foundation Awarded $70,000 Grant From The Community Foundation of Sarasota County For Student Scholarships

The 黑料天堂 Foundation was awarded $70,000 from the Edward K Roberts Community College Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support student scholarships. For more than 40 years, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has matched donors with causes, creating lasting impact across generations. This is the fifth consecutive year that the 黑料天堂 Foundation has been awarded funding from the Community Foundation to assist 黑料天堂 students. Since 2020, the Edward鈥疜. Roberts Scholarship has helped 153 黑料天堂 students.

鈥淲e are honored and thrilled to be selected for the fifth year in a row to receive the Edward K. Roberts scholarship through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County,鈥 said Chris Knife, vice president for Institutional Advancement and CEO of the 黑料天堂 Foundation. 鈥淭his scholarship is changing lives and creating upward momentum for our students and their families.鈥

The Edward K. Roberts scholarship is to be used for financial assistance to 黑料天堂 students who may not qualify for other financial aid. The scholarship鈥檚 criteria also give preference to students who are parents, working to better themselves and their families through education.

The 黑料天堂 Foundation, founded in 1959, is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation that enhances the college鈥檚 programs and services through the development and management of private contributions and community partnerships. To learn more, visit听

The Community Foundation听of Sarasota County听is a public charity founded in听1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $489 million in听more than 1,580听charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $40听million last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $435.8 million to area nonprofit organizations in our community, thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families and businesses. For more information, visit听 or call (941) 955-3000.