Photo courtesy SCF: Students at SCF Collegiate School

At State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, we’re proud of our two collegiate schools. One sits on our Bradenton campus and another in Venice, both A-graded public charter schools, with the Bradenton campus recognized as a national blue-ribbon school. Partnered with SCF, yet a different experience from a district school student, State College of Florida Collegiate School’s dual enrollment program presents an opportunity for students to complete an associate degree at the same time they receive their high school diploma. The collegiate schools were founded on the principle that students should be encouraged and afforded the opportunity to pursue college.

Nicolette, a senior at SCFCS Bradenton and a student there since the sixth grade, has taken full advantage of the collegiate school experience. She says, “The collegiate school taught me time management and gave me confidence.” It also inspired her career choice to become a middle or high school math teacher. And preferably in Manatee County so she can stay local.

SCFCS students receive coaching that encourages time management, social skills, independent learning, accountability and devotes individual time to each student in goal-setting sessions. Nicolette has taken these lessons to heart and seized every opportunity to give back to her community and her peers at the school.

In November, Nicolette was awarded from Drug Free Manatee (D-Fy) the 2022 Champions of Prevention for the sector of Youth. D-Fy honored her for her passion in supporting the mission to reduce the impact of drug abuse and addiction in our community through her leadership and willingness to volunteer in prevention activities.  She volunteers at least three hours a month for this program and another two hours for the “Future Me” program at local middle schools that hopes to expand a version of the D-FY program. 

In addition to working part-time, she volunteers to offer math tutoring for students in lower-level grades. In addition, she encourages those who ask, “what would you recommend?” to take advantage of the after-school programs such as art, cooking, anime drawing and Spanish. Knowing everyone, given the school's small size, and having constant resources and mentors to help, is what contributes to her favoring the school.  She is proud of the fact that at age 17, she will be graduating high school and receiving her associate in arts degree the same day. 

Nicolette is one example of the more than 600 students at our Collegiate Schools who demonstrate high student achievement from sixth grade at SCFCS Bradenton and ninth at SCFCS Venice. Most of our graduates persist and continue their higher education journey by obtaining a baccalaureate degree here at SCF or at prestigious schools in Florida and across the country, including our partner institutions that offer scholarships to SCFCS graduates.

At SCF, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education. Our collegiate schools and student-centered programs fulfill our open-access philosophy that encourages anyone to apply. At SCF, we meet you where you are. We’re everyone’s college.

Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld is president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.

Photo courtesy SCF: Students at SCF Collegiate School