91��Ƭ

The College of Central Florida invites anyone thinking about college to attend Application Day on Monday, June 15, from 2-5 p.m. at the Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus, 3800 S. Lecanto Highway, Lecanto.

At this event, future students can apply to the college with no fee, start the financial aid application, speak with advisors about program and degree options, and tour the campus. The college will give away free 91��Ƭ merchandise and attendees may enter to receive a scholarship to cover tuition for one class at the in-state rate.

Additional Application Day events will be held Saturday, June 13, from 9-11 a.m. at the Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, and Tuesday, June 16, 2-5 p.m. at the Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, 15390 N.W. Highway 19, Chiefland.

For more information, visit 91��Ƭ.edu/ApplicationDay.

The College of Central Florida invites anyone thinking about college to attend Application Day on Tuesday, June 16, from 2-5 p.m. at the Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, 15390 N.W. Highway 19, Chiefland.

At this event, future students can apply to the college with no fee, start the financial aid application, speak with advisors about program and degree options, and tour the campus. The college will give away free 91��Ƭ merchandise and attendees may enter to receive a scholarship to cover tuition for one class at the in-state rate.

Additional Application Day events will be held Saturday, June 13, from 9-11 a.m. at the Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, and Monday, June 15, 2-5 p.m. at the Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus, 3800 S. Lecanto Highway, Lecanto.

For more information, visit 91��Ƭ.edu/ApplicationDay.

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, joins museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer. The 2026 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16, and end Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. Learn more and find the list of participating museums at .

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America.

In addition to the Appleton Museum of Art, the Blue Star Museums program includes children’s museums, art, science and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses and more, in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The current list of participating museums will continue to grow as organizations can register to be a Blue Star Museum throughout the summer.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military — Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps — and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Conventions common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

The Appleton extends free entry to U.S. military veterans, who receive free admission year-round. Veterans can show a Veteran ID Card (VIC), Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) or the Veterans designation on their state-issued driver’s license or ID for entrance.

“Museum founder Arthur I. Appleton served as a Navy Lieutenant during World War II. We are honored to once again partner with Blue Star Museums and also extend free entry to veterans and their families,” said Appleton Director Jason Steuber.

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 College of Central Florida, 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. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. For more information, call 352-291-4455, or visit .

The College of Central Florida now is offering students the Gator Tracks Transfer Pathway, designed for learners who want to earn an Associate in Arts degree at 91��Ƭ and then have an expedited admissions decision from the University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Tuition at 91��Ƭ is about half the cost of a Florida public university, making 91��Ƭ a smart economical option for students to start their academic journey. 91��Ƭ also offers support systems including small class sizes, award-winning faculty and free tutoring and counseling available for every student. More than half of 91��Ƭ students are enrolled in the Associate in Arts degree, which prepares them to transfer to a university after two years at 91��Ƭ.

“The College of Central Florida is proud to be at the forefront of high-tech agriculture education, and establishing this transfer pathway allows more students to start at 91��Ƭ for half the cost of a university,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, 91��Ƭ president. “Students can begin as a 91��Ƭ Patriot, get a head start with an affordable and high-quality education, and then graduate as a Florida Gator. This new partnership with the University of Florida gives our students a guided pathway to set them up for success.”

Through the Gator Tracks partnership, qualifying students interested in one of 20 eligible majors, such as agricultural operations management, geomatics, entomology and nematology or wildlife ecology and conservation, can now work hand-in-hand with a UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences academic advisor as they prepare to transition from their associate degree to a UF bachelor’s degree. As a top public university, UF’s admission process is highly competitive, and this partnership ensures 91��Ƭ graduates have a clear path to attaining that top-tier education.

“Florida is filled with talented students, and many of them start their collegiate journey with an associate degree at a state or community college,” said Kati Migliaccio, dean of UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. “With Gator Tracks, we’re removing barriers and providing a clear, supported pathway for those students to achieve their academic goals.”

For more information about the Gator Tracks Transfer Pathway, visit 91��Ƭ.edu/GatorTracks.

Students training for health care professions will benefit from a new full-time Respiratory Care faculty position and new scholarships established through a $6 million endowment announced at the April 20 meeting of the Citrus County Hospital Board.

This most recent donation by the Citrus County Hospital Board will fund in perpetuity a full-time faculty member to teach Respiratory Care at the 91��Ƭ Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus, where a new program with updated simulation lab facilities launched in spring 2025.

The gift also will fund up to 28 full ride scholarships each year for Citrus County residents to pursue any 91��Ƭ Health Sciences program at any 91��Ƭ campus. At up to $3,000 each, most scholarships are expected to cover a student’s full tuition and fees.

The hospital board has given a total of more than $19 million to the 91��Ƭ Foundation, which has allowed the college to generate an additional $11.7 million in matching funds from the Florida Legislature. In 2024, the hospital board established the CCHB Nursing Promise Scholarship, which covers 100% of tuition for all Citrus County residents admitted to 91��Ƭ’s Associate Degree Nursing program. This new endowment builds on that impact to increase the number of trained health care workers in our local community.

“The continued generosity of the Citrus County Hospital Board is providing life-changing opportunities for local families,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, 91��Ƭ president. “This incredible donation makes it possible for students to get a quality education close to home without the burden of debt – and we know most of our graduates stay right here to work in their professions in our local community. As Citrus County grows and the need for skilled health care workers increases, the College of Central Florida will be ready to meet that need.”

This investment in health education will impact generations of Citrus County residents.

“The extraordinary commitment the Citrus County Hospital Board has made is a long-term investment in Citrus County residents and health care workers,” said Jerry Benton, chair of the 91��Ƭ Foundation Board and CEO of Campus USA Credit Union.

Members of the hospital board, including Allen Bartell, Dr. Mark Fallows, Dr. Jeff Wallis, and Rick Harper reaffirmed their support of this health care education initiative at the April 22 91��Ƭ District Board of Trustees meeting.

“We’re putting our money and our trust in the right place,” said Dr. Mark Fallows, chair of the Citrus County Hospital Board.

The scholarships will be managed by the 91��Ƭ Foundation. To qualify, students must be Citrus County residents accepted into a 91��Ƭ Health Sciences program and must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the 91��Ƭ Foundation scholarship application annually.

For more information about 91��Ƭ Health Sciences programs, visit 91��Ƭ.edu/Health. To explore opportunities for supporting students through endowments, visit 91��Ƭ.edu/Foundation.

Now on view at the Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida is “My Country, ’Tis of Thee: Celebrating American Art and Design.”

“My Country, ’Tis of Thee” highlights more than three centuries of American art and design, with works ranging from contemporary furniture to Pop Art to historical photos and documents reflecting the unique history of Marion County and Florida.

The exhibition is organized into themes inspired by the lyrics of “My Country, ’Tis of Thee.” This patriotic anthem was written in 1831 by Massachusetts native Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895), who was a student at the Andover Theological Seminary. The song debuted in public on July 4, 1831, at a children’s Independence Day celebration at the Park Street Church in Boston.

My country, ’tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountainside
Let freedom ring!

The exhibition opens with a large-scale timeline tracing Florida’s history from the American Revolution to the present day. Beginning in 1776, when Florida served as a refuge for Loyalists, the timeline culminates with Ocala native and Olympic gold medalist Erin Jackson, who was selected by her peers as a U.S. flagbearer at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. A vibrant Pop Art installation reflecting America as the “Sweet Land of Liberty” celebrates the nation’s spirit of freedom and exploration. Sitting adjacent, “Of Thee I Sing” presents images representing American lives from the 19th century to today. Nearby is the marble sculpture, “Ambassador Molly,” by Nilda Comas, symbolizing the power of community action in Marion County, where citizens united to pass legislation protecting animals from abuse.
In the middle gallery, “Land Where My Fathers Died” brings together World War I and II posters and military-related historical objects that evoke themes of patriotic service and national ideals. Also featured in this space, “Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride” highlights longstanding American craft traditions, including quilting, woodworking and Art Deco technical designs and innovations.

Spanning the second and third galleries, “From Every Mountainside” presents distinctly American landscapes — from bustling urban environments to remote natural settings — reflecting the nation’s pride in its vast and diverse terrain stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

In the third gallery, “Let Freedom Ring” explores themes of personal expression and the ways Americans come together to embody the national motto E pluribus unum, or “Out of many, one.” Rare, previously unseen historical photographs and documents highlight Ocala’s important contributions to Florida and the United States.

“91��Ƭ is the proud home of the 91��Ƭ Patriots. As such, the Appleton team selected an array of 114 iconic American treasures from over three centuries,” said Jason Steuber, Appleton Museum director. “The curated works cover art, design, music, and dance as well as united patriotism in action through our shared actions to preserve our great democracy.”

“My Country, ’Tis of Thee” is on view now through September 13 in the Appleton’s Edith-Marie Gallery on the first floor and is supported in part by Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Special Events

“Stars, Stripes and American Art & Design”
July 1-31, 2026
Admission to the Appleton is free during the month of July 2026 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

“Picturing Paradise: From John James Audubon to the Florida Highwaymen”
A Talk by Dr. Keri Watson
Saturday, July 25, 1 p.m.
The Florida landscape has provided aesthetic inspiration to artists for centuries. Titian Ramsay Peale and John James Audubon came in search of native flora and fauna, followed by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Martin Johnson Heade, George Inness, Winslow Homer, and Henry Ossawa Tanner, who were lured by its natural beauty and warm climate. This presentation offers a succinct and engaging history of Florida’s landscape painters. Free to attend.

Film Screening: “1776” (Rated G, 2h 20m, 1972)
August 1, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
This adaptation of the Broadway Tony-winning musical celebrates the founding fathers’ midwifery of the Declaration of Independence, the document that would give birth to a nation. Free to attend.

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 College of Central Florida, 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. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. For more information, call 352-291-4455, or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

The College of Central Florida Webber Gallery presents the work of local artists in the upcoming exhibition “Constellation” on display Monday, May 25, through Thursday, July 16.

This themed exhibition will explore traditional and nontraditional concepts of the term. Expanding beyond its astronomical origins, the exhibition approaches constellations as an open-ended concept that each artist will engage with in their own way. The resulting works may draw from personal, symbolic, conceptual, or traditional ideas, offering varied perspectives on how meaning is formed through connection and arrangement.

The exhibition may feature works across multiple mediums, including ink, paint, cyanotype, collage, and more. This range of materials reflects the flexibility of the theme itself, allowing artists to explore both structure and spontaneity in their processes. By bringing together multiple perspectives and mediums, the exhibition creates a larger “constellation” of its own, one formed by the collective voices of the local creative community.

The Webber Gallery is located at the 91��Ƭ Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, and is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit 91��Ƭ.edu/Webber or call 352-854-2322, ext. 1664.

The College of Central Florida’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences will host a lecture with author Travis Atria on Monday, April 20, at 5 p.m. at the 91��Ƭ Ocala Campus, Building 8, 3001 S.W. College Road. Atria is the author of “Better Days Will Come Again: The Life of Arthur Briggs, Jazz Genius of Harlem, Paris, and a Nazi Prison Camp.” about the life of trumpeter Arthur Briggs. Homeric in scope, Briggs’ life story unfolds as a sweeping journey through music, migration, resilience and hope.

Drawing from groundbreaking research and unprecedented access to Briggs’ oral memoir, Atria traces Briggs’ remarkable journey from the Harlem Renaissance to Europe, where he was among the first pioneers to introduce jazz music to the world. During the legendary Jazz Age in Paris, Briggs was called “the Louis Armstrong of Paris” and was a peer of musical greats including Josephine Baker and Django Reinhardt. Attendees will learn what happened when Briggs was sent to France’s Saint-Denis internment camp in this epic tale of survival.

This free Introduction to Humanities event is sponsored by Bank of America and more information is available at 91��Ƭ.edu/Events.

Topics and concepts presented at this event are for discussion purposes only and are not intended to espouse, promote, advance, inculcate, or compel individuals to believe the topics or concepts presented therein. Nor do they constitute endorsement of such topics or concepts by the College of Central Florida, its Board of Trustees, or any of their officers, employees, or agents.