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The College of Central Florida invites anyone thinking about college to an open house on Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 2-5 p.m. at the 91��Ƭ Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, 15390 N.W. Highway 19, Chiefland.

Future students are encouraged to tour the campus and learn about more than 150 academic pathways, including 70 job-training programs. Attendees can receive assistance with the application process, financial aid, placement testing, academic advising and registration for the spring semester, which begins Jan. 9.

Everyone who completes an admissions application at the event will have the $30 admissions fee waived and will be entered to win free tuition for a 3-credit-hour class at 91��Ƭ’s standard tuition rate.

Additional open house events will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala, and Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus, 3800 S. Lecanto Highway, Lecanto. A virtual open house will take place Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Zoom.

For more information, visit or call 352-873-5800, ext. 1379.

Community members are invited to join College of Central Florida students and faculty on a study abroad trip to Ireland in summer 2023.

Applications are open now for the educational trip across Ireland from July 16-27, 2023. This expedition will have a special focus on humanities and health sciences.

The 91��Ƭ Road Scholar program, in partnership with the Study Abroad Association, is dedicated to facilitating education through international experiences that provide diverse and interesting opportunities for experiential learning.

The deadline to apply for the Ireland trip is March 31, 2023. Total cost is approximately $2,745 and includes 10 nights’ accommodations, all ground transportation, three traditional dinners, daily continental breakfast and a full-time guide. Program price is an estimate until tickets are finalized. Scholarships may be available to assist with program costs. Round-trip airfare is not included.

Trip highlights include activities such as: Dublin literary pub tour; Book of Kells and Trinity College tour; Cliffs of Moher and Burren full-day tour; Medieval Galway walking tour; Irish dance and songs show; and visits to health care related facilities.

This trip can be taken for academic credit or for the experience as a noncredit opportunity. Being enrolled as a 91��Ƭ student is not required.

For more information, visit or call Wendy Adams at 352-854-2322, ext. 1546.

The College of Central Florida’s Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus Associate Degree Nursing program has been recognized as the 2023 Best RN Program in Florida by RegisteredNursing.org. The nursing advocacy organization evaluated nearly 150 RN programs and ranked the top 20 based on the percentage of graduates who pass the national licensure exam.

The two-year program prepares students to become registered nurses, providing direct care to patients in hospitals, nursing homes and community-based agencies. The Citrus program is part of the collegewide nursing program.

“Nursing is one of the most in-demand careers in Florida,” said Dr. Stephanie Cortes, 91��Ƭ dean of Health Sciences. “By providing this affordable educational opportunity, we are not only preparing our students for a career with unlimited potential; we are helping to meet the growing need for more registered nurses at our local health care facilities.”

This ranking places 91��Ƭ at the top of a list of 20 colleges and universities including other state colleges as well as University of Florida and Florida State University. According to RegisteredNursing.org, programs were assessed on several factors which represent how well a program supports students toward licensure and beyond.

For more information about 91��Ƭ Nursing, visit . For more information on the 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Florida, visit .

The College of Central Florida will be closed Thursday, Nov. 10, due to Tropical Storm Nicole. In-person and online classes, as well as business operations, will be cancelled at all sites, including the Ocala Campus, Citrus Campus, Levy Campus, Hampton Center, Appleton Museum and Vintage Farm. Scheduled activities have also been cancelled.

The college will also be closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day; the Appleton Museum will open Friday as scheduled unless otherwise announced.

Any college activities scheduled for Saturday will proceed unless otherwise announced.

Please continue to monitor the 91��Ƭ website (), traditional media and social media for additional updates.

 

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, is the perfect place to celebrate the holidays with friends and family. This year, the museum’s majestic oaks will be lit with twinkling lights. Additional large-scale decorations will adorn the grounds with holiday cheer.

On view Nov. 8-Jan. 8, “A Dickens Christmas: The Urban Family’s Holiday Exhibition” returns to the first floor of the museum. This beloved annual display is from the collection of Ocala cardiologist Dr. Paul Urban, his wife, Joyce, and daughters, Katie, Kristie, Kassie and Karlie. In addition to beautifully decorated trees, see the architecture, customs and history of Victorian England come alive in the popular miniature Dickens Village, alongside an extensive collection of nutcrackers from all around the world and handmade Byers’ Choice caroler dolls.

On the second floor, enjoy trees decorated by community groups and organizations. Participating organizations include: City of Ocala, Hiers-Baxley Community Care, Ocala Civic Theatre, TJM Promos and Urban Family Counseling.

“The Appleton is happy to welcome back this longstanding tradition of holiday fun, and we thank our community partners who are participating in this year’s community tree display,” said Victoria Billig, assistant director at the Appleton.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., the annual Community Day event, sponsored by the Urban family, offers free admission. Visit the permanent collection and special exhibitions including “A Dickens Christmas” and “Blow Up II: Inflatable Contemporary Art” and make holiday crafts in the Artspace. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the auditorium, enjoy a free holiday photo op with Belle and the Beast from Once Upon a Party. From 11 a.m.-3 p.m., take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the café. Food trucks will be on-site throughout the day.

If you’re searching for the perfect holiday gift, an Appleton Museum of Art membership is truly the gift that gives all year. A variety of membership levels are offered to fit the needs of every individual, couple or family. Visit for membership details. We also invite you to visit the Appleton Store any time with no admission fee to find unique gifts for all ages including artist-made jewelry, art books and activities for adults and children, holiday home decor and more.

About the Urban Family Collection

Joyce Urban’s love of Christmas began when she was a child in the city of Philadelphia. Every year, she would go see the elaborate decorations at the department stores that were set up along the path she walked as she went to see Santa. This wonder of Christmas has stayed with her through the years. She began publicly displaying her collection in 1989 because she wanted to provide a place for children of all ages to experience the holiday magic she enjoyed as a child. Over the years, her Christmas Tour has raised money for many local charities including Harvest International, Interfaith, Pilot Club, Women’s Pregnancy Center and the Counseling Resource Center where she once worked as a counselor. In 2012, Joyce opened Urban Counseling where she continues her legacy of helping others.

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. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit

The College of Central Florida Ira Holmes International Film Series continues on Tuesday, Nov. 8, with “Breaking Bread,” a 2019 Israeli film that explores Israel’s groundbreaking A-Sham Festival, which puts Arab and Jewish chefs side by side to create mouthwatering dishes and foster social change.

Called “a treat for the senses,” this documentary aims to prove that collaboration in the kitchen can be a bridge to mutual understanding. Guests at the evening screening are invited to break bread together with a potluck dinner; bringing a dish to share is welcomed but not required.

The screening will begin at 2 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., and at 7 p.m. at the 91��Ƭ Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road, Building 8, Room 110. Films at the Ocala Campus are free and open to the public. Films at the Appleton are free to all museum and film series members; nonmembers pay museum admission. Films may contain mature content.

Series Schedule:

Jan. 17 – “Victoria & Abdul”

Jan. 31 – “Parasite”

Feb. 14 – Scary Movie Date Night: “Get Out”

On Feb. 15 at 12:30 p.m., Dr. Gilbert Rodman will lead a “Get Out” Black History Month film talk at the 91��Ƭ Ocala Campus in Building 8, Room 110. The talk also will be live on Zoom.

Feb. 28 – “Neptune Frost”

March 14 – “La Ciénaga”

For more details, visit

The College of Central Florida Ocala Testing Center has received five-year recertification from the National College Testing Association. NCTA certification ensures compliance with national standards and certifies that the 91��Ƭ Testing Center maintains high test administration standards and provides excellent service to a wide variety of students and community members in the performance of their duties.

91��Ƭ Testing Centers at the Ocala Campus, Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus and Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus provide placement and assessment services for students, administrators, faculty and community members. Services are offered in an environment conductive to testing while meeting established security and proctoring standards.

The National College Testing Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of professionalism and high-quality service in the administration of testing programs for more than 600 colleges and universities.

For more information about 91��Ƭ Testing, please visit www.cf.edu/testing.

The community is invited to enjoy two concerts by the College of Central Florida Visual and Performing Arts Department.

On Thursday, Nov. 3, the 91��Ƭ Jazz Band will present “A Night of Jazz” at 7:30 p.m. Directed by Conductor and Associate Professor John D. Ash, the group will perform a swinging selection of American jazz pieces by composers including Christopher Artau, Bill Chase, Michele Fernandez, Stan Kenton and Mark Taylor.

On Thursday, Nov. 10, the 91��Ƭ Wind Symphony and the 91��Ƭ Patriot Singers will present “Water” at 7:30 p.m. This collaboration includes musical selections that celebrates our connection to water – from the Mississippi River to the bottom of Lake Superior to a home aquarium – which connect the audience to Earth’s most precious element.

“Water” will feature performances by guest composer Joshua Mazur. The 91��Ƭ Wind Symphony is directed by Ash and the 91��Ƭ Patriot Singers are directed by Dr. Jason Longtin.

Both concerts are free and will take place in the Dassance Fine Arts Center at the 91��Ƭ Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road. For more information, visit the Events Calendar at   or call 352-854-2322, ext. 1419.