The College of the Florida Keys’ invites the community to celebrate the birthday of the United States Government at its annual Constitution Day event on Tuesday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m. in the library on the Key West Campus. Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, thus laying the foundation of our government, rights, and freedoms. This year's event will delve into the history behind the creation of the U.S. Constitution. CFK History instructor Charles Goulding will examine the pivotal events leading up to and during its drafting to provide an understanding of the founders' intentions and decisions. He will focus on key sections of the Constitution, providing an in-depth look at some of its most significant parts and how it remains relevant today.

The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) is proud to announce that the CFK Academy, its newly established tuition-free public charter high school, has earned an “A” grade by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) for the 2023-24 school year. School grades provide an easily understandable metric to measure the performance of a school, according to the FDOE. The school grading system pulls from various student success metrics, including student achievement, learning gains, graduation rates, acceleration success, and focus on students who need the most support.

The College of the Florida Keys' women’s swim team was named the 2023-24 Academic Team of the Year for Women’s Swimming and Diving by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) on July 18. The Tuga women were among 30 programs across the country recognized for achieving the highest grade point average (GPA) in their respective sport throughout the previous academic year. The women honored on the 2023-24 Tugas team are Isabella Oliverio, Lillian Zebny, and Lauren Walterson.

The “Papas” of the Hemingway Look-Alike Society (HLAS) kicked-off the festivities of the famous Hemingway Look-Alike Contest by presenting $31,500 in scholarships to students attending The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) on the stage of Sloppy Joe’s on July 18. HLAS Scholarship Chair and “Papa 2013” Stephen Terry announced a total of 13 CFK scholarships-- four to students with literary talent, six to nursing students, one to a student training to become a first responder, one to a veteran, and one to a CFK-bound Key West High School graduate. This year, they increased awards from $1,500 for the fall semester to $2,500, split evenly between the fall and spring semesters.

The College of the Florida Keys will hold “Fast Track to Fall” events on Wednesday, July 24, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Key West Campus and at the Upper Keys Center in Key Largo at to help prospective students quickly get on a path toward their academic and career training goals this fall semester. New student applications are due August 1 and classes begin August 19. New students who participate in a Fast Track to Fall session will have their application fee waived, a savings of $30, and receive a $100 Kick-Starter Scholarship.

The College of the Florida Keys' men’s swim team was named the Male Academic Team of the Year, in the small roster category with 10 or fewer participants, by the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) on July 3. The men honored on the 2024 Tugas team were Seth Bullard, Mason Egan, Kaemon Fagley, Juan Carlos Foster, Edward Kertis Jr., and Corey Krapf. The award was voted on by the Council for Athletic Affairs' Executive Board and was based on grade point averages for the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters.

The College of the Florida Keys Foundation recently received $100,000 from the Ocean Reef Community Foundation (ORCF) to fund the ORCF Building Bridges Scholarship. This financial aid opportunity is available exclusively to students attending the College’s Upper Keys Center, starting this upcoming fall semester. Designed as a “last dollar” scholarship, it covers remaining expenses after federal, state, and other aid are disbursed. Funds can be applied to tuition, lab fees, and certain course-required expenses. Priority consideration will be given to students pursuing credentials in career technical education and professional skills programs.

The College of the Florida Keys Foundation recently received a donation from the Trust of the late Paula Jean Carbonell for $495,976.30. The bequeath will be used to create an endowment to support students in the Marine Environmental Technology and Marine Engineering Management and Seamanship programs. By endowing the funds, only the interest earned is expended, allowing the gift to support students in perpetuity and create a lasting legacy for Carbonell.

“As we prepare to usher in the unofficial start of summer with backyard barbecues, boating, and fireworks, I ask the community to join the CFK Family to reflect on why this day is important. Memorial Day is a time to honor the memories of those who died for our country. It is a time for heroes, both those who have fallen and those who are still living. We thank our military, as well as law enforcement officers, healthcare professionals, and other first responders for working tirelessly to protect American lives.

The College of the Florida Keys held its sixty-eighth Commencement Exercises for the spring class of 2024 on Friday, May 3 in the Tennessee Williams Theatre on the Key West Campus. Ninety-four graduates donned blue and orange graduation attire to receive their diplomas. The College expects to award a combined total of approximately 116 credentials, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and college credit certificates, to spring graduates.