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.

The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) invites prospective students to learn about its Apprenticeships in Construction Technologies at a virtual information event on Wednesday, May 15 at 5:30 p.m. CFK is offering Electrical and Carpentry programs in Key West and the Upper Keys this upcoming fall semester, which begins August 19. The deadline to apply is July 1.

The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) welcomes the community to celebrate the arts at two annual events on Wednesday, April 24 at the Key West Campus. Attendees are invited to start with the Mud-Pi Dinner, 4- 6 p.m., in the Ceramics Studio, featuring savory tastings created by culinary students and served in unique bowls created by ceramics students. Afterwards, attendees can head to the Student Art Show, which runs from 5 to 7 p.m. and features a range of art created by students over the past year.

The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) invites the community to attend its CFK Poetics event on April 18 at 5 p.m. at the Tennessee Willliams Theatre on the Key West Campus. The annual visiting poets activity will feature a live reading from acclaimed poet Lauren K. Alleyne. She will read some of her work and take questions from the audience. The event is free for all attendees.