KEY WEST, FL, January 7, 2026— The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) will open its 2026 VIP Series with back-to-back presentations on Wednesday, January 14 at 7 p.m. in CFK’s Upper Keys Center and on Thursday, January 15 at 7 p.m. in the Tennessee Williams Theatre on the Key West Campus. Marine scientist, author, and CFK alumnus Dr. Jack Stein Grove will present “Anchors & Atolls: The Life & Adventures of a 20th Century Naturalist in the Tropical Pacific.”

Returning to his alma mater at The College of the Florida Keys, Dr. Grove will share his adventures traversing the tropical Pacific from South America to New Guinea over a dozen times. He will share his journey from a country boy to a renowned naturalist with a focus on highlights from his first-hand experience discovering a shipwreck at Ducie Atoll in the Pitcairn Islands and raising a two-ton anchor from 150 feet of water, surrounded by tiger sharks, in a three-knot current in one of the most remote, uninhabited islands in the world.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the presentation begins at 7:00 p.m. for both events. Each will be a 50-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute question and answer session. In its twelfth season, the College’s VIP Series features the views, ideas, and perspectives (VIP) of speakers of local, regional, and national prominence. CFK’s 2026 VIP Series is sponsored by David and Annette Curry, Essential Net Solutions, and First Horizon Bank.

Tickets for each event are $5 at the door. Admission is free for students at CFK and Monroe County schools. The event on January 15 will be streamed live on CFK’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheCollegeoftheFloridaKeys/. For more information, call CFK at 305-296-9081 or visit the College’s website at CFK.edu/VIP.

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