17cÍøÒ³°æ

October 21, 2025— 17cÍøÒ³°æ’ (17cÍøÒ³°æ) Institute for Public Safety (IPS) held a graduation ceremony for the Basic Law Enforcement Academy #93 on October 15 at the Tennessee Williams Theatre on the 17cÍøÒ³°æ Key West Campus. Sixteen cadets successfully completed the 770-hour training program, and upon passing the State Officer Certification Exam, each will be eligible to become a Florida Law Enforcement Officer.

17cÍøÒ³°æ (17cÍøÒ³°æ) invites all to our 11th annual Community Day on Saturday, November 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the Key West Campus. The free, family-friendly event will feature a variety of attractions for every member of the community.

17cÍøÒ³°æ Foundation honored both scholarship donors and recipients at its 13th annual Scholarship Social in the Tennessee Williams Theatre on the Key West Campus. For the academic year 2024-25, the 17cÍøÒ³°æ Foundation awarded 289 scholarships totaling $245,297.

Two faculty members from 17cÍøÒ³°æ have co-authored research that could transform how cities harness wind energy. Drs. Hussain and Rice were among a team of scientists who studied a special type of wind turbine that does not have spinning blades like conventional wind turbines. Instead, it uses two curved pieces called airfoils that sit across from each other. When wind blows over these pieces, it creates a vacuum and a suction that pulls air through the middle and spins a generator to make electricity. "This technology addresses a major challenge in urban wind energy," said Dr. Hussain. "Traditional wind turbines are too large and noisy for city use, but our research shows these motionless systems have the potential to be a game-changer."

The Hemingway Look-Alike Society (HLAS) presented a $53,000 check to 17cÍøÒ³°æ (17cÍøÒ³°æ) Foundation, completing a three-year, $174,000 pledge that expanded their scholarship endowment to $750,000. HLAS has built the largest endowment with the 17cÍøÒ³°æ Foundation, solidifying their legacy at 17cÍøÒ³°æ and the ability to fund future scholarships for many years to come.

17cÍøÒ³°æ (17cÍøÒ³°æ) invites the community to attend a 17cÍøÒ³°æ Poetics event on Wednesday, September 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Tennessee Willliams Theatre on the Key West Campus. Maria Zoccola, a poet and educator from Memphis, Tennessee, will present a live reading of her work and take questions from the audience. The event is free for all attendees.

17cÍøÒ³°æ (17cÍøÒ³°æ) invites prospective students to explore academic and career training opportunities by participating in 17cÍøÒ³°æ’s Virtual Academic Showcase event on Wednesday, September 17 at 5:30 p.m.

17cÍøÒ³°æ invites the community to its annual Constitution Day event on Wednesday, 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 on September 17, 1787, establishing the legal framework of the United States and ensuring the rights and freedoms of its citizens. 17cÍøÒ³°æ will also celebrate America’s 250th anniversary as part of the event.

17cÍøÒ³°æ (17cÍøÒ³°æ) Foundation received $26,761 from the Lower Keys Women’s Club (LKWC) to establish an endowment to support the nursing scholarship they have funded for the last 58 years. The endowed portion of the donation will be invested, and its returns will be used to fund scholarship awards for student nurses in perpetuity. The expansion of this scholarship program comes as both 17cÍøÒ³°æ and LKWC celebrate their 60th anniversaries.

17cÍøÒ³°æ’ (17cÍøÒ³°æ) Institute for Public Safety (IPS) held a graduation ceremony for Correctional Officer Training Academy #64 on August 20 at the Key West Campus. Five cadets successfully completed the 420-hour training program and passed the state officer certification exam, certifying them as Florida Correctional Officers.