State College
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
MA R C H 2 0 2 1
ONE Student, ONE Opportunit y, ONE Possibilit y
VO LUME 5, NO. 02
NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE OPENS THE WALTON WORKS TRAINING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
at a time
Northwest Florida State College is transforming the economy of our region by providing the future workforce -
ONE STUDENT ONE OPPORTUNITY ONE POSSIBILITY at a time. One-half of the nation’s undergraduates are served by the community college system, proving that state colleges provide a lifechanging impact on our community. In 2019-2020, Northwest Florida State College served 9,238 students and conferred close to 1,600 credentials during our virtual commencement ceremony. Did you know that for every person with a college credential, there are two who have none and that gap is increasing every day? The one thing we must do is encourage students to move from a high school diploma to a college credential to bolster individual earning power and positively impact the local economy. What we do know is that graduates with associate’s degrees and certifications are contributing to the economy sooner than those with a bachelor’s degree. In many cases, our associate degree completers have higher salaries than workforce bachelor’s degree completers in their first jobs. We are making that impact ONE degree at a time. There are numerous stories of resilience and persistence from our community. Our students are already experiencing transformational change in their lives in the classrooms of our (continued on next page)
Pictured (left to right): NWFSC Trustee Rudy Wright; NFWSC Trustee Charlotte Flynt; NWFSC Trustee Chair Lori Kelley; NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson; District 2 Walton County Commissioner Danny Glidewell; District 3 Walton County Commissioner Michael Barker; NWFSC Trustee Vice-Chair Shane Abbott; District 1 Walton County Commissioner William “Boots” McCormick; NWFSC Trustee Graham Fountain; NWFSC Trustee Reynolds Henderson.
Northwest Florida State College’s Walton Works Training Center of Excellence is officially open at the Chautauqua Center in DeFuniak Springs. The overall purpose of Walton Works is to create a catalyst for economic development by cultivating a homegrown workforce that is professionally trained in order to make an immediate impact. The Walton County Board of County Commissioners’ generous commitment of $1.5 million RESTORE Act dollars advanced this project into a reality. Additionally, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office’s unwavering commitment to creating the region’s preeminent public safety training center led to generous donations of
•Medical Lab Technician •Physical Therapist Assistant •Professional Pilot Tech •Aviation Airframe Mechanic
equipment and a joint Fire Training Facility that will open in late spring. The $5.7 million Walton Works Training Center of Excellence is comprised of two new buildings, labs and classroom space. The 7,000 square-foot central Walton Works building houses 17 bays that were constructed on NWFSC’s Niceville campus by our welding instructors and students and provides space for the welding and industrial programs. An adjacent 900 square-foot indoor drone arena will be used for Unmanned Vehicle (UMV) certification and testing. Interior renovations modernized existing administration buildings and created a multi-purpose skills lab for the Construction Trades Program.
NEW PROGRAMS COMING FALL 2021