CFK Keys Currents-2020-21

K EYS

CURRENTS

A PUBLICATION OF THE COLLEGE OF THE FLORIDA KEYS

20–1

Clawing for

Coral

Building

Careers

ON THE

FRONT

LINES

R ise & Shine

Plus Much More!

FOR FRIENDS AND ALUMNI OF THE COLLEGE OF THE FLORIDA KEYS

TABLE of

of CONTENTS

THE TEAM

4 A Message from the President

5 What’s New!

6 A Look Beneath the Surface

8 From Our Kitchen to Yours

9 Uncharted Waters

10 Rising Hopes: Upper Keys Center

11 Superhero: Ocean Reef Community

Foundation

18 Change Lives

19 Unsung Heroes:

Annette & David Curry

20 Shoot for the Moon

22 Poetic Reincarnation

23 By the Numbers

26 Alumni Unite

27 School Spirit

28 On the Front Lines

30 A Family Tradition

12

Clawing

for Coral

Crabs may hold the key

to restoring coral reef

ecosystems. Professor

of Marine Science

Dr. Angelo Jason

Spadaro is putting the

natural gardeners to

work and the results

are promising!

Dr. Jonathan Gueverra

President & CEO

CFK BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Stephanie Scuderi, Chair

Kevin Madok, Vice-Chair

Dan Leben

Mike Puto

Elena Spottswood

Sheldon Suga

CFK FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Annette Robertson Curry, Chair

Robert Stoky, Vice Chair

Bruce Halle, Treasurer

Conner Boyd, Secretary

Frank Toppino, Chair Emeritus

Emilie Stewart

Sheldon Suga

Lana Gaspari

Yvette Mira Talbott

M. Pat Miller, Director Emeritus

Dr. Frank Wood

Vice President of Advancement

Dr. Brittany Snyder

Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dr. Charlene White

Vice President of Finance and Administration

Amber Ernst-Leonard

Executive Director of Marketing

and Public Relations

Art Director

John Michael Coto

Photography Contributors

Nick Doll, Michael Wedincamp

16

Rise & Shine

Serving up hot coffee and fluffy

biscuits, Amber Heimann (BAS, Sup

& Mgt '18) used the business plan

she developed at CFK to open A.M.

Birds coffee shop.

24

Building Careers

Former baker Donald Chavez Moreno

is energizing his career through CFK’s

Electrical Apprenticeship program.

Editorial Crew

Amber Ernst-Leonard, Dr. Frank Wood,

Dr. Emily Weekley, Dr. Jason Spadaro,

Chef Jorge Sanchez, Naomi Walsh,

Robin Kory, Michael Wedincamp

To update your address and to support

The College of the Florida Keys,

Call: (305) 809-3153

CURRENTS is published by the Office of Marketing

and Public Relations and the Florida Keys Education

Foundation, Inc. (CFK Foundation). ©2020 The College

of the Florida Keys. The views and opinions presented

in this publication are not necessarily those of the

editors or the official policies of the College.

15

Ready to Dive In

Taking her mark, CFK Freshman

Gracia Rojas (AS, Marine Env

Tech) is ready to make a

splash as CFK prepares to

launch its first swim team.

K EYS

–1

CURRENTS

A PUBLICATION OF THE COLLEGE OF THE FLORIDA KEYS

Clawing for

Coral

ON THE

FRONT

LINES

On the cover

CFK student Kenaro Malcolm (AS, Marine

Env Tech ’20) cleans coral trees at Clifton

Heritage Park in Nassau, Bahamas. Kenaro,

who is originally from Nassau, is one of

the first students in the College’s new

Bachelor of Science in Marine Resource

Management (Read “Uncharted Waters”

on pg. 9).

Follow The College of the Florida Keys on

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

5901 College Road | Key West, FL 33040

www.CFK.edu

2 KEYS CURRENTS A PUBLICATION OF THE COLLEGE OF THE FLORIDA KEYS

Building

Careers

R ise & Shine

Plus Much More!

E OF THE FLORIDA KEYS

A PUBLICATION OF THE COLLEGE OF THE FLORIDA KEYS KEYS CURRENTS 3

From The Bench

News Briefs

A Message

from the

President

What’s NEW!

DRIVING HOME NEW

WORKFORCE TESTING

Dear community, students,

alumni, and friends,

I am pleased to share with you CFK’s

second annual Keys Currents magazine.

Inside you will find uplifting stories of

success and triumph. Some of the stories

are even more remarkable in light of the

incredible challenges we continue to

endure in 2020. The world, our nation and

indeed, our island chain are suffering from

medical, economic, social, and political

upheavals. The pandemic has certainly

been a catalyst for some of our struggles.

We have lost family members and friends.

Entire neighborhoods buckle as our

incomes and fortunes decline. Confronting

an infectious disease with no reliable cure

has led to complex realities for educators

at all levels. Physical isolation and other

stressors compounded by COVID-19 have

exacerbated most problems within our

view. Notably among those issues was the

digital means used to mourn the loss of

beloved CFK family members, President

Emeritus Dr. William Seeker and alumnus

Lexi Hoyes.

At the College, we were already reimagining

the ways in which we operate

and engage; COVID-19 has pushed us

to an entirely new level. Early in the

pandemic, CFK was one of the first Florida

College System institutions to transition

to remote operations and virtual learning.

It was a quick and relatively smooth

change (thanks to post Hurricane Irma

preparations) to prevent the initial spread

of the virus. When our economy was shut

down, we offered free hospitality classes

to help affected employees gain skills

during the down time. CFK also donated

from our stock of medical supplies while

our medical practitioners and student first

responders volunteered and/or worked

in the trenches to provide care for the

Keys. As soon as CARES Act funds were

released, we began its distribution to help

students cover the cost of pandemic related

expenses or losses. Additionally, CFK

launched Rapid Credential programs and

expanded our Construction Apprenticeship

programs to the middle and upper Keys.

Students in these programs will not pay

tuition as the College’s grants will help

individuals, particularly those who have

lost employment, quickly train for careers

without the burden of tuition. Despite

the challenges we face, CFK completed

construction projects on the Key West

Campus, began construction for the Upper

Keys Center, launched a new Bachelor of

Science in Marine Resource Management,

and continued efforts to recruit for the

start of the new academic year.

In August, we opened our doors safely

to the public and ushered in record student

enrollment. As the College improves

upon safety measures and as we learn more

about the COVID-19 virus, we plan to

offer more classes and activities in-person

next semester. We are not in a position

to declare victory over the virus and new

obstacles are inevitable. Nevertheless, I am

incredibly proud of where we stand today.

Our students and employees have risen to

every challenge and we have persevered

and thrived. It is with a great deal of

dedication, creative-thinking, vigilance,

and care, the College’s team is navigating

this uncertain time. We have remained

this community’s college — steadfast to

our mission to serve the people, businesses,

and economy of the Keys.

Please read every part of the Keys

Currents. You will see that the College and

its people are accomplishing great feats and

contributing to the greater good with an

inspirational level of positivity. We do so

despite the challenges and with incredible

support from our partners, donors, alumni,

friends, and families. I extend my gratitude

to them as well as to our students and their

families for choosing CFK to improve

their lives. Through our collective efforts,

The College of the Florida Keys sails ahead

towards an even brighter future.

Jonathan Gueverra, Ed.D

President & CEO

The College of the Florida Keys

CLEARING THE AIR

CFK is now 100% smoke- and tobaccofree.

With a $19,624 grant from the Truth

Initiative’s Tobacco-Free College Program,

CFK implemented an institution-wide

tobacco-free policy that applies to all CFK

locations and facilities. The new rule is

supported by projects that address tobaccorelated

issues on campus, educate students

and employees about the health benefits

of a tobacco-free lifestyle, and support

treatment for those interested in quitting.

CONQUERING A NEW DOMAIN

This summer CFK unveiled a new

website along with a new domain

name: CFK.edu. It features new

components and tools to excite

prospective students, including a

“What Floats Your Boat?” program

search tool and photo galleries

of CFK academics and student

activities amid a beautiful Florida

Keys backdrop. Designed with

accessibility in mind for persons with

and without disabilities, content is

robust and understandable across

a variety of technology platforms,

including mobile devices.

TEACHING A NEW LEVEL OF CARE

Last Fall, CFK launched a new baccalaureate degree: A Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science

in Nursing (RN- BSN). The two-year program provides an opportunity for practicing registered

nurses to further their education, advance in their career, and earn higher salaries. Designed

for busy professionals, the 100% online program includes coursework and field experience in

leadership, community health, and evidence-based nursing practice. As healthcare evolves,

nurses need advanced training to thrive in their careers. Communities across

the globe also need more and more highly-skilled nurses.

CFK “CARES” FOR STUDENTS

CFK was awarded $240,928 for Emergency Financial Aid Grants for students through the Coronavirus

Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the economic relief package that Congress passed

in May to protect the American people from the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19.

CFK is actively promoting and distributing grants to students who have experienced a loss of income

in their household due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are in need of assistance for expenses such

as housing, utilities, food, transportation, and/or daycare expenses.

With help from a fleet of community

partners, CFK drove home a new

workforce development opportunity

for professional vehicle drivers in the

Keys. As an official Third Party Test

Administrator for Commercial Driver

Licenses (CDL), approved by the Florida

Department of Highway Safety and

Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), the College

will now be able to provide testing for

A, B, and C class CDL licenses. The

special license is required to operate large

vehicles used in a variety of essential

functions in the community — ranging

from transporting people to maintaining

utilities to collecting trash.



Underwater Photography

A Look Beneath the Surface

A

nyone fortunate enough to have experienced scuba diving understands the exhilaration of

plunging beneath the surface, immediately entering an extraordinary underwater world full of

whimsy and mystery. Playful fish dart about a bustling coral reef while predators lurk in the shadows.

Colors, patterns, and silhouettes transform as sunlight cascades through the deep salty filter.

Students in CFK’s Underwater Photography classes are tasked with capturing such amazing

visuals in the ocean waters of the College’s Dive Lagoon and at nearby coral reefs and

shipwrecks using SeaLife DC2000 cameras with underwater housings and

accessories. Diving Business and Technology instructor Lucja Rice leads

the students in the course that blends art with science and technology.

Students are taught photographic principles, rules of composition, the

use of various types of lenses, and light techniques. Throughout the

course, students develop a portfolio of photographs that document their

adventures beneath the sea and demonstrate their new camera skills.

Underwater Photography is taught throughout the year. Prior

to beginning the class, students must hold an Advanced Open Water

certification, which can also be obtained at CFK.

The featured photos were taken by CFK Underwater Photography students over

the past year. The background image is “Silhouette” captured by Riley Martinez

(AS, Marine Env Tech; AAS, Diving Bus Tech).

“Lion Fish” by Riley Martinez (AS, Marine Env Tech;

AAS, Diving Bus Tech)

“Eel” by Thomas Delatte (AAS, Marine Eng;

AAS, Diving Bus Tech)

“Little Fiesta” by Jaqueline Howell (AS, Marine Env Tech ’19)

“Big Mouth” by Matthew Boyd (AAS, Diving Bus Tech)

Frenchie” by Madison Gould (AS, Marine Env

Tech ’20; BAS, Sup & Mgt)



Culinary

New Degree

break up the crab too much.

3. Form into golf ball size balls with hands

and set on a dish. You should have enough

to make 8-10 balls.

4. Place breadcrumbs in a separate bowl.

5. Gently pour Panko breadcrumbs over

crab balls. Press bread crumbs onto crab

balls with both hands while maintaining ball

shape. If cake loses it's shape, no worries,

gently press back into ball and set on dish.

6. Heat cast iron skillet on medium/high

heat for two minutes.

7. Add enough butter or olive oil so bottom

of pan is nicely coated.

8. When oil is hot, add crab ball to pan.

Cook until golden and turn. Lower heat

if necessary.

9. Cook second side until golden (usually

3-4 minutes per side). Add more butter/oil to

pan if needed and cook second batch.

NOTE: Crab balls will start to look more

like crab cakes at this point.

10. Place on paper towel to absorb excess oil.

Kenaro Malcolm (AS, Marine Env Tech ’20)

is among the first students in CFK’s new

BS in Marine Resource Management.

Originally from Nassau, Bahamas,

Kenaro earned a prestigious Bahamas

Environmental Stewards Scholarship

and chose CFK to train for a career

in marine science.

Uncharted

Waters:

CFK

Launches

Unique Marine

Science Degree

For Sriracha Mayonnaise:

Crab Cakes with Sriracha

Mayonnaise and Coral Tuile

By The College of the Florida Keys Culinary Students Fall 2020

SERVES 8-10

For Aioli:

2 egg yolks

Juice of half a lemon

From our Kitchen

to Yours

1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

1 tablespoon chives, chopped

1 garlic clove, peeled and finely minced

1 teaspoon hot sauce

2 pinches sea salt

A few turns of freshly ground pepper

2 cups canola oil

Combine all ingredients in a bowl except

oil. Slowly drizzle in oil, in a steady stream

as you whisk with an emersion blender or

in a food processor. Set aside when thick

and looks like mayonnaise.

For Crab Cakes:

1 pound lump crab meat

¹⁄ ³ cup prepared aioli

1 tablespoon chives, finely sliced

1 tablespoon red pepper, finely chopped

1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

1 pinch sea salt

1 pinch pepper

2 cups Panko bread crumbs

1 cup oil or butter for frying

1. Place crab meat between paper towels

and press until all excess water is removed.

2. In a large bowl, mix crab meat, ¹⁄³ cup

aioli, chives, parsley, salt, and pepper until

well combined. DO NOT OVERMIX and

1 garlic clove, finely grated

1 cup aioli

3 tablespoons Sriracha

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Kosher salt

Stir garlic, mayonnaise, Sriracha, and lemon

juice in a small bowl to combine; season

with salt.

For the Coral Tuile:

10g flour

90g water

2 drops of red food color

2 tablespoons oil for pan frying

1. Combine ingredients (except for the oil)

and whisk together well. Pour into a squeeze

bottle.

2. Heat the oil in a frying pan.

3. Shake the mixture well and squeeze into

the oil, allowing to fry until the mixture

resembles a coral texture.

4. Gently remove and place on paper towel

to drain the excess oil, and allow to cool.

Place crab cakes on plate. Place a small

dollop of mayonnaise on top to hold tuile

and serve with Sriracha mayonnaise on side

and garnish with coral tuile. (See photo)

T

he College of the Florida Keys embarked into uncharted waters

this August with the launch of the nation’s first-ever Bachelor

of Science in Marine Resource Management (BS-MRM). The new

baccalaureate degree program prepares future marine scientists to

be ready to enter the workforce directly after graduation.

Unlike many university-based marine science programs where

students are high and dry in lecture halls, CFK’s BS-MRM

program encourages students to get their feet wet and their

hands dirty with a curriculum that emphasizes the development

of technical skills. The College’s ideal location — on an island

chain, in the heart of a national marine sanctuary, and just five

miles away from the only barrier coral reef in the continental U.S.

— allows students to learn in environments representative

of where they may actually work one day.

Courses include field work in marine settings around the Keys

that enable students to integrate knowledge learned in class

with real-world practice. Students acquire specialized skills in

restoration and conservation biology/ecology as well as extensive

practical skills in data collection techniques and technology.

The program also covers best management practices and policies

for both biological and submerged cultural resources.

In the senior capstone course, students build their bridge to

employment. The College will work with each student and partner

organizations to match students with internship experiences that

best align with the students’ interests. The four-credit internship

provides opportunities for students to hone their skills in a

professional setting and build their resume with real experience.

The organizations benefit from the students’ contributions and the

chance to observe their work ethic, which could lead to a job offer.

Marine resource management careers abound throughout

the U.S. and beyond. As modern society places more value on

natural resources, the need for professional environmental leaders

is expected to grow. Graduates may work for state or federal

entities or for non-profit organizations, leading and contributing

to projects such as marine environmental assessment and

monitoring; marine restoration operations in coastal, nearshore,

and offshore environments; or managing abiotic cultural resources

like archeological sites and artificial reefs.

The College consulted with its marine science advisory board,

comprised of businesses, government agencies, and non-profit

organizations that manage marine resources, to create the new

BS-MRM degree. Such collaboration ensures that graduates of

the program are well equipped to lead as the next generation

of marine stewards. In addition, the College works closely

with other industry partners: Florida Keys National Marine

Sanctuary, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,

NOAA Fisheries, National Park Service, Mote Marine Lab,

Rising Tide Conservation, Reef Relief, Coral Restoration

Foundation, Key West Aquarium, and the American Academy

of Underwater Sciences.

CFK’s BS-MRM follows a “2+2” model, in which students first

earn an Associate in Arts, an Associate in Science, or equivalent

before entering two years of upper level, bachelor’s degree

coursework.

The BS-MRM is CFK’s third bachelor’s degree following a

Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management,

which began in 2017, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing,

which began in 2019.



Construction

Donor Spotlight

Clockwise from the left: Land is excavated to prepare to

build the foundation of the new Upper Keys Center.

Construction crews install stormwater management

components at the site of the new Upper Keys Center.

An artistic rendering of the new CFK Upper Keys Center.

Super Hero:

Ocean Reef

Community Foundation

Rising Hopes:

New Upper Keys

Center opening

August 2021

The College of the Florida Keys will soon have a new

home for its Upper Keys Center with a brand new 38,000

square-foot building in Key Largo. Though COVID-19 caused

the cancellation of a groundbreaking celebration in April,

excitement nevertheless mounted this spring as the site of the

old Shell World building at MM106 was cleared and prepped

for its new purpose. In September, construction officially

commenced. Fences wrapped in brightly colored banners now

proudly display images of the College’s future home to travelers

on the busy Overseas Highway.

CFK’s new Upper Keys Center is set to open its doors in

August 2021. With it comes a wealth of educational, workforce,

and economic opportunities for the people in northern Monroe

County. The College plans to expand several programs in

the upper Keys: Nursing, Emergency Medical Technician,

Paramedic, Marine Environmental Technology, Marine Resource

Management, Public Safety (law enforcement and corrections

academies), Construction Technologies Apprenticeships, and

Project ACCESS, a program for students with intellectual

disabilities. In addition, the College plans to develop new

programs at the facility including: Pharmacy Technician,

Phlebotomy, and Dental Hygiene.

The expanded space will allow twice as many students to

comfortably study, learn, and grow. The facility features seven

classrooms, two nursing labs, one bio-chemical lab, a 150-seat

auditorium, three apprenticeship labs, a testing center, and a

library. There are also student and employee lounges, a student

activities room, and a patio deck. In preparation for the possibility

of a major storm, there is a generator as well as a staging area

for a fuel tanker to park, which could help with fuel re-stocking

for the entire island chain.

Unlike that scenic highway location where the Upper Keys

Center will reside, the road leading to the development of the

much-needed community asset has been long, winding, and

sometimes bumpy. Committed to the task, CFK President

Dr. Gueverra and his team rallied support from federal, state,

and local government entities as well as businesses, nonprofits,

and private citizens. In 2019, a $16 million grant from the

U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development

Administration (EDA) provided the major funding boost needed

to make this shared community dream a reality.

Stay tuned on the CFK’s social media pages to follow the

progress of construction. In the meantime, prospective students

can apply on the College’s website at CFK.edu to be a part of

the first class of students at the new Upper Keys Center in the

Fall 2021 semester.

F

or more than 55 years, The College of the Florida Keys

has continuously evolved to meet the growing need for

higher education in Monroe County. Covering a service area

of 126 miles (the length of the Keys), the College has worked to

maximize its impact and relevance to the economies and needs

of each population center in the Keys. In evaluating the needs

of CFK’s service areas, it became clear that a stand-alone facility

in the upper Keys was critical to the success of our students,

the College, and the community’s workforce demand.

Since 2013, the College’s quest has developed through

various stages from feasibility studies and educational programs

review to location selection and funding consideration. Over

this evolution, one important group emerged that shared

the College’s vision for higher education in the Upper Keys,

understood the importance of community, and was ready to

“roll up their sleeves” and work toward supporting the goal

of a new center in Key Largo. This extraordinary group was

the Ocean Reef Community Foundation and its members.

For them and their work, the College is forever grateful.

From the left: ORCF Vice President Stephen Woodsum,

CFK Vice President of Advancement Dr. Frank Wood, CFK President

Dr. Jonathan Gueverra, and ORCF Grants Committee Chair Janie Sims.

Ocean Reef Community Foundation (ORCF) and their

resident-supporters have a long rich history of providing

critical support to numerous non-profit organizations in the

Keys and south Miami-Dade County. The spirit of charity and

desire to maximize the impact of giving motivated Ocean Reef

members to establish the Ocean Reef Community Foundation

in 1994. ORCF’s Community Grants Program funds dozens

of worthy charities in the interest areas of Education, Youth,

Health & Family Services, and Community in the Upper Keys,

Homestead, and Florida City each spring. Including 2020 grants,

the program has donated more than $11 million to improve the

quality of life in the communities where Ocean Reef employee

families live since the All Charities collaboration began in 2008.

For Monroe County, Ocean Reef Community is one of the

largest employers and CFK is the largest provider of higher

education. A partnership between the two was a natural fit.

In recent years, ORCF has supported the College’s needs for

nursing lab equipment, welding education infrastructure,

“Game-Changer” scholarships, apprenticeship scholarships,

and most recently capital support for the Upper Keys Center.

Upon the College’s selection and purchase of the site for

the Upper Keys Center, a dedicated leadership group

emerged from within the Ocean Reef Community. Under

the leadership of William Nutt, ORCF’s Chairman, a group

of education-minded philanthropists, comprised of Alan

Goldstein, Jim Anderton, Bill Parfet, Michael Berman,

Steve Markel, Thomas Davidson, and Ed Hajim, answered

the call to assist the College and launched an effort to raise

funds. Based on the work of this extraordinary group and the

Ocean Reef Community Foundation, the College recently

received a $1.2 million contribution toward the Center and

a pledge of another $1.2 million.

This generous support combined with a Federal EDA grant

awarded to the College, CFK Foundation support, and other

private assistance reaches a total of $20 million, the cost to

complete the Center. Hats off to the Ocean Reef Community

and all who have worked to make this dream come true.

The College looks forward to a long productive partnership to

benefit our students and our community.



Faculty Research

Clawing for Coral

From the desk of

Angelo Jason Spadaro, PhD

Assistant Professor,

Marine Science & Technology

Coral reefs are some

of the most beautiful

and biodiverse

ecosystems on the

planet. They only cover

~0.6% of the seafloor —

an area roughly the

size of Colorado — but

they harbor between

25% and 33% of all

marine species.

M

ore species occur on coral reefs than

just about any other type of habitat.

They protect our coastlines and provide

more than one billion people with food and

livelihoods. They give us oxygen to breath

and new medicines in the fight against

cancer and other diseases. Coral reefs are

inherently tied to the persistence of human

existence on planet Earth. Unfortunately,

however, coral reefs are in trouble.

Climate change, rising sea surface

temperatures, and ocean acidification are

all chronic global threats to corals. Add

to that, local and regional stresses such

as coastal nutrient pollution, endocrine

disruptors, anchor damage, groundings,

overfishing, marine diseases, increasingly

destructive hurricane seasons, and many

others… and the fate of coral reefs becomes

increasingly uncertain. In fact, coral

reef ecology has become an often bleak

and depressing field of study. Imagine

watching the ecosystems you have grown

up admiring, and even dedicated your

professional life to studying, rapidly

deteriorate amid a fusillade of humaninduced

insults — not fun. What does a

degraded coral reef ecosystem look like?

Unfortunately, here in the Florida Keys, all

we need to do to answer that question is

visit our backyard.

The Florida Reef Tract — the third

largest barrier reef system on the planet

– has undergone a steep decline over the

last half-century. Unfortunately, that trend

has only worsened. Numerous groups,

including Mote Marine Laboratory, the

Coral Restoration Foundation, the Florida

Keys National Marine Sanctuary, The

Nature Conservancy, the Florida Fish

and Wildlife Conservation Commission,

and countless others are scrambling to

address the degradation of our iconic

coral reef ecosystems through restoration

and management. Typically, these

groups have focused heavily on “direct”

or “active” restoration which involves

planting live corals in places where they

once grew naturally — often referred

to as “gardening” corals. Indeed, much

of the theory behind coral restoration

comes from silviculture — the growing

and cultivation of trees. However, any

gardener knows that successful gardening

doesn’t stop when the trees are planted.

Both trees and corals compete with weeds.

In the sea, those “weeds” are algae. It may

have been some time since you’ve taken

a biology course, but we all know that

green stuff carries out photosynthesis and

photosynthesis is how we get oxygen, right?

Correct — photosynthesis takes carbon

dioxide and water molecules using sunlight

and produces simple sugars and oxygen

as byproducts. However, when you’ve got

too much photosynthesis going on and

not enough critters on the reef consuming

those sugars…bacteria, including all of the

nasty ones (and plenty that become nasty

when their numbers get out of control), are

able to bloom. What is normally a positive

or neutral relationship between corals

and microbes quickly shifts to a negative

interaction — those microbial communities

burn up the available oxygen stressing

corals which are then easy marks for the

increasingly abundant disease-causing

microbes. It’s a nasty cascade of bad news

for corals.

It's easy to say that algae are bad

for coral reefs, but that’s not entirely

true. Algae are essential to coral reef

communities. They’re among the most

important primary producers, they are

how coral reefs capture solar energy and

transmit it into the coral reef community.

Without them, coral reefs could not be

as diverse and abundant as they are.

Top photo: This large Elkhorn coral

(Acropora palmata) colony, located just off

the west end of Carrie Bow Cay in Belize, is

reminiscent of those that used to span most

of the reefs in the Keys and south Florida.

Inset photo: CFK Marine Science Professor

Dr. Angelo “Jason” Spadaro.

However, it’s a delicate balancing act.

On the one hand, you need enough critters

eating green stuff (herbivores) to keep

algae grazed — kind of like how you mow

your lawn and weed your garden to keep it

from being over-grown. But you also need

just enough nitrogen and phosphorous in

the water to keep algae going, but not so

much that they get out of hand — I’m sure

every gardener has over-fertilized their

lawn or garden at some point and seen

the weeds take advantage of it rather than

the plants it was intended for.



Faculty Spotlight

Sports

Well, in your garden or lawn, it’s a

relatively easy fix. You pull the weeds

and leave the plants you’re gardening.

In the sea, it’s a bit more complicated. It

would be impractical for us to go out and

physically remove excess algae from the

reef — trust me, it’s a much bigger job than

it sounds. Besides, there are a bunch of

critters (herbivores) in the reef community

whose job it is to eat all of that algae.

One issue facing reefs is that there’s too

much space available for algae to grow

and fewer and fewer herbivores around to

consume the excess.

In many places, including Florida, there

are now laws against harvesting many of

those herbivores. Bans on landing Parrotfish

are now commonplace throughout the

Caribbean. We’ve also tried for more

than 35 years to re-populate Caribbean

reefs with the Long Spined Sea Urchin

(Diadema antillarum), a once abundant

grazer whose populations collapsed in the

early 1980s after a pandemic swept through

the Caribbean region. Unfortunately,

neither strategy has been able to keep up

with the proliferation of algae on Caribbean

reefs. Enter the Caribbean King Crab

(Maguimithrax spinosissimus).

These mammoth spider crabs occur

naturally throughout the Caribbean, Gulf

of Mexico, and along the Florida Reef

Tract, but they’re not very common in most

areas. They may look menacing, but they’re

mostly vegetarian. In fact, not only do

they eat a lot of algae — more than most

parrotfish species! — but they also eat some

of the really nasty chemically-defended

algae that other herbivores tend to avoid.

In a series of experiments that I conducted

on patch reefs in the Middle Keys several

years ago, the crabs reduced algae cover

(the percentage of the reef surface covered

in algae) by more than 85% in just 10-12

months! These were fairly spectacular

results, so I replicated the study on another

set of patch reefs off of Islamorada near

Cheeca Rocks to make sure that the results

were reproducible — and they were!

Next, the Smithsonian Institution and

INAPESCA (the Mexican fisheries research

institution) replicated my study on the

Mesoamerican Barrier Reef off Mexico and

Belize and once again, the crabs significantly

reduced the cover of algae on the reefs

where they were added. Three separate,

independent experiments all confirmed our

results — adding crabs works! It was more

than that, though. After the crabs removed

the algae, I found that more juvenile corals

survived and there were more fish and

more variety of fish around reefs that had

crabs added than around control reefs (no

crabs). Here, we’ve got the makings of a big

boost to our reef’s algae problem and a way

to help facilitate coral restoration efforts.

There’s a catch, though.

The crabs are excellent grazers, but

there aren’t many of them on the reef. A

big bottleneck to “scaling up” and trying

this on a grander scale in support of coral

restoration is the question of — where do

Spadaro holding a large male Caribbean

King Crab (Maguimithrax spinosissimus)

during a trip with the Smithsonian Institution

to Carrie Bow Cay in Belize.

we get the crabs? We’re hoping the answer

is aquaculture. The Florida Keys National

Marine Sanctuary has included these crabs

in their Mission: Iconic Reefs initiative.

They have estimated a need for more than

28,000 crabs for the seven Iconic Reefs

— take it from me, that is a tall order!

Luckily, the crabs are excellent candidates

for mariculture — their larval period is

very short, they’re mostly herbivorous,

and they grow relatively quickly. This is

the focus of our work at The College of

the Florida Keys — developing efficient

and sustainable aquaculture protocols for

producing crabs to support the restoration

of coral reefs in Florida and the Caribbean.

CFK is working closely with the Florida

Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS)

to both produce crabs and test their effects

on transplanted corals in a number of

habitat types in the lower Florida Keys.

CFK students are currently engaged in

running several laboratory experiments

on campus to determine what effects diet

(i.e., algal species) and environmental

conditions (e.g., temperature, pH, oxygen

concentrations, salinity) have on larval

and juvenile crab development. The

College is also currently working with

the FKNMS and our partners at Mote

Marine Laboratory to initiate a series

of field experiments to test the effect of

aquacultured and wild caught crabs on

algae and on out-planted corals in several

different reef habitat types south of the

lower Florida Keys. These experiments are

only the tip of the iceberg on a growing

research program focused on facilitating

restoration efforts along the Florida Reef

Tract — primarily the FKNMS Mission:

Iconic Reefs initiative — and on using

research as a tool for training the next

generation of coral reef scientists and

technicians. We are very lucky at The

College of the Florida Keys to have the

Florida Reef Tract as both a venue for

research and as a literal classroom for

teaching and doing marine science.

PHOTO CREDIT: MR. SCOTT JONES AND MR. ZACH FOLTZ, BOTH OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

Ready to Dive In:

Swim Team Kicks Off

Collegiate Sports

T

he College of the Florida Keys is eager to dive back into

the pool of collegiate sports with its first-ever swim team

after a 45-year absence on campus. With male and female

athletes lined up, a junior Olympic-size swimming pool on

campus, and a full-time coach in place, the southernmost

college is in position to make a splash on the sports scene.

In 2019, the College became a member of the National

Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), which

is key to operate and compete in sanctioned, structured

athletic events. Since then, the College has embarked on a

prescribed track to prepare for athletic recruitment, training,

and competition. By 2022, the College should be eligible

to join the ranks of colleges across the state and nation to

compete for high-level recognition.

Due to setbacks caused by the pandemic, the College is

awaiting clearance from the NJCAA to begin training for its

inaugural spring season in 2021. When that time

comes, CFK has a plan to ensure the safety of its

student athletes as they enter the water. With

ample outdoor space for social distancing and no

contact required to compete, there is minimal

risk associated with the sport of swimming.

Eventually, the College’s swim teams will compete

in regular seasons against other Florida colleges and against

colleges and universities from outside the South Florida

region. Several such schools already travel to Key West

(especially during the winter months) to train at the

College’s Aquatics Center.

Leading CFK’s swim teams will be Coach Lori Bosco,

the College’s Aquatics Director. Bosco has been managing

the College’s pool for more than 20 years and also serves

as the coach for the Key West High School swim team.

She possesses an infectious enthusiasm for the sport which

is sure to inspire the future generations of swim teams that

will represent The College of the Florida Keys!

Gracia Rojas (AS, Marine Env Tech),

originally from Fort Myers, will be among

the first athletes on CFK’s swim team.



Brewing Success

CFK Means Business:

Rise & Shine

There is a new way

to rise and shine

in the Keys, and it

started right here

on The College of

the Florida Keys

campus.

A

lumni Amber Heimann opened

A.M. Birds at 301 Overseas Highway

after the idea came to her while she

was pursuing her Associate in Arts and

Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision

and Management degrees at CFK.

A.M. Birds is an eclectic local coffee

shop and bakery where you can get a

jumpstart on your day and delicious biscuits.

It all started when Amber needed a project

Serving up hot coffee

and fluffy biscuits,

Amber Heimann

(BAS, Sup & Mgt

’18) is flexing her

business skills at her

own coffee shop,

A.M. Birds, with the

business plan she

developed at CFK.

idea for her statistics class at CFK. Her idea

was to use a large popular coffee company

as a topic for research, since she thought

necessary information for the business would

be easily accessible. She also knew that

local coffee shops were competition for the

coffee giant, because of the more unique

and familiar settings these offer. Amber

felt drawn to the local coffee shops she

frequented in Key West because of this.

Amber’s ideas developed more as she

finished her A.A. and decided to pursue her

B.A.S. as part of the first class of graduates

in the bachelor’s degree program at CFK,

where her campus community fostered her

dream. In Dr. Frank Wood’s class, students

were assigned a semester-long project on

a business model of their choosing. “My

parents had talked about buying a coffee

shop down from the restaurant, and once

my parents said that, I turned my whole

assignment around,” Amber said. Because

of this fortuitous moment, she used the

coffee shop vision as the focus. With

these ideas colliding, Amber’s vision was

becoming a reality.

In the capstone course for the major,

taught by CFK president, Dr. Jonathan

Gueverra, Amber used her final semester to

visualize what it was that she would do after

she graduated. According to Gueverra, the

assigned project was designed “to integrate

all that the students had learned and

demonstrate proficiency and to prepare

them for that next step in their life,” with

the hope they will stay and contribute to

our community. “This emphasis on getting

them to look locally makes them feel like

they’re part of something bigger.”

For this final project, too, Amber focused

on coffee, unable to shake the feeling

that she would thrive in this business.

This final reflection on her plans to

pursue her business was reinforced with

encouragement and guidance from her

supportive parents. Amber was on her way!

When Amber graduated in 2018, she

was chosen to deliver the student address

at commencement. In that speech, she

shared of her experience coming to CFK

(then FKCC), “I quickly realized the

difference at FKCC. The atmosphere is

colorful and beautiful, teachers return

your emails, know who you are, and there

are so many opportunities. You can take

ceramics, scuba diving, business classes, you

can even learn how to cook. You can find

out what you like, helping you find your

path. I know I found mine.” And clearly,

Amber had found her path.

On September 4, 2019, A.M. Birds

opened its doors to the Florida Keys,

boasting delicious coffee drinks (of course),

mouth-watering pastries, and fluffy biscuits.

Among the many who were there for a

coffee and a biscuit and to celebrate

this accomplishment were the

friends Amber made in her

business degree cohort. One

even arrived before Amber,

volunteering to get to

work. “That comradery

they have — they really

support each other — it’s

because of the manner

in which we teach them,”

says Gueverra. “By the

time they get to the end of

their programs, they aren’t

just working in groups, they’re

part of a team.”

The education has continued as Amber

has put her ideas into practice. “Some

nights I was leaving at 10:30 or 11:00.

By the time I showered and got into bed,

I was already back up again. As time went

on, it became more of a struggle because

we were barely getting any rest.” But

Amber embraced the experience, and in

just a few months was turning a profit.

During the time of pandemic closures,

A.M. Birds has been temporarily closed

and using the time to make some

improvements. When A.M. Birds reopens

at the beginning of the new year, there

will be kitchen upgrades, an extended

coffee bar, and additions to the menu.

In her experience so far, Amber has

been most proud of making a name for

herself. “I became known as the biscuit

girl,” Amber explains. “I went into a bar

and a guy pointed at me and said ‘It’s the

biscuit girl!’” It is a moniker she embraces

as word spreads and this CFK graduate

makes her education work for her.



Donor Support

Donor Spotlight

Change Lives

& Invest in

the Future

Support The College

of the Florida Keys

T

oday is a great day to be a part of

The College of the Florida Keys family.

Because of alumni, donors, and others who share

our vision, CFK is poised now, more than ever, to

play an even greater role in changing the lives of

our students and our community! Never before

have CFK students had such extensive access

to programs that enrich their college education

beyond the classroom. For example, CFK students

have worked with NASA to develop robotics,

with Mote Marine to conserve and restore the

coral reef, with local businesses to become

certified “journey workers,” with the Lodging

Association to train the local tourism workforce,

and even a collaboration between four CFK

programs to win the National Marine Energy

Collegiate Competition “Moonshot” Award.

Further, CFK continues to educate aspiring

students through rigorous associate degrees and

bachelor’s degrees taught by world-class faculty.

CFK’s programs in Nursing, Business, Marine

Sciences and Engineering, Hospitality and

Ecotourism, Law Enforcement, Construction

Apprenticeships, and EMT/Paramedic continue

to produce students who will soon be responsible

for maintaining and growing our local economy.

In the face of rising costs and the COVID-19

Pandemic, CFK’s firm commitment to keep

education attainable has been demonstrated by

no tuition increases. CFK’s alumni, friends, and

community partners have a great tradition of

helping students succeed, thanks in part to the

support of CFK’s Annual Fund and scholarships.

The College needs your support today! We must

continue to bridge the gap between deserving

students’ financial need and their higher

education.

The College of the Florida Keys invites you

to make a tax-deductible contribution online at

www.cfk.edu/discover/cfk-foundation or mail

your contribution to: The College of the Florida

Keys Foundation, 5901 College Road, Key West,

FL 33040.

CASH

Cash gifts make an immediate impact and enhance scholarship and program support.

The College is especially grateful for gifts of unrestricted cash because they allow

flexibility when needs arise for which other funds have not been allocated. These gifts

can be made online or by checks made payable to the CFK Foundation.

GIFT PLANNING

These include gifts from wills, trusts and life insurance. Through these deferred gifts,

individuals can ensure the continued strength of CFK. Such gifts enable the College to

make long-range plans in support of its academic mission and goals.

MATCHING GIFTS

Many corporations have matching gift programs for their employees and retirees. Please

contact the CFK Foundation for current details on matching gift programs.

NAMED GIFT OPPORTUNITIES

The CFK Foundation offers many

opportunities to those who wish to

associate a family name or the name of

a respected individual with the College.

Significant gifts may provide an opportunity

to name a building or facility at the College

in accordance with the donor’s wishes. An

outright gift or planned gift may be used to

create a named-endowment fund, which in

perpetuity will honor and memorialize the

names placed on it.

Left: Chrysla Dor

(AA ’18), a graduate

of Key West High

School, earned an

Associate in Arts

with assistance from

CFK’s Game Changer

Scholar Program.

Below: Benefactor

of the Student

Ambassador

Scholarship program,

M. Pat Miller (center),

is thanked by the

students who earned

the scholarships that

he funded.

OUTRIGHT GIFTS

Gifts of cash, securities, real estate or tangible property with intelligent planning often

result in greater benefits for the donor, the donor’s family and CFK. All outright gifts are tax

deductible and, if made from capital, have the potential of reducing taxes. Gifts and pledges

may be unrestricted or earmarked for programs and purposes chosen by the donor.

PLEDGES

A commitment to the CFK Foundation may be paid over a period of one to five years. The

periodic payments may be made in the form of cash or appreciated property, such as

securities. Many people find that by spreading payments over a period of time, they can

make a larger commitment.

SECURITIES, REAL ESTATE, AND TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY

HELD SHORT-TERM

Gifts of securities, real estate and personal property (related or unrelated to CFK’s

educational purpose) held less than a year are deductible at their cost basis.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the creation of a scholarship or

endowment, please contact Dr. Frank Wood, Vice President of Advancement and

CFK Foundation Executive Director, at 305-809-3287 or foundation@cfk.edu.

From left: Dylan Moore,

Sky Moore, David Curry,

Annette Robertson-Curry,

Atlantis Hofstetter,

Hunter Slate.

Annette and David Curry

CFK’s Unsung Heroes

E

ach is a model supporter for the causes they hold near.

Together, they are an unstoppable force who have

demonstrated year after year that inspiring passion, hard work,

and creativity can produce change for good. The two are Annette

and David Curry, and The College of the Florida Keys is proud

to call them friends.

Annette Robertson-Curry began her association with The

College of the Florida Keys more than ten years ago. CFK Marine

Science supporters will remember her well from Shark Expo

activities on campus at Tennessee Williams Theatre. She could

be seen orchestrating numerous activities such as organizing

world-renowned marine artist Wyland painting Sumis to support

scholarships, while simultaneously auctioning a Jimmy Buffet

autographed Land Shark branded surfboard. She is imaginative

and tireless and the fruits of her labor benefit the students of

the College.

Her enthusiasm for the College’s marine programs is a natural

extension of her love for the ocean, the reef, and photography.

In 2013 The College of the Florida Keys selected Annette as the

“Unsung Hero” for her ongoing dedication to their “Shark Expo”

and marine science scholarships. Later that year, Annette joined

the College’s Foundation Board where she has served as Vice

President and now, President.

Annette’s infectious enthusiasm inspired David to join in

support of CFK. Over the past twenty years of owning

businesses in the Florida Keys, David immediately saw how the

growth of CFK was a great asset to our community. It was only

natural for him to join Annette's commitment to support the

college. David is the principal owner of Hobbs & Curry Family

Limited Partnership, a real estate investment company which

owns hotels. In addition to CFK, he has generously supported

other causes as well. Both Annette and David love the ocean

and are avid scuba divers.

The Curry’s impact on the College’s largest annual fundraiser,

The Seaside Soiree, is unequivocal. For the past four years,

the Curry’s Islander Resort in Islamorada has become home to

Swords & Tails, a magical night of swashbuckling and splashy

fun to benefit CFK. Each year’s event has grown in size and

funds raised. In fact, the most recent Soiree generated $100,000

for CFK students and programs. Note: plans are underway for

the 2021 Swords & Tails — A Seaside Soiree. Watch for details

and don’t miss the fun.



National Award

Shoot for the

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Neptune Rising is designed to harness multiple forms of marine renewable energy to

generate enough clean power to run the entire operation AND light up the entire Florida

Keys and much of South Florida.

Moon

CFK

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land

among the stars,” so goes the quote from famed

motivational speaker Les Brown.

Eleven CFK students aimed straight for the proverbial

moon with their bold entry in the first-ever “Powering the Blue

Economy” national Marine Energy Collegiate Competition.

Their “Neptune Rising” proposal conceptualizes a massive

floating power production and aquaculture (fish farming)

operation that could generate $15 billion in revenue, light up

most of south Florida with clean power, and alleviate multiple

environmental problems along the way. The CFK team — the

only team from a state college — beat out top-name research

universities to win the “‘Moonshot’ award” for their design.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the contest was

created to encourage bright young minds to develop theoretical

technology to power the emerging “blue economy,” a term

that refers to the interplay between economic, social, and

ecological sustainability of the ocean.

Under the mentorship of CFK Chief Science & Research

Officer Dr. Patrick Rice and Hydrokinetic Energy Corp.

CEO Walter Schurtenberger, a cross-section of students —

specializing in renewable energy engineering, marine science,

aquaculture, and business — collaborated over the course of

eight months on the project. They set out to address multiple

ecological problems: climate change and ocean acidification

caused by fossil fuel production; damages to the marine

ecosystem caused by poorly-managed offshore aquaculture; and

the growing need for sustainable global

food production.

Their work began with numerous group meetings on the

Key West Campus, but the pandemic forced them to utilize

technology to unite online to complete the project. Despite the

challenges, the team fine-tuned operation details, engineered

equipment, estimated energy and aquaculture production output,

and calculated financial projections. Their ultimate Neptune

Rising proposal addresses each problem they set out to alleviate

and with an initial estimated startup cost of $900 million, the

operation would turn a profit of $15 billion after 30 years (the

expected lifespan of the man-made offshore floating facility).

students’ “Neptune Rising”

wins national Marine Energy Collegiate

Competition “Moonshot” award.

HYDROKINETIC ENERGY CONVERTERS

Research by Cody Moore (AS, Eng Tech- Ren Energy ’20)

and Jason Heath (AS, Eng Tech- Ren Energy)

Two converters, one submerged and the other above

the surface, are capable of a continuous output of 23 MW of electricity

Estimated annual revenue: $38.7M

AQUACULTURE

The marine aquaculture component in Neptune Rising

would allow the cultivation of multiple fish and organisms

in a single, integrated system where one species feeds

off the waste of the other, exactly like in nature.

CORAL AQUACULTURE

Research by Madeline Ticer (AS, Marine Env Tech)

Multiple species of coral raised would be donated

to local coral reef restoration and sold in the aquarium trade

Estimated annual revenue: $6.7M tax write-off

SEAWEED SECTOR

Research by Jesse Appelhans (AS, Marine Env Tech ’20)

Seaweed would provide food for the fish, system

filtering, and would be sold as a methane-reducing feed

for cattle farming

Estimated annual revenue: $46M

PEARL

OYSTER

CULTURE

Research by Sarah Dunlop

(AS, Marine Env Tech)

Oysters filter the system

while their meat would feed

the fish and their pearls

would be sold to jewelers

Estimated annual revenue:

$23.2M

BLUEFIN

TUNA

Research by

Jaqueline Howell (AS,

Marine Env Tech ‘20) and

Travis Knorr (AS, Marine Env

Tech ’18; BS, Marine

Res Mgt)

Bluefin Tuna, the most

valuable fish in the sea,

would be sold to seafood

markets

Estimated annual revenue:

$25.3M

OCEANIC THERMAL ENERGY

CONVERSION (OTEC)

Research by Travis Knorr (AS, Marine Env Tech ’18;

BS, Marine Res Mgt), Jason Heath (AS, Eng Tech- Ren Energy),

and Dr. Patrick Rice (CFK Chief Science & Research Officer)

Capable of over 100 MW of continuous electric energy output

Estimated annual revenue: $124.2M

The CFK student-created

Neptune Rising project

conceptualizes an offshore

marine aquaculture

(fish farming) and power

production operation.

The 600-meter by

125-meter floating facility

is designed to function

in the waters of the

Florida Current,

approximately 35

kilometers due south

of Key West, FL.

OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY AND SOLAR

Research by Heidi Sequeira (AS, Eng Tech-

Ren Energy ’20) and Brian DeSanti

(former CFK Research Assistant and Ph.D. student at Texas

Tech University)

Wind and solar will offset operational energy needs

Estimated annual revenue: $540K



The Arts

Poetic Reincarnation

Student Caeley Flowers Wins First

Elizabeth Bishop Poetry Prize.

On a quiet night sitting on the edge

of campus, overlooking the dark

water and its occasional ripple, you might

think it was a scene from Lagoon Landing

Residence Hall that Elizabeth Bishop

described when she wrote, “After dark,

the fireflies map the heavens in the marsh/

until the moon rises.” So it goes with many

of Bishop’s Key West-inspired poems.

So it is not surprising that many student

writers at The College of the Florida Keys

are writing poems inspired by these same

surroundings and their experiences in

their time as students here.

It seems fitting, then, to honor Bishop’s

legacy on our campus, where many

students pursue their interests in writing

inside and outside of the classroom, with

the Elizabeth Bishop Poetry Prize. The

prize was the idea of The Key West

Elizabeth Bishop Committee in order to

cultivate a deeper awareness of Bishop’s

place in Key West’s literary history and

to recognize the role that CFK students

have in that same literary history. The

awards for first place and runner-up were

made possible by the generous support

of Rosanne Potter and Bill McCarthy in

conjunction with the committee.

In 2020 the first annual contest for the

Elizabeth Bishop Poetry Prize was held. The

first place award is for a remarkable poem

written and submitted by a current CFK

student, and a second entry is awarded as

runner-up. The 2020 winner was Caeley

Valentine Flowers (AS, Marine Env Tech ’20;

BS, Marine Res Mgmt) for her poem,

“Reincarnation,” which observes landscapes

and uses repetition in order to investigate

the speaker’s sense of place. Flowers received

the prize of $100 and will read her poem at

the Elizabeth Bishop Committee’s annual

Elizabeth Bishop Birthday Celebration.

Flowers’s poem was chosen from many

applicants by this year’s guest judge, former

Key West Poet Laureate Flower Conroy.

Conroy is the author of Snake-Breaking

Medusa Disorder, winner of the National

Federation of State Poetry Societies 2018

Stevens Prize for Poetry, as well as “Facts

About Snakes & Hearts,” “The Awful

Suicidal Swans,” and “Escape to Nowhere.”

Conroy also chose Kaitlyn Ricci’s poem,

“Awareness,” as this year’s runner-up.

Reincarnation

By: Caeley Valentine Flowers

We’ve been brothers and sisters since fire

We’ve worn shoes and cut hair since morning

We’ve broken bones and smoked the forests since noon

We’ve eaten from the hands of our father


We’ve never talked about the light from the seven

We’ve never cracked the crystal mountains

We’ve never crossed the river

We’ve been awake all this time, and it’s getting colder


My eyes close now, but I’ll see you tomorrow

We’ve been to and from Earth so often,

This has to be heaven.

As creative writing faculty, director of

the CFK Poetics series, and the advisor

for the Creative Writing Club, Dr. Emily

Weekley worked with the Elizabeth Bishop

Committee to bring the contest to the

CFK campus. This contest only adds to the

enthusiasm for poetry on campus, where

verse is celebrated in many ways throughout

the year. For over a decade, an annual

open mic has been held on campus in

celebration of National Poetry Month, and

2019 marked the inaugural season of CFK

Poetics, a visiting writers series that brings

national voices in poetry to CFK and is open

to the community. Weekley is also a poet

and the author of Rest in Black Haw.

Bishop wrote many poems while she

lived here that were stimulated by Key

West imagery and that still resonate in

the landscape. Our CFK students continue

in the long tradition of Key West poets

and writers, which makes this new

recognition of the great deal of talent

roaming our collective campuses so

important. Bishop left her home on the

island decades ago, but the inspirations for

poetry are still alive at CFK.

The number of new Associate

in Science in Nursing

students in fall 2020, the

largest class on record

(average size is

30-40 students).

The number of

applicants for the

Fall 2020 semester, a

record high at CFK.

$21,179,669

The total amount of grant awards from 11

funding agencies during the 2019-20 fiscal

year. Awards include $16 million to construct

the new Upper Keys Center, over $3 million

to expand programs in the Middle and Upper

Keys, and over $1 million to improve students’

perception of STEM education and careers.

The number of recent

major renovation

projects on the Key

West Campus. A lab

in the B-building

was converted to

three classrooms

and two areas in the

Tennessee Williams

Fine Arts Center

were repurposed

to respectively

house the Institute

for Public Safety

and the Student

Activities Office.

THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF CARES

ACT FUNDS GIVEN TO CFK

FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE

EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF INCOME

DURING THE CORONAVIRUS

PANDEMIC AND NEED FINANCIAL

ASSISTANCE FOR LIVING

EXPENSES.

By The Numbers

THE YEAR THE COLLEGE

OPENED.

The approximate number of

fish bred in the CFK Aquaculture

Lab. A large majority of which

have been distributed to six

academic institutions in four

different states, while some find

homes as pets in the Keys.

THE NUMBER OF STUDENT

CLUBS, WHICH AIM TO

CULTIVATE LEADERSHIP,

SERVICE, AND CAREER

INTERESTS AS WELL AS FUN.

The square footage of the College’s

new Upper Keys Center, which is under

construction in Key Largo.



Career & Technical Education

Building Careers

Just two years ago, Donald Chavez

Moreno was piping frosting on cakes

as a baker at Publix. Today, he is piping

conduit (among other duties) as an

Electrician’s Apprentice for Check Electric,

LLC during the day and studying the

trade at The College of the Florida Keys in

the evenings.

While Donald enjoyed his work as a

baker, he felt unfulfilled professionally and

financially. He was long interested in figuring

out how things worked and had a knack for

hands-on projects. More importantly though,

he wanted a career that would financially

provide for the future of his growing family.

Donald, a Key West High School graduate,

and his wife, Adinay, had just welcomed a

baby boy, Adrien (now 1), joining their

older son, Aidan (now 4).

A friend of Donald’s, who is a Master

Electrician, suggested the electrical trade as

a smart career move and encouraged him

to enter CFK’s Electrical Apprenticeship

program. Classes would be free, and he would

earn a paycheck (with built-in raises) while

gaining real-world experience. Donald was

convinced by the “earn while you learn”

model and enrolled in CFK’s Construction

Technologies Apprenticeship program.

Donald was placed with Check Electric

in Key West, under the tutelage of veteran

electrician Ron Leonard. Leonard is also

the chair of the College’s Apprenticeship

Advisory Committee and an instructor.

“Donald sets an example for his

classmates as well as his colleagues who have

been in the business for years. No matter

what task he’s given, you can be sure it’s

done right, it’s done neatly, and it’s done

safely,” said Leonard.

In turn, Donald credits his classes for

helping him excel on the job. “Mr. Leonard

teaches the code book really well. I actually

understand what I am doing and why when

I go to work each day because of what we

do and discuss in class.”

Learning concepts in class while

developing practical skills on the job is just

as important to the businesses that sponsor

apprentices as it is to the apprentices

themselves. “In a field where inexperience

could cost a business its reputation or

worse, serious injury, it’s more attractive

for a company to hire and train a new

employee who is also studying concepts and

safety in a class setting,” said Leonard.

In addition to electricians, CFK

trains plumbers, carpenters, and HVAC

technicians. According to the U.S. Bureau

of Labor and Statistics, professionals in

these fields earn approximately $48,000

to $56,000 annually, on average, and job

growth is expected. Meanwhile, in the

Keys and across the nation, contractors

struggle to hire and retain enough workers

to keep up with demand.

The need to grow the local construction

workforce was exacerbated by Hurricane

Irma in 2017. Residences and businesses

throughout the Keys required repair and

re-building, but local contractors were

hard-pressed to find enough employees with

the necessary skills to get the job done.

Quick to respond to community needs,

the College collaborated with local

government and local contractors as well

as Florida’s Department of Education and

the U.S. Department of Labor to develop

training programs.

Initially, the College launched its

Construction Technologies Apprenticeships

in Key West in 2018. And with a $2,553,653

boost from the Florida Department of

Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) Rebuild

Florida Workforce Recovery Training

Program, CFK is extending the opportunities

to the middle and upper Keys in 2021.

“Employees are hard to come by in

our specific field,” said Mary Roth, Office

Manager of Rex Air, a local air conditioning

service company in Islamorada. “It seems like

more kids are going for traditional college

degrees and not seeing that they can make

good money and have solid careers in a trade.”

An early advocate for the College’s

Apprenticeship programs, Roth coordinated

the effort for Rex Air to sponsor several

HVAC apprentices who will start this

January. Notably, among the first class of

upper Keys apprentices will be her son,

Payton, a senior at Coral

Shores High School. Payton’s

summertime job at Rex Air

sparked his interest in HVAC.

He will begin taking classes in

the evenings in January and

add the on-the-job-training

component after he graduates

from high school.

Upon successful program

completion, an apprentice

earns the title of “journey

worker,” a four-level certification

by the National Center for

Construction Education and

Research (NCCER), as well

as a nationally-recognized

Completion of Apprenticeship

certificate by the State of Florida.

Unlike most graduates who

embark on a job search after

graduation, apprentices are

already years into a career,

have a robust resume, and have

earned raises by the time they

receive their diploma. They

are well poised to advance

to management positions or

continue training to start their

own practice.

For Donald, his apprenticeship

experience thus far has motivated

him to set his sights on ultimately

becoming a Master Electrician.

And he is looking forward to the

challenge with confidence, saying

“Once you are doing what you

love, you can get there.”

Electrical apprentice Donald Chavez Moreno (left)

checks an electrical panel with guidance from

Ron Leonard (right), CFK instructor and Check

Electric supervisor.



Connections

The Bonds that Unite Us

Alumni Unite!

School

From sports and social

events to community service and

leadership development activities, CFK pride

runs deep on campus and well beyond!

Spirit

1

3

4

2

E

xciting changes have occurred

over the past decades for the

College and we know the same is

true for our Alumni. The College’s

impact now spans the globe with our

alumni positioned throughout America

and the world. A high-priority goal

of the College is to unite all of our

Alumni and create a network where

graduates can stay in touch with the

College and each other. Fun events

are in the works, which include a

College Homecoming in Key West and

gatherings in other regions once it is

safe to come together again, as well as

a variety of online connections.

Help the College connect the dots by helping us to connect

with you. Please visit www.cfk.edu/alumni-update-form

to update your

current contact

information and to

share new life events,

accomplishments,

awards and career

news with us and

the CFK Community.

5

6

1. Sister and brother Assephia Libera

(AA ’19) and Mackendy Libera (AA ’17; BAS,

Sup & Mgt ’19) prepare for CFK’s Fall 2019

Commencement Ceremony. 2. Ceramics

students, Daniel Davila (AA), Kyle Nantkes

(AA), Lizabeth Hernandez (AA), show off

the stoneware pottery they created for the

Mud-Pi Ceramics Club fundraiser in February.

3. CFK nursing graduates Valeria Reyes (AS,

Nursing ’20) and Natalia Adorno (AS, Nursing

’20) ride through a socially distanced drive-by

celebration held by Lower Keys Medical Center

in May. 4. The graduates of CFK’s Basic Law

Enforcement Academy #73 masked up for their

graduation in September. 5. CFK graduates

Joanne Sanon (AS, Bus ’20), Naomi Fritz (BAS,

Sup & Mgt), and Amelia Rutledge (AS, Marine

Env Tech ’19) decorate their graduation caps in

December. 6. Davon Rorie (AS, Marine Env

Tech ’20) paints a Halloween cat at a “Paint and

Sip (grape juice)” student event in October.

7. Graduate Nolan Schott (AS, Marine Env Tech

’19; BAS, Sup & Mgt ‘19) receives his diploma

from President Dr. Jonathan Gueverra at the

Fall 2019 Commencement Ceremony.


7


CFK COVID-19 Heroes

On the Front

Lines

In its 55 -year history, The College of the Florida Keys

has cultivated legions of graduates who set forth from the

tiny island campus to make their mark on the world.

CFK alumni take more than just knowledge, skills, and sun-soaked memories along with their diploma. Living and

learning on an island chain — separated from “real world” conveniences like Target, and in the path of tropical storms

and hurricanes — CFK students develop a strong sense of community and the importance of lending a helping hand.

This spring, when the coronavirus pandemic usurped our daily lives, we saw those qualities radiate in the CFK family.

Alumni, students, and employees have provided — and are still providing — heroic services on the front lines in a variety

of professions. This segment salutes just a few of many who deserve gratitude, recognition, and emulation.

Tina Carr

(AS, Fin

Mgmt ’81)

Senior Vice

President and

Loan Servicing

Manager /

First State Bank

of the Florida

Keys

At the onset of

the pandemic,

as jobs were

being lost,

businesses closed,

and incomes

restricted, many

wondered how

they would put

food on the table, let alone pay their bills. CFK alumnus Tina

Carr, who serves as Senior Vice President and Loan Servicing

Manager for First State Bank of the Florida Keys (FSB), headed

up the team that immediately jumped into action creating two

loan deferral programs allowing hundreds of Monroe County

bank customers six months of breathing room, in a world in

which they were otherwise scared to take a breath.

Tina also was a part of FSB’s Paycheck Protection Program

(PPP) team that processed almost 1,000 loans (26% of all PPP

loans in the Keys). These loans provided over $50 million in

desperately needed funding to local businesses, and thus to

their employees, impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown.

A native of Key West, Tina joined FSB in 1975 as a

Switchboard Operator after graduating from Mary Immaculate

High School. She earned an Associate in Science in Financial

Management at CFK in 1981, helping her to climb the ladder

in her banking career. This year, Tina celebrated 45 years of

service to FSB as well as the Keys community.

Meghan Foster (BLE ’20)

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy

Since she was a girl, Meghan Foster knew she wanted to be a

police officer. She watched her father’s struggles take him in and

out of jail throughout her childhood. While such painful events

may traumatize some people, Meghan found motivation. She

decided that she wanted to help people and contribute to the

“right side of the law.” The Coral Shores High School graduate

set a plan to reach her goal before her 20th birthday.

Meghan joined the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office’s (MCSO)

Civilian Reserve Volunteer program in 2019 after participating

in a ride-along with a deputy she met while waitressing at Hobo’s

Café in Key Largo. Soon, she was spending her weekends on

ride-alongs that spanned day and night — soaking up the

real-world experience and learning from multiple mentors.

During the week, she formally trained in CFK’s rigorous Basic

Law Enforcement Academy — studying law, communications,

firearms, and vehicle operations.

When the pandemic hit, Meghan asked to help at the US1

checkpoint. The checkpoint was set up at Monroe County’s

northern border to limit the number of people entering the Keys so

as to protect residents from the initial spread. She joined MCSO

from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the grueling heat — all while balancing

her evening classes. She

racked up 180 hours

working the checkpoint,

which earned her

MCSO’s Reserve Deputy

of the Quarter award.

Meghan graduated

from CFK in October.

During the ceremony,

she was sworn in as a

new MCSO officer —

officially joining the force

and embarking on her

dream career.

Amy Dees

(ASN ’20,

BSN)

Respiratory

Therapist /

Lower Keys

Medical Center

Since the first

ventilator went

up at Lower Keys

Medical Center (LKMC), Amy Dees has led respiratory care in

the ICU as coronavirus infiltrated the Keys. Although still in the

final semester of her nursing degree, the Navy wife and mother

was well-qualified for the challenge. With over 21 years of critical

care experience, she has cared for patients during SARS, Swine

Flu, Avian Flu, and other outbreaks in various locations.

Amy considered putting school on hold. She was working

days and nights at the hospital to keep a watchful eye on

her patients. While an academic break would have been

understandable during such trying times, her fellow nursing

students and instructors rallied behind her. They helped her

study and made sure she was eating. They sent her texts of

encouragement as well as condolence.

Remarkably, Amy persevered and finished her associate

degree in Nursing in May and became a Registered Nurse in June.

She continues to fight COVID-19 at LKMC. She also works for

the state of Florida in a COVID-19 crisis relief program that

deploys Respiratory Therapists and Nurses to struggling hospitals.

Since March, Amy has spent weeks at hospitals in Miami and

Boynton Beach caring around the clock for critical patients on

ventilators and life support.

The horrors of the pandemic have only driven Amy to do

more and give more. In August, she began her bachelor’s degree

in Nursing at CFK. Somehow, she balances schoolwork with

two jobs and caring for her two children while her husband is

stationed overseas. The epitome of grace under fire, Amy is a

hero and role model.

Carmen Garcia

(AA ’11)

Regional Disaster

Workforce Engagement

Manager / American

Red Cross Texas

Gulf Coast Region

Fire, floods, and hurricanes

wreak havoc throughout the world at increasing rates —

leaving devastation and human suffering in their wake.

Valiantly, the American Red Cross deploys droves of volunteers

to render aid and ease suffering in disaster zones year-round.

CFK alumnus Carmen Garcia leads a team of such heroes in

Houston, Texas.

When the pandemic arrived, problems compounded for

thousands of people in Carmen’s region, who were displaced,

low-income, and still recovering from Hurricane Imelda, which

made landfall in 2019. Committed to continuing their invaluable

mission, she had to find ways to keep her volunteers safe as well

as the families they were serving. Half of their operations moved

to virtual and new safety protocols were established, requiring

Carmen to quickly train dozens of volunteers in the new ways of

delivering “hands-on” services in a new era of social distancing.

As Hurricane season ushered in storm after storm — Hannah,

Laura, and Beta — Carmen and her team were ready to help.

They continued to provide shelter (now in individual hotel

rooms instead of mass shelters) and continued to distribute

food and emergency supplies (now packaged individually and

delivered without contact) to the hard-hit communities.

Carmen is no stranger to humanitarianism. Before joining the

Red Cross, she built upon her CFK degree (which she earned

while still in high school) with bachelor’s and master’s degrees

in sustainability. After college, she returned home to work

with the S.O.S. Foundation, which provides food to the most

vulnerable people in the Keys. Her passion for helping people

and solving food security crises eventually led her to the Red

Cross, where she plans to contribute for years to come.



Community Ties

A Family Tradition

From the left: Antonio Cardenas,

Emelia Gutierrez Fernandez, Irene

Fernandez-Cardenas, Isa Cardenas,

Bill Cardenas, and Emi Cardenas.

Opportunities. Opportunities to learn.

Opportunities to grow. Opportunities to achieve.

Opportunities to give back.

F

or the Fernandez-Cardenas family,

The College of the Florida Keys has

opened the doors of opportunity for two

generations, established a family tradition,

and set pathways to home-grown success.

Between them, the proud Conch family

has earned seven CFK diplomas

and counting.

The matriarch of the family, Irene, an

Operating Room Nurse at Lower Keys

Medical Center (LKMC), earned an

Associate in Arts and an Associate in

Science in Nursing from CFK in 1985. She

went on to Florida International University

to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing before

returning to Key West. Together with

husband Bill, a retired Army Ranger and

Paratrooper who now leads Section 8 for

the Key West Housing Authority, raised

three children: Emi, Antonio, and Isa.

“For us, this College is very important

to our family story,” said Irene. “My mom

came from Cuba in 1958. She does not

know how to read or write and never had

the opportunity to go to college.” Despite

her lack of formal schooling, Irene’s

mother and “Abuela” of the family, Emelia

Gutierrez Fernandez, was passionate about

her daughter’s education. “She encouraged

me to attend CFK and now we have done

the same with our children.”

Oldest daughter, Emi, gives credit to

her mother and grandmother for instilling

the importance of higher education.

“I started taking college classes while I

was a junior at Key West High School

through the dual enrollment program.

I really liked the teachers and decided

that I wanted to keep going and earn my

degree at CFK.”

Emi’s younger siblings, Antonio and Isa,

joined her at CFK a year later. They too got

their first taste of college through the dual

enrollment program, which provides

a tuition-free jump start to college for

Monroe County high school students.

Together, the three Cardenas students were

a force to be reckoned with on campus.

Highly engaged and high-achieving, the

three supported and motivated each other

with just the right amount of sibling rivalry.

All were Student Ambassadors, Student

Government Association officers, and

earners of multiple scholarships.

Emi earned an Associate in Arts followed

by an Emergency Medical Technician

diploma in 2017. That was not the end for

Emi, though. Following in her mother’s

footsteps, Emi then earned an associate

degree in nursing at CFK this spring and

embarked on a nursing career at LKMC

shortly thereafter. In August, she began

CFK’s bachelor’s in Nursing and continues

to be involved on campus.

Antonio earned his Associate in Arts

in 2018 and Isa earned hers in 2019. Both

transferred to Florida Gulf Coast University,

where they are studying finance. They still

drop by campus for a round of “hellos”

whenever they are visiting home and intend

to return to the island permanently someday.

“We wanted to have our kids to have

a sense of community. They could get

their education here, work here, and build

their lives here,” said their father Bill

Cardenas. “Having them at home while

they took classes gave them time to mature

and helped us immensely to afford their

education. They will complete nearly

debt-free and prepared to give back to the

community.”

“It’s a perfect little place to grow our little

Conchs,” adds Irene. “CFK is family to us.”



5901 College Road, Key West, FL 33040

Island Living, Island Learning.

KEY WEST

TAVERNIER

Coming Fall 2021

KEY LARGO

MARATHON

CFK Keys Currents-2020-21

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