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News Topic: Public Service Academy

  • From Training to the Front Lines: Indian River State College Graduates Two New Classes of Public Safety Professionals

    From Training to the Front Lines: Indian River State College Graduates Two New Classes of Public Safety Professionals

    Group portrait of Indian River State College law enforcement academy cadets in blue uniforms, arranged in three rows outside a columned campus building with palm trees. U.S. and Florida flags stand behind; an instructor in yellow is at left and a staff member in a tie is at right.
    Corrections Academy Class #178 graduates celebrate their completion of the rigorous 420-hour Basic Recruit Training Program, marking the beginning of their careers as correctional officers in state and federal facilities. 

    FORT PIERCE, Fla., (Sept. 19, 2025) – Indian River State College’s Criminal Justice Institute successfully graduated two distinguished classes from its Public Service Academy: Law Enforcement Academy Class #181 and Corrections Academy Class #178. These ceremonies celebrated the completion of intensive training programs that prepared graduates for critical roles in Florida’s criminal justice system.

    Corrections Academy Class #178 Graduation


    Corrections Academy Class #178 celebrated its achievement on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, at Indian River State College. The ceremony recognized graduates who completed one of the most comprehensive corrections training programs in the state. 

    Each graduate successfully completed the Basic Recruit Training Program (Corrections), which included over 420 hours of classroom instruction and hands-on practical exercises. This comprehensive training provided them with the skills needed to effectively work with inmates while exercising professionalism. Their lessons on how to effectively communicate, interact with, and respond to a range of populations will help ensure their safety and the safety of others. 

    The curriculum included inmate supervision and custody procedures, use of force protocols and legal standards, defensive tactics and officer safety, communication and de-escalation skills, emergency response procedures, report writing and documentation, ethics and professional standards, legal standards governing corrections, facility security protocols, and contraband detection and searches. 

    “I am incredibly proud of the individuals who graduated, as they demonstrated the discipline, responsibility, and professionalism required to serve in one of the most demanding roles in the criminal justice system,” noted Indian River State College President Timothy E. Moore. “This represented a critical step in building a strong and capable corrections workforce that will serve our communities with dedication and integrity.” 

    Corrections Academy Class #178 graduates are Elizabeth Alvarez, Quinn Bostic, Frankz Davila, Travis Garrison, Alicia Hilario, Indiony Jean-Baptiste, Vanessa Johnson, Hannah Newsome, Marc Rediker, Alani Rodriguez, Sherlyn Salgado, Monique Samuels, Vincent Saputo, Isabella Saucedo, Matthew Sellers, Jacob Smith, Joseline Uribe-Godinez, and Dominic Witherow. 

    Corrections Academy graduates are now qualified for positions including correctional officers in state and federal facilities, juvenile detention officers, probation and parole officers (with additional certification), court security officers, transportation officers, private corrections facility staff, and rehabilitation program coordinators. 

    Law Enforcement Academy Class #181 Graduation 

    Law Enforcement Academy Class #181 graduated Sept. 3, 2025. The ceremony was attended by friends, family, community leaders, and media who gathered to honor these new guardians of public safety. 

    Group portrait of Indian River State College law enforcement academy cadets in blue uniforms, posed in three rows outside a columned campus building. The U.S. flag is centered, with campus and Florida/academy flags flanking the group; a staff member in a dress shirt and tie stands at far right.
    Law Enforcement Academy Class #181 graduates celebrate their completion of the rigorous 770-hour Florida Basic Recruit Training Program, marking the beginning of their careers in law enforcement and public service. 

    Graduates successfully completed a demanding 770-hour Florida Basic Recruit Training Program that encompassed comprehensive instruction across multiple critical areas: criminal law and legal procedures, firearms training and marksmanship, defensive tactics and officer safety, emergency vehicle operations, de-escalation techniques and conflict resolution, community policing strategies, mental health awareness and crisis intervention, cultural competency training, report writing and documentation, and physical fitness and conditioning. 

    LE 181 Graduates are Jax Boris, Matthew Chandool, Cheyenne Dechert, Daniel Deluck, Zachary Dominguez, Julien Eason, Kenya Fils-Aime, Rosemary Gil, Trevor Goodrich, Evan Goforth, Joshua Hengstler, Evan Kicker, Austin Miller, Christyan Murray, Rodolfo Nazco, Aaliyah Rodriguez, Bryan Romero Gonzales, Brendan Sposato, and Leonardo Vargas. 

    Graduates are now qualified to pursue careers as municipal police officers, county sheriff’s deputies, state law enforcement officers, federal law enforcement agents (with additional training), campus security officers, private security supervisors, and loss prevention specialists. 

    “This program was both mentally and physically demanding, and our graduates showed extraordinary commitment, discipline, and resilience throughout this process,” said Indian River State College Public Service Academy Dean Lou Caprino. “We were proud to welcome them as guardians of public safety who are prepared to serve with integrity and professionalism.” 

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  • Doors Open, Futures Begin: Indian River State College Announces Upcoming Open House Events

    Doors Open, Futures Begin: Indian River State College Announces Upcoming Open House Events

    Prospective students can explore programs, meet faculty, and discover career pathways at open houses throughout the academic year

    FORT PIERCE, Fla. (Sept. 12, 2025) — Indian River State College (“The River”) is welcoming prospective students across the Treasure Coast to a series of open house events during the 2025–26 academic year. From nursing to business, public service to science and education, these events showcase the wide horizon of opportunities available at The River year-round.

    Upcoming open house events:

    • Sep. 16, 2025 – Nursing (Pruitt Campus)
    • Oct. 2, 2025 – Business and Workforce
    • Oct. 7, 2025 – Public Service
    • Oct. 8, 2025 – Math, Science, and Education
    • Feb. 9, 2026 – Health Science
    • March 2026 – Math, Science, and Education
    • April 9, 2026 – Nursing
    • April 14, 2026 – Public Service
    • April 16, 2026 – Business and Workforce

    Prospective students who attend will gain a firsthand look at how Indian River State College programs connect directly to in-demand careers across the Treasure Coast. They will leave with a stronger sense of the skills they will learn, the professions those skills lead to, and how The River provides an affordable and effective route to their goals.

    Those who attend an open house see how Indian River State College students benefit from hands-on experience in state-of-the-art labs, direct connections to industry leaders, and opportunities to apply classroom learning in real-world settings. These experiences ensure graduates leave with the confidence, skills, and professional network needed to succeed immediately in their chosen careers.

    For details on open house events, visit https://connect.irsc.edu/?category=open-house. For more information about how Indian River State College can help students take the next step toward their future, visit www.irsc.edu for locations and program offerings.

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  • Remembering 9/11: Indian River State College Honors Fallen Heroes with Tower Run

    Remembering 9/11: Indian River State College Honors Fallen Heroes with Tower Run

    Sept. 11, 2025 | In solemn remembrance of the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, more than 100 participants at Indian River State College honored fallen heroes through the college’s annual 9/11 Tower Run at the Treasure Coast Public Safety Training Complex.

    A photo of participants climbing the College's seven-story fire tower during the 2025 9/11 Tower Run, honoring the firefighters of Sept. 11, 2001
    Participants climb the seven-story fire tower during the 2025 9/11 Tower Run, honoring the firefighters of Sept. 11, 2001

    To symbolize the firefighters’ climb of the World Trade Center towers, participants climbed the Indian River State College Fire Academy fire tower, a seven-story building, 16 times — the equivalent of one World Trade Center tower ascent. This year, 106 individuals climbed the fire tower, including Criminal Justice faculty, alumni, students, the full Criminal Justice and Fire Academy tracks, two Marine recruiters, and representatives from the Massey Campus.

    Several students pushed beyond the challenge to reflect the endurance of first responders. Six Criminal Justice students completed 32 fire tower runs, representing a firefighter’s climb up and down one World Trade Center tower — while two others ran 36 rounds to help teammates finish their journeys.

    About Indian River State College: Indian River State College, serving Florida’s Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties, offers high-quality, affordable education to over 24,000 students annually through traditional and online courses. The College provides more than 130 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and technical certificates. To learn more, visit irsc.edu.