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News Type: Press Release

Indian River State College’s Project STAGE Program Leads State in Student Employment Success
Program achieves 70% employment rate for students with unique abilities
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (Aug. 5, 2025) – Indian River State College’s Project STAGE program continues to prepare students with unique abilities for meaningful careers, as highlighted by a recent Employer Recognition Award presented to local business owner J. Evans of three UPS Stores in Vero Beach and Sebastian.
The UPS Store owner, J. Evans (left), displays his award for supporting students with unique abilities alongside his Project STAGE employee.
Evans was recognized following his nomination by Indian River State College’s Project STAGE team for hiring a program student as a kiosk assistant in January 2025, demonstrating the employer partnerships that support the program’s success.
The College’s Project STAGE program leads in Florida with enrollment of up to 36 students for the 2025-26 academic year, the highest among 35 similar college, university, and technical school programs. The program serves students from Martin, Indian River, and St. Lucie counties across Indian River State College’s Massey and Mueller campuses and is sponsored by the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities.
“Our success is built on intentional relationship-building with local employers who share our vision of inclusive workplaces,” said JoAnn Pagano, Project STAGE Program Manager. “When employers open their hearts and minds to nurture the growth and development of our students, everyone benefits.”
The program combines classroom learning through the Specialized Career Training Course with paid and unpaid internships. Students develop job skills, create professional portfolios, and practice interviews while working closely with local employers.
Currently, 70% of Project STAGE students achieve gainful employment. The program provides ongoing support for up to five years post-graduation to ensure long-term employment stability for its students. Staff actively network with employers and provide onsite coaching during interviews and onboarding.
Indian River State College’s Project STAGE program demonstrates how strategic partnerships create meaningful opportunities for students with unique abilities while meeting community workforce needs.
To learn more about Project STAGE, visit irsc.edu/programs/special-programs/project-stage/,call (772) 462-4257, or email Kirsten Jerome at kjerome@irsc.edu.
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About Project STAGE: Project STAGE is a comprehensive program designed to prepare students with unique abilities for successful careers through specialized training, internship opportunities, and ongoing support services. The program serves students from Martin, Indian River, and St. Lucie counties and maintains partnerships with local employers throughout the region.
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 23,000 students annually through traditional and online courses. The College provides 175 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, technical certificates, and applied technology diplomas. To learn more, visit irsc.edu.
Media Contacts:
Kathleen Walter – Public Information Officer/Public Relations Manager
Rodrigo Berlanga Rodriguez – Public Relations Coordinator
PIO@irsc.edu
August 5, 2025
Indian River State College Announces Appointment of New Chief of Campus Safety
FORT PIERCE, FLA (August 4, 2025) – Indian River State College President Timothy E. Moore today announced that Chief Donald Bergmann has officially begun his role as the new Chief of Campus Safety.
Chief Donald Bergmann, Indian River State College Campus Safety & Security
Chief Donald Bergmann brings more than 40 years of combined law enforcement and campus security experience to Indian River State College.
From 1985 to 2009, Chief Bergmann served with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (Rochester, NY) at various levels of responsibility, culminating as Zone Commander / Police Bureau Captain of the 1,400-member department. Since 2009, Chief Bergmann has served as the Chief of University Police at the University of Scranton (Pennsylvania) where he led a 34-member team that he hired and trained with an annual operating budget in excess of $2 million.
Notably, Chief Bergmann led his force to become a fully accredited university law enforcement agency and worked in an integrated manner in support of the University’s Student Life, Title IX, as well as all federal and state compliance measures.
“We are excited to have Chief Bergmann officially join the Indian River State College family,” said Dr. Timothy E. Moore, Indian River State College President. “His extensive experience in both traditional law enforcement and campus security, combined with his proven track record of building and leading accredited teams, makes him the ideal candidate to enhance our campus safety operations. His commitment to collaborative approaches and comprehensive compliance will serve our students, faculty, and staff exceptionally well.”
President Moore also took the opportunity to recognize the college’s current Campus Security team for their exemplary service. “I want to take a moment to recognize our skilled Campus Security team as they have served with honor and distinction during the search for a new Chief. I specifically want to recognize the outstanding leadership and ‘Can Do’ spirit of our interim Chief of Campus Safety – Major Victor Barber, who has led with distinction throughout his assignment. Thank you, Chief Barber!”
Chief Donald Bergmann officially began his new role at Indian River State College on August 4, 2025.
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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 23,000 students annually through traditional and online courses. The River provides 175 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, technical certificates, and applied technology diplomas.
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August 4, 2025
Indian River State College Co-hosted Inaugural Trauma-Informed Care Summit (7/31/2025)
Educational symposium brought together caring professionals to strengthen healing-centered approaches
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (July 31, 2025) – Indian River State College and Peace for St. Lucie co-hosted the inaugural 2025 Trauma-Informed Care Summit, which raised awareness about trauma-informed care practices and provided valuable educational opportunities for healthcare professionals, mental health practitioners, educators, and community members interested in understanding trauma-sensitive approaches.
Healthcare professionals and community advocates filled the Kight Center auditorium as expert speakers shared trauma-informed care strategies.
The event brought together compassionate professionals at the Kight Center for Emerging Technologies, located at the Fort Pierce campus of Indian River State College. The symposium was open to the public and welcomed anyone interested in learning about trauma-informed care practices and their implementation in professional settings.
“We were moved by the enthusiasm and dedication of everyone who attended,” said Mariuxi Mejia, Director of Student Wellness at Indian River State College. “Seeing healthcare professionals, educators, and community members come together with such genuine commitment to trauma-informed care was incredibly inspiring.”
The summit featured:
- Keynote presentation from leading trauma-informed care experts
- Panel discussions with experienced practitioners
- Continuing Education Units (CEUs) that were available for nurses, mental health professionals, and other qualifying professionals
- Networking opportunities with fellow professionals and community advocates
The inaugural summit reached full capacity, reflecting the strong community interest in trauma-informed care approaches.
The collaboration between Indian River State College and Peace for St. Lucie reflected both organizations’ genuine commitment to nurturing trauma-informed practices throughout the community and supporting the professional growth of those dedicated to this essential area of care.
For more information, visit irsc.edu or call 772-489-7826.
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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 23,000 students annually through traditional and online courses. The River provides 175 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, technical certificates, and applied technology diplomas.
About Peace for St. Lucie: Peace for St. Lucie is dedicated to building peace, fostering growth, and supporting the St. Lucie community through various educational and wellness programs.
Media Contacts:
Kathleen Walter – Public Relations Manager/Public Information Officer
Rodrigo Berlanga Rodriguez – Public Relations Coordinator
PIO@irsc.edu
July 31, 2025
The River Packed Clover Park Stands for Indian River State College Night (7/24/25)
Second Annual Community Event Celebrated River Pride at St. Lucie Mets Game
The Indian River State College Alumni Association celebrated another successful Indian River State College Night at Clover Park on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, as alumni, faculty, staff, and community friends packed the stands in Port St. Lucie for the St. Lucie Mets home game. The event was provided free of charge to all attendees, courtesy of the Indian River State College Alumni Association, with over 1,200 having registered for the event.
Indian River State College’s women’s volleyball team joined the festivities at Clover Park.
The second annual event exceeded expectations, demonstrating the strong bond between the College and its community. Attendees enjoyed an evening of baseball, River pride, and community connection while cheering on the St. Lucie Mets in their victory against the Daytona Tortugas.
“The energy in the stands was absolutely electric,” said Annabel Robertson, Indian River State College Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Indian River State College Foundation Executive Director. “Seeing generations of River families come together – from current students to alumni who graduated decades ago – really shows the lasting impact Indian River State College has on our community. This event has become a true celebration of our River family.”
The evening featured exclusive giveaways, special concession pricing with $2 hot dogs, popcorn, soda, and beer, and pre-game activities that brought together the Indian River State College community.
Families with children enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere, while alumni reconnected with former classmates and professors.
“Events like this remind us why we do what we do,” said Dr. Timothy E. Moore, Indian River State College President. “When you see current students sitting next to alumni from 10, 20, or even 30 years ago, all wearing their River pride, you realize that Indian River State College is more than just a college. This is a community that spans generations and continues to grow. The turnout showed that our alumni and community truly value their college.”
For more information about Indian River State College, visit www.irsc.edu. For information about the Indian River State College Foundation, visit https://giving.irsc.edu/.
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About the Indian River State College Foundation: The Indian River State College Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports Indian River State College’s mission by building partnerships, securing resources, and strengthening community awareness to help students achieve their dreams.
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 23,000 students annually through traditional and online courses. The River provides more than 130 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, technical certificates, and applied technology diplomas. For more information, visit irsc.edu.
Media Contacts:
Kathleen Walter – Public Relations Manager/Public Information Officer
Rodrigo Berlanga Rodriguez – Public Relations Coordinator
PIO@irsc.edu
July 24, 2025