Classes begin Monday at new college campus

Home

High School Football

Sports

Other Sun Publications

FREE DELIVERY!
Get Free Delivery! Request your Osceola News Gazette Today.

Login Form

2013 Osceola Health

2013 Sexual Predator Sexual Offender List sexualpredatorcover13

Windows on the Classroom March 2013

School Calendar
2012-2013

View our other Special Sections

Classes begin Monday at new college campus

County News

Friday, 08 April 2011 15:04

By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer
Florida Technical College extended its brand and reach by opening its newest campus March 31 at Osceola Square Mall in Kissimmee.
Taking over the former space of the now-defunct discount clothing store Steve and Barry’s, the 62,000-square-foot campus boasts kitchens with windows for shoppers to watch culinary masterpieces being created, a restaurant for the food to be sold in and a full-service salon for students to practice on each other and, eventually, the public.
“This is really great that a significant investment is being made in our community,” Kissimmee Mayor Jim Swan said at the grand opening, adding that the college, located at 3831 W. Vine St., will offer residents a chance to enhance their skills and Osceola County’s economy.
David Ruggieri, president and CEO of FTC, said he sees Kissimmee and the college as a perfect fit because of the city’s high Puerto Rican population; FTC’s sister colleges are based on the island.
“We’re a Puerto Rican company,” he said. “Kissimmee works for us because we will blend in.”
Classes officially begin Monday and Ruggieri estimates the campus can accommodate 1,000 students studying to become heating and cooling technicians, sous chefs or medical technicians.
Marcelo Sanz, of Kissimmee, is considering becoming one of those medical students. He currently works in the pharmacy at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando but dreams of assisting surgeons in the operating room.
“I need to learn something else,” he said as he toured the campus. “Everything is brand new. I like that.”
The classes begin every four weeks and every program is interactive, tour guide Rosaura Diaz said.
“We’re so hands-on,” she said. “They throw every possible situation at you.”
Students have their own parking lot and entrance at the rear of the mall and the campus is covered by its own security system in addition to the mall’s coverage. Students also have access to free childcare while in class, complementary tutoring, a student lounge and a library with computers. Tuition varies by major but books, lab fees and additional materials such as medical scrubs are included.
Kissimmee is the fourth location for Florida Technical College; Ruggieri said the college plans to open six more campuses across the state, including the Ft. Lauderdale campus this summer, within the next five years.
For more information on Florida Technical College, visit FTCCollege.edu.