Abacoa & Alton Neighbors - April 2026

A P R I L 2 0 2 6 | A B A C O A & A LT O N N E I G H B O R S 7 Committed to ensuring the best medical practice, the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, HCA Healthcare, Palm Beach Health Network Physician Group, Quantum Foundation, and Lost Tree Foundation have helped fund Palm Beach State’s latest advancements in medical simulation, contributing to the College’s impressive 95% job placement rate for nursing graduates. Moreover, with statewide projections expecting a shortage of 60,000 nurses by 2035, medical training through simulation has never been more essential to meet an urgent demand. WORKFORCE Palm Beach State College’s workforce training programs are making waves across the state of Florida. Recently, senior officials of the U.S. Department of Education visited the College’s Public Safety Training Center and saw firsthand the significance of these programs in action. U.S. Department of Education Undersecretary Nicholas Kent, U.S. Deputy Undersecretary James Bergeron, and Florida Department of Education Senior Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell visited Palm Beach State during a tour of Florida colleges, witnessing the tremendous impact on our community’s workforce and well-being. For every 100 first responders working in Palm Beach County, 85 complete their training with Palm Beach State. Hopefully, you’ll never require these services. But, if you do, know that the care you receive comes from the College’s highly trained graduates as well as the generosity of those who support its Public Safety program. Overall, Palm Beach State College is experiencing a modern-day renaissance, boasting championship teams, enhancing individual well-being, and developing the local workforce in truly exceptional ways. Be assured that none of these advancements and victories happen without you, the supporters, partners, and friends of Florida’s first public college, now with an annual $1.4 billion economic impact on Palm Beach County. Since 1933, Palm Beach State College has been the heart of and champion for the community. It’s a winning combination that invites you to be a champion for good. PBSC President Ava L. Parker, JD, with nursing students at opening of Medical Simulation Suite