CFK opens annual capstone showcase to public Wednesday

Nineteen graduating students put their capstone projects on display Wednesday at the College of the Florida Keys in Key West, turning the annual showcase into a public look at the next wave of local talent headed into Monroe County’s workforce.

The free event ran from 3 to 6 p.m. at the CFK Library / Learning Resource Center on the Key West campus and was open to the public. CFK said the showcase was designed for community members, employers, current and prospective students, and alumni, making it as much a workforce event as an academic one.

The projects were developed through capstone courses in CFK’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management and Bachelor of Science in Marine Resource Management programs. That mix points to the college’s strongest practical pipelines for the Keys, where employers regularly need workers who can move between business operations, marine stewardship, tourism, and public service.

This year’s projects spanned hospitality, business, marine science, Florida fish and wildlife, fundraising, real estate, experiential learning, and government. For Monroe County, that range matters because it mirrors the local economy: hotels, marine-based businesses, conservation work, and public-sector jobs all depend on graduates who can think critically, present professionally, and solve problems on the ground.

CFK’s faculty said the most meaningful part of the capstone experience is often the relationship between students and instructors. Kelly Conklin-Penwell and Matthew Semcheski described students as bringing inspirational backstories to their work, underscoring that the showcase is about more than a final requirement. It is also a test of confidence, communication, and readiness for employers who want graduates who can walk in and contribute.

CFK’s faculty directory says Conklin-Penwell holds degrees in marketing, business, education, and forensic accounting and completed doctoral studies in 2023. The directory says Semcheski joined CFK full time in August 2020 after serving as an adjunct since 2016, with training in biology and marine science that fits the college’s emphasis on coastal and environmental programs.

The showcase arrived during a busy stretch on the Key West campus. CFK also scheduled its One Stop Summer Shop for Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering new students a waived $30 application fee and a $100 Kickstarter Scholarship. Spring commencement is set for Friday, May 8, at the Tennessee Williams Theatre.

CFK describes itself as the southernmost school in the continental United States and says it is nestled within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. In a county where the economy depends on both the water and the businesses built around it, the capstone showcase offered a clear signal of where the next generation of graduates may fit.