College of the Florida Keys Honors Graduates, Strengthens Local Healthcare Workforce

The College of the Florida Keys graduated its fall class of 2025 at a ceremony December 12 in the Tennessee Williams Theatre on the Key West Campus. The event combined celebration with recognition of the college's six decades of service to the Lower Keys community, as alumni and local leaders received honorary degrees and students were acknowledged for academic and civic achievements.

Meghan Reigadas, who earned an Associate in Science in Criminal Justice Technology, delivered the Student Address, and Jenny Mae Murphy, who received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management, performed the national anthem. In honor of the college's sixtieth anniversary, keynote remarks were given by Bill Pearson, a 1967 alumnus and the institution's first student government president. The college awarded honorary bachelor degrees to Bill Pearson and to Bill Wickers Jr in recognition of Wickers' contributions to the maritime industry.

The ceremony also focused on healthcare workforce development. CFK Nurse Administrator Michelle Fortney pinned nursing graduates and led the Florence Nightingale Nursing Oath. Upon passing the NCLEX RN exam, each pinned graduate will become a registered nurse, a step with near term implications for staffing at hospitals, clinics, long term care facilities and community health programs across Monroe County.

Monroe County faces unique healthcare delivery challenges due to its island geography and tourism driven demand for services. Graduates who remain in the region can help reduce gaps in care, shorten wait times for urgent services, and support public health efforts during seasonal population surges and emergencies. The presence of local nursing education pathways also matters for equity, because training leaders and clinicians close to home increases the chances that professionals will serve underserved neighborhoods and vulnerable populations.

The college said its spring semester begins January 9. CFK will be closed for the holidays from December 18 through January 4. For residents considering further education or seeking to engage with the new graduates, the ceremony signaled both celebration and a practical step toward strengthening Monroe County health and public safety infrastructure.