The Borikén awards symbolize not only the achievements of the awardees but also their selfless, significant, and consistent contributions to the community. The name Borikén, meaning Land of the Brave People, comes from the original name given to Puerto Rico.
“Our institution is honored to be recognized by the Puerto Rican community,” said Martin Levert, FTC’s Kissimmee campus director. “Our student body is 57 percent Hispanic, and a large portion of that statistic is Puerto Rican. After Hurricane María ravaged the Caribbean island, many Puerto Ricans made Central Florida their new home and decided to further their career with FTC. As a result, we created Spanish-only courses to help them develop skill in their native language and prepare them to join the labor force.”
The college introduced its first Spanish-language program in 2017. The purpose is to provide the means for Hispanic Floridians to make an effective transition into the Sunshine State’s workforce as they work on improving their English. Also in 2017, Florida Technical College granted 25 scholarships to Hurricane María victims who were displaced from Puerto Rico to Florida. The Hurricane María Relief Scholarshipoffered those who had newly arrived the opportunity to pursue higher education at a lower cost, and enhance or develop job skills that match the demands of the local marketplace.
FTC’s Kissimmee campus offers six diploma programs in Spanish, including Electrical, HVAC, Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastelería, Barbering, and Cosmetology.
To learn more about Desfile Puertorriqueño de la Florida, visit their website.
Learn more about our programs offered in Spanish.
About FTC: Founded in 1982 to provide private, post-secondary education in specialized fields, Florida Technical College is an academic unit of National University College (NUC), which is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267) 284-5000. The MSCHE is a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. FTC offers associate’s and bachelor’s degrees and diploma programs in a range of professions, including healthcare, construction trades, computer networking, criminal justice, culinary arts, and cosmetology. FTC campuses are located in Orlando, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Tampa, DeLand, Pembroke Pines, and Cutler Bay. Program availability varies by campus.
