Education Briefs | May 21
Blasetti receives degree from University of Alaska Fairbanks
FAIRBANKS, Alaska — The University of Alaska Fairbanks honored the Class of 2026 during its 104th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 2, at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.
Robert Blasetti, of Cape Coral, received a bachelor of security and emergency management, homeland security and emergency management degree, cum laude.
The university’s first commencement took place in 1923, when the sole graduate, John Sexton Shanly, received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture.
This year, UAF conferred approximately 1,263 degrees on 1,102 students. The commencement ceremony included graduates from summer and fall 2025 and spring 2026.
For more about the University of Alaska Fairbanks, visit uaf.edu/uaf.
Three students from Cape Coral receive degrees at Flagler College
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Flagler College celebrated the academic and personal accomplishments of more than 600 graduates in the Class of 2026 with a Commencement Ceremony at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Saturday, May 9.
Logan Burch, from Cape Coral, was honored with a bachelor of science degree in biology and coastal environmental science as well as the Natural Sciences Departmental Award for Academic Achievement.
Alexis Gifford, from Cape Coral, was also honored with a bachelor of arts in criminology.
Anna Richardson, from Cape Coral, was honored with a bachelor of arts in graphic design.
Flagler College is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution located in the heart of St. Augustine. Home to approximately 2,200 students, Flagler offers 44 majors, 47 minors and two master’s degree programs, For more about Flagler College, visit flagler.edu.
Suncoast Credit Union Foundation awards $24,750 grant to Southwest Florida Council, Learning for Life to benefit local students
Learning for Life, a premier provider of character and career education in Southwest Florida, this week announced it has received a $24,750 grant from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. This investment will be instrumental in expanding the reach of the program’s innovative, research-based curriculum to more than 13,000 students across the region, including many in high-need Title I schools.
The funding arrives at a critical time as educators increasingly look for ways to bridge the gap between academic mastery and the social-emotional skills required for lifelong success. The grant will support the delivery of age-appropriate lesson plans designed to instill nine core character attributes: Respect, Responsibility, Honesty/Trust, Caring/Fairness, Perseverance, Self-Discipline, Life Skills, Courage, and Citizenship.
“This generous contribution from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation is more than just a donation; it is a profound investment in the future leaders of our community,” said Ruth Fansler, Learning for Life district executive. “With these funds, we can provide teachers with the essential tools and classroom resources needed to help students build self-confidence, improve attendance, and foster a school culture rooted in mutual respect”.
In addition to classroom instruction, a portion of the grant will help facilitate hands-on learning experiences and special events, such as the annual Learning for Life Talent Show, which allows students to demonstrate their growth in self-expression and practical life skills.
The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation is supported by the credit union’s “Pennies for Purpose” program. Every time a Suncoast member uses their debit or credit card, the credit union contributes four cents to the Foundation. Since its inception in 1990, this model has allowed the Foundation to donate more than $61 million to organizations that promote the education, health and emotional well-being of children.