OCALA, Fla. (July 6, 2022) — The College of Central Florida has honored Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson with the renaming of the Citrus Campus. The CF District Board of Trustees approved the renaming at its meeting today.
“Wilton Simpson has been a steadfast champion for the College of Central Florida and higher education in general, and we are proud to recognize him with the renaming of the CF Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, CF president. “He has worked to ensure that CF receives the recognition and financial support needed to grow high-demand academic programs, employ the highest quality faculty and staff, expand our facilities, and invest in needed maintenance.”
Simpson is a product of the Florida College System, a fifth-generation Floridian, a lifelong farmer and has served as a member of the Florida Senate since 2012. He currently represents the 10th district, which includes Citrus, Hernando and part of Pasco County.
“The College of Central Florida has been ahead of the curve in producing the workforce that is needed for tomorrow’s jobs,” Simpson said. “Whether our community has needed nurses, engineers or entrepreneurs, CF has been a leader. It makes it much easier for the Legislature to provide resources when we know that one plus one is equaling three or four, not just two.”
The Florida state budget approved by the governor on June 2 includes $13.65 million for a Health Science Technology Education Center at the Ocala Campus in addition to operational expenses for new health sciences programs slated to begin in 2023, new positions to support critical needs within the college, and maintenance repair and renovation projects, which will ensure health safety and ADA compliance. In addition, the CF Foundation received $150,000 to support educational outreach at the Appleton Museum.
“Simpson recognized our strategic approach to managing resources, and as a result, our students, team and community will benefit for years to come,” Henningsen said.