February 3, 2026
Beacon College is reaching a growing number of students with new opportunities to build professional credentials for the workplace — from math and public speaking to first aid and computer certifications.
February 2, 2026
The Center for Career Preparation is launching this month PITCH — Portfolio Integration for Talent, Career and Hireability, a free 10-week program designed to help students create digital portfolios to showcase their work and skills to potential employers.
November 13, 2025
A group of Beacon College students recently earned a microcredential toward WISE certification through Techtonic SkillCircuits, thanks to an ongoing partnership with Jonathan’s Landing. The Techtonic Workforce Academy hosted two sessions for 22 students at the Palace on the Beacon College campus.
August 14, 2025
Beacon College students participating in a new, intensive two-week summer program embarked on field trips to some of Florida’s largest companies and nonprofits making a difference. It was all part of CareerTreks25, which aims to open students’ eyes to different career opportunities and teach them how to get their foot in the door.
August 13, 2025
Teaching and learning are big deals for Brin Carson. They’re also key to her job as a naturalist at Wormsloe.
May 7, 2025
To graduate, Beacon students need at least 80 hours of “experiential learning opportunities” which covers internships, volunteering and part-time jobs related to a student’s degree or career goals.
May 5, 2025
When his boss asked Jack Lenz to lead a new initiative in late 2023, he wasted no time. With his typical gusto, the Beacon grad and community services worker embraced the goal: To create a food pantry for former foster children living in an apartment complex after aging out of the system. A month later, Lenz had lined up the resources and logistics to open the new site featuring fresh fruit and vegetables and other foods.
March 3, 2025
Techtonic, a leading IT managed services provider, offers mobile asset repair, disposition (reverse logistics), and device management services through an integrated workforce of neurodivergent certified technicians. It is a division of Jonathan’s Landing Foundation, an Orlando-based nonprofit with a vision to build housing for 500 adults with autism and create 5,000 jobs and meaningful work opportunities.
October 2, 2024
Beacon graduate Dan Graff found his passion working through CAI Neurodiverse Solutions.
August 6, 2024
As a travel photographer and writer, alum Grady McGill has gone to far-flung destinations, from Ireland to Russia, Alaska to Greece, South America to Canada — and many points between.
June 20, 2024
Beacon’s Career Immersion Program is an internship-driven program that places students at Central Florida area businesses so they can experience life in the workforce.
May 2, 2024
Armed with strong resumes and stronger resolve, more than 200 Beacon College students converged at the inaugural ICAN 2024 (Internship Careers and Neurodiversity) fair in April with a shared goal: convincing potential employers that neuro-diversifying their workforces adds value.
Students have used the Cert Lab to explore or complete credentials such as the Hospitality and Tourism Specialist Credential from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, CompTIA PC Pro, and PCAP – Certified Associate Python Programmer. One student, Eyan Greenberg, used the lab to research certifications connected to his computer information systems major and later earned his Competency in Networking certification as part of his Networking and Communication course. His experience reflects how Beacon faculty and staff intentionally connect coursework with real‑world industry expectations — helping neurodivergent students build confidence, practical skills, and meaningful career pathways.
From left, Rina Levitt, Tevia McNeil and James Maxwell display their mental health first aid certifications.
Held on the first and third Saturdays! of each month, Cert Saturdays! take place in the center’s Cert Lab and are designed to complement academic coursework. By offering the sessions outside the traditional school week, the program protects students’ learning time and reduces competing demands. The predictable, low‑pressure environment allows students to work at their own pace while receiving encouragement, structure, and clear expectations — elements especially important for neurodivergent learners.
Cert Saturdays! also help students build “stackable” credentials — short, focused certifications that can be earned over time and that clearly signal skills to employers.
“These credentials support confidence, independence, and career readiness, while reinforcing the habits of continuous learning that neurodiverse students can carry with them beyond Beacon College,” said Melissa Bradley, director of the center.
The launch of Cert Saturdays! expands Beacon’s career preparation services and reflects a national trend among small colleges to offer professional certifications and micro‑credentials.
It’s critical for all students to engage in continuous learning, both as undergraduates and more so once they graduate, get a job, and begin their career. These efforts will make a difference with employers who want to see emerging talent demonstrate their commitment to learning and validate that level of learning through a credential or certification.”
—Melissa Bradley, director of the Center for Career Preparation
Program assistant Brianna Rivera helps students research certifications, prepare for exams, and navigate testing requirements. She also leads outreach through the Handshake career management platform and other channels.
“Dorm rooms don’t always provide a strong testing environment, and cell phones or tablets are not ideal for such important assessments,” Rivera said. “That’s why we’ve opened our career center doors for Cert Saturdays!, where students can use our spacious private computer lab to pursue this important milestone in their academic and professional lives.”
For Beacon senior Rina Levitt, Cert Saturdays! opened the door to skills she expects to use in her future career. A psychology major, Levitt plans to pursue a master’s degree and work in addiction rehabilitation counseling. She is scheduled to begin graduate studies at Harvard University next summer, becoming the first Beacon student admitted to an Ivy League institution.
Levitt attended a Cert Saturday session in September and earned certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid. The training covered strategies for recognizing and responding to mental health crises among young people, including panic attacks, substance misuse, suicidal ideation, and common anxieties experienced by college students.
“We learned about really listening to young people, validating their feelings, and helping them resolve conflicts,” said Levitt, who also serves as a peer mentor in Beacon’s Cohort Collective program. “We covered a lot of information that I use to this day.”
Dr. AJ Marsden, associate professor and chair of the psychology department, said Cert Saturdays! give students a chance to earn multiple certifications that can strengthen their employment prospects.
“Since 2020, I’ve noticed a huge uptick in the number of organizations giving preference to applicants who have various certifications,” she said. “By bringing Cert Saturdays! to Beacon, we can give our students a huge advantage in the hiring game.”
