Latest News
Every picture tells a story – and so do Beacon graduates
By Richard Burnett On graduation day, in which neurodiversity icon Dr. Temple Grandin graced the stage, Beacon College senior Sydni Sugar thought of her late parents, who died before she finished high school. She remembered her battle to overcome learning differences — and how proud they would be of her this day. “While I wish […]
New Beacon Residential Program Gives Struggling Students the “Edge” to Succeed
For students with learning and attention issues, it’s an age-old story: they trot off to mainstream colleges with big dreams (but without the accommodations they need) only to run headlong into bigger problems managing assignments and relating to professors and classmates. Then, the inevitable: their confidence sinks, and they plot their escape plans. Finding the […]
Beacon College Launches $12 Million Capital Campaign, “The Beacon Promise”
Beacon College has launched the $12 million capital campaign, “The Beacon Promise,” the largest fundraising campaign in the college’s 34-year history. “The Beacon Promise” focuses on three priorities critical to providing a distinct learning environment for the institution’s growing neurodivergent student population. According to research from the Center on Reinventing Public Education, students and families […]
Beacon Trustee Inducted in University of Central Florida Business Hall of Fame
According to a UCF press release, the “UCF College of Business Hall of Fame recognizes alumni who have demonstrated exceptional professional success in their field. This is the highest honor given to business graduates. It is typically awarded to those who have been in the industry for 15-20 years and have brought recognition to the […]
Beacon Student Presents at Regional Psych Convention
Laney Leichter recently showed off her researching prowess on a big stage last month when she presented research she conducted as a Beacon College student at the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her presentation, “EQ and Autism,” focused on the intersection of emotional intelligence and learning disabilities. The research she conducted […]
Student News
Beacon Student Delivers Presentation on Ravages of Coral Reefs at International Conference
As a scuba diving and scuba ecology instructor, Alex Rhodes has developed a fondness for the beauty land dwellers often don’t see. So, when the senior anthrozoology major decided to take a shot presenting at the prestigious Anthrozoology as International Practice student conference at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom the choice of topic was clear. And when he learned that his presentation, “The Effects of Tourism on Coral Reefs,” was selected as the only undergraduate presentation out of 10 U.S. lecturers, Rhodes was thrilled.
Demise of Gentle Giants of the Sea Prompts Research by Beacon Students
Beacon College students are studying the manatee crisis as Florida’s beloved sea cows are dying out in record numbers. It’s part of a troubling pattern. Last year, more than 1,100 manatees died from starvation, the cold and boat collisions in Florida.
Travel renewed, Beacon Students Travel to a Land Down Under
As hundreds of travelers before them, a flock of Beacon College students set out on a journey this summer in search of knowledge and fun in another part of the world. Their destination: Australia. Nearly 30 students, one alum, two parents, and one sibling joined the June trip, part of the college’s Travel Abroad Program led by Provost Shelly Chandler
Mamma mia! Popular Tuscany-based Global Education Program Resumes
This year, the Tuscany adventure, believed to be the only semester-long study abroad program for neurodivergent students, is back on the manifest. Nearly two dozen students have been selected for the September to December semester at the University of Florence’s campus in Prato, a town about 40 miles from Florence.
Grit, Determination Drive Freshman’s Unquenchable Dream for College
She set out at dawn on her highway marathon, a 2,400-mile journey to a new life. With her three-year-old daughter as copilot, Sarina Alford covered the continent-long trail in three days — a feat that most travelers would never tackle. Her destination: Beacon College, Florida. From suburban San Diego to Leesburg, Alford was driven by the hope of a college education and a career in her future. It was something that had seemed all but impossible earlier in her life as she wrestled with dyslexia and other learning issues. Last year, however, her mother found Beacon online and shared what she found with Alford.
