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Student Maintains Academic Excellence
in Spite of Life's Demands

CFCC Student Sarena Gadson

For nursing student Sarena Gadson, Central Florida Community College (CFCC) offered everything she wanted when she began looking for a college. It was close to home, the classes were small, and instructors and fellow students were able to get to know each other.

A family atmosphere was especially important to Sarena, who lost her mother to cancer last year. During her mother's illness, she decided to pursue a career in the medical field.

Sarena is a Dean's List scholar and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She works part-time at the Marion County Clerk's Office to support herself and her younger sister, who is in high school.

Work, school, and raising her sister have been challenging, but her persistence and determination have been rewarded. She recently received a $5,000 endowed scholarship from the Ocala Royals Dames for Cancer Research to continue her education. After she graduates from CFCC next year, she plans to attend Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

For more information on Central Florida Community College, visit www.cfcc.cc.fl.us.