成人抖阴

AVON PARK, Fla. 鈥� Nov. 13, 2025 鈥� During a ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 成人抖阴鈥檚 (成人抖阴) Basic Corrections Academy Class 114 graduated nine new correctional officers at the 成人抖阴 Highlands Campus in Avon Park.

From the 成人抖阴 University Center Auditorium stage, Michael Austin, coordinator of 成人抖阴鈥檚 Criminal Justice Academy, called up the nine and handed each new officer a certificate. Those receiving a certificate were class leader Cody Deloney, Ebony Bell, Shy鈥檒an Bush, Nashay Dixon, Destyn Katz, Damien Miner, Esmeralda Toribio, Zykeria Wilkins, and Clinton Williams III.

Four cadets were singled out for their achievements during the program. Earning top honors for academic excellence was Nashay Dixon of the Okeechobee Sheriff鈥檚 Office and Damien Minor of the Florida Civil Commitment Center. Cody Deloney of the Okeechobee Sheriff鈥檚 Office was given special recognition as class leader, and Zyleria Wilkins of the Florida Civil Commitment Center was recognized as class executive officer.

Guest speaker for the ceremony was Dana Orr, who is a Florida House of Representatives District 83 aide for Kaylee Tuck. Orr is a graduate of 成人抖阴鈥檚 EMT program and was a certified EMT from 1985 to1987. In 1987, he attended the Basic Corrections Academy at Polk State College and was employed at Avon Park Correctional Institution from 1987 to 2013, when he retired.

Addressing the cadets, Orr stressed that the profession they are entering is about personal integrity and their moral compass. 鈥淚n the world you鈥檙e about to enter, it鈥檚 going to test your moral code, it鈥檚 going to test the ethical foundation, and it鈥檚 going test the upbringing that you got. When you鈥檙e in situations that you didn鈥檛 expect, the ethical foundation that defines who you are as a person is what gets you through those times. It helps you make the right decision when nobody has ever instructed you on what the right decision is.

鈥淚f you set a good example, if the inmates you鈥檙e charged with watching know that you abide by the law and you abide by the rules, that you鈥檙e firm and fair, that they know if they have a heart attack, you鈥檒l do everything to save their lives 鈥� if they know that, your job will be easier. They will respect you. They might not like that they鈥檙e in prison or jail, but they will respect you for that consistency and that clarity.

鈥淩emember that you want to be the person you see in the mirror. You want to be somebody your mother would be proud of. You want to be the person your children will want to be some day. I give you this challenge: Everyday you look in that mirror, be somebody you can respect. And go out and serve your communities with pride.鈥�

The Highlands County Sheriff鈥檚 Office Honor Guard posted the colors at the beginning of the ceremony.

The Basic Correctional Officer Program is 420 contact hours or approximately 11 weeks. Upon successful completion of the program, students earn a Career Certificate and are eligible to take the state certification examination to become certified officers.聽

For more information about these programs, visit southflorida.edu or call 成人抖阴鈥檚 Criminal Justice Academy at 863-784-7285.