Florida Southern College

Lakeland – October 27, 2026 -- Florida Southern College has begun building a four-greenhouse citrus and horticulture complex and reopened its modernized Miller Planetarium, backed by state, federal and private funding. Both milestones were marked at a joint ceremony on Oct. 22.

Albritton complex anchors the College's citrus education push

The Ben and Missy Albritton Citrus and Horticulture Complex is named for Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, a College alumnus who studied horticulture there, and his wife. Guests signed a steel beam that will become a permanent part of the structure. Once completed, the four greenhouses will support hands-on learning and experimentation.

Board of Trustees Chairman Keith Berend noted that the College once offered what was the nation's only bachelor's degree dedicated to citrus.

Lakeland, Fla. – October 16, 2026 -- Florida Southern College dedicated its Army ROTC building in honor of alumnus Lt. Gen. Donald L. Kerrick on Friday, following a gift from Kerrick that funds significant renovations and equipment upgrades for the Moccasin Battalion.

The facility is now the Lt. Gen. Donald L. Kerrick Building. The investment is intended to enhance training facilities and resources for future military officers.

Kerrick's career spans combat, the White House and Dayton

Kerrick graduated from Florida Southern in 1971 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. His career included combat assignments in Southeast Asia and Operation Desert Storm. In 2000, he was appointed Deputy National Security Advisor to the President of the United States. He also served on the U.S. Balkans Peacekeeping Delegation, which helped negotiate the Dayton Peace Agreement ending the war in Bosnia.