The Health Sciences Collegiate Academy (HSCA) is expanding to offer a new accelerated two-year option for high school students across Lake County in their junior and senior years.
The HSCA launched in 2015 as a four-year program targeting students at Lake Minneola, East Ridge and South Lake high schools, because of their proximity to the South Lake campus of Lake-Sumter State College and South Lake Hospital, where HSCA courses are held.
The new two-year option is available to students throughout Lake, not just those in schools on the south end.
“The Health Sciences Collegiate Academy is a program that you can only find in Lake County,” said LSSC President Dr. Stanley Sidor. “Students have the capability to get real-world experience in South Lake Hospital and take college-level courses focused on STEM to earn their associate’s degree, all while still in high school.”
The College’s new Science-Health Building in Clermont includes a state-of-the-art simulation lab for students to hone their skills on an interactive, computer-controlled patient.
“Our students are excelling through the HSCA as they pursue coursework within a career field of interest,” Lake County Schools Superintendent Diane Kornegay said. “Their learning experiences are relevant and provide practical applications for their future. We are fortunate to have strong community partnerships that make these opportunities available for our students.”
As the demand for jobs in the healthcare field continues to increase in Central Florida and across the country, HSCA offers Lake County students a competitive edge.
“These academic programs are so important for the children of our community,” said John Moore, president and CEO of South Lake Hospital, at the grand opening of the Science-Health Building last fall. “We know that the early exploration of health sciences and college-level science courses for young people will prove a likelihood that they will pursue STEM and medically related degrees and careers.”
Students interested in participating in HSCA are encouraged to visit HSCALake.org to learn more. Information sessions continue this week for 10th graders and their families to learn more – one in Leesburg today Feb. 12 and in South Lake on Feb. 13. RSVP at HSCALake.org.
HSCA is a collaboration between Lake-Sumter State College and Lake County Schools with South Lake Hospital, Montverde Academy, and University of Central Florida as academic partners.